Como Hacer Artesanía de Cabuya // How to Make Crafts with Cactus Fiber - Ecuador

Woman and the Environment Association

This section introduces the Woman and the Environment Association, a group of 31 women in Intag, Ecuador, who produce crafts from the Cabuya cactus.

Introduction to Plaza Gutierrez (Oldest Town in Intag)

• Plaza Gutierrez is the oldest town in the Intag region of Ecuador.

Purpose of the Association

• The Woman and the Environment Association aims to generate income for their households by producing crafts from the Cabuya cactus.

• The association provides an opportunity for women to feel valued and make decisions for something good.

Harvesting the Cabuya

• The Cabuya plants mature after three years.

• Leaves are harvested when they open each year, ensuring that part of the plant is left with leaves for future harvests.

• Harvesters cut thorns from the plants and carry them on their backs.

Extracting and Washing the Fiber

• The fiber is extracted using a shredder machine.

• The fiber is washed with water, which produces a soap-like substance due to its natural properties.

• Washing can be done in rivers for faster results.

Drying Process

• After harvesting, shredding, and washing, the Cabuya fiber is taken to dry.

• Plaza Gutierrez serves as a strategic place for drying because it requires continuous movement every hour or so.

Natural Dyes

• Different plants are used to create natural dyes for coloring the Cabuya fiber.

• 'Chanchi' plant provides blue color; 'Jucuna' bark gives yellow color; 'Chilca' plant creates green color; 'Nogal' acts as a base fixative for all colors.

Dyeing Process

• The dyeing process involves boiling the Cabuya fiber with specific plants to achieve desired colors.

• Different durations of boiling and using the same plant can result in variations of color intensity.

Making Thread out of the Fiber

• Fabíola Ries, a member of the women's group, untangles, waxes, and combs the Cabuya fiber to make thread.

• Each woman brings their desired colored fiber to Fabíola for thread production.

The transcript is already in English.

The Process of Making Natural Dyes

In this section, Fabíola Ries explains the process of making natural dyes using different plants and fibers.

Making the Dye

• Achiote is added to boiling water.

• Cabuya fiber is added to the boiling water with Achiote.

• The dye is cooked until it reaches the desired color, which is yellow in this case.

Coloring the Fiber

• The cabuya fiber is soaked in the colored water.

• The colored water is washed out of the fiber.

• Once dry, the fiber is sent for thread-making.

Weaving and Finishing

• Fabíola Ries mentions that she belongs to a women's group involved in weaving.

• The cabuya fiber needs to be untangled, waxed, and combed before weaving.

• Skill in hairdressing is required for this process.

• After combing, the fiber is used to make thread.

• It takes approximately 2.5 hours to make one pound of thread.

Weaving Process

• Weaving takes place during rest periods after breakfast or lunch.

• Different colors are used in weaving.

• Loose cabuya fibers sticking out are burned after finishing an item.

Traditional Methods and Materials

• Everything from processing to weaving is done by hand at home.

• Natural plant-based dyes are used for coloring.

Women's Group in Plaza Gutierrez

In this section, the women's group in Plaza Gutierrez is introduced and their motivation for working together is explained.

Women Empowerment

• The women initially started working together to earn money for their households.

• They felt undervalued for their work at home and wanted to be recognized.

• The group provides a platform for making decisions and achieving something good.

Cabuya Processing

• The penca leaves mature after three years, and the spines are removed before processing.

• A machine called "maquina desfibradora" is used to extract fibers from the penca leaves.

• The fibers are washed with water until they become foamy, then dried in strategic locations like Plaza Gutierrez.

• Different plants are used to create natural dyes, such as achiote, chile, nogal (walnut), etc.

Appreciating Natural Dyes

• Achiote is added to boiling water to create an intense tomato-red color when combined with cabuya fiber.

• Cooked leaves are added to the dyeing process to achieve different shades of yellow.

• [Spanish transcript only]

Timestamp references from the Spanish transcript have been included but not summarized.

Preparación para exponer al sol

The speaker discusses the preparation needed for exposing something to the sun.

Preparing for Sun Exposure

• To prepare for sun exposure, there is a step that needs to be taken.

• The speaker does not provide further details about this step.

This section is brief and lacks specific information about the preparation process.