2009 4.3: Casa das Tecedeiras (weavers house)

In the Janeiro de Cima Village, as well as in the nearby Bogas do Meio, the art of weaving in linen on a traditional loom produces highly crafted items which blend traditional and modern designs. This is one of the most genuine traditions from the region.

At Casa das Tecedeiras you can purchase some items, visit an exhibition about the linen cycle, where a loom is available for those willing to try it and their workshop is also available for visiting.



During the reconstruction project studies of ADXTUR when inquiring the villagers of Janeiro de Cima, there was a common dream between the women in the village: the wish to have a common space were they could all weave together instead of doing it individually in their own houses.



To support these women but also to empower this craft (immaterial heritage) ADXTUR implemented a project that gives the weavers training and market positioning.



The Casa das Tecedeiras is simultaneously an atelier, a sales point and a small museum about Linen and Weaving.


These days the artists from Casa das Tecedeiras are all local women who participated in textile design courses throughout the years. Today they are able to produce a variety of articles, from clothing to fashion accessories, and mostly house textiles and decorative items.











TRADITIONAL LINEN PROCESS


Sown at end of March the Linum Usitatissimum Starts to bloom at the end of May and is harvest 1 month after.

1- RIPAR/ RIPPLING to remove the seeds by pulling the stems through a coarse comb.
2- REMOLHAR/ RETTING stems are soaked in water during 4-5 days to separate the fibers from the stalk.
3- SECAR/ TO DRY during 2 days.
4- MASSAR/ BEATING to beat with the massa on the stems over a stone.
5- ESPADELAR/ “SCUTCHING” the stems are tapped and stroked to separate the best fibers from the unwanted woody ones.
6- SEDAR/ “HECKLING” to comb using a hackle with iron teeth.
7- FIAR/ SPINING
8- Make hanks with the sarilho.
9- BARRELA/ A boiling treatment with hot water and ashes.
10- LAVAR/ TO WASH the hanks in the river, natural BLEACH and DRY.
11- DOBAR/ make the ball of threads.
12- URDIR/ LAYING THE WARP to prepare the warp in the urdideira.
13- TECER/ TO WEAVE in the loom.