WASHING

Sheep wool must be washed while still on the sheep because it is greasy. The wool is preferably washed while on the still on the sheep to facilitate spinning. Alpaca and llama wool does not need to be washed before spinning; rather, skeins of yarn are washed before they are used. Before the introduction of commercial cleansers, women in Chinchero used the roots of the sacha paraqay plant along with suds created by washing quinoa grains. According to Vidal de Milla (2000), after the skeins are made they throw hot water into a container and agitate it until foam rises. After letting it cool they rinse it until the water runs clear. After four- to five-days days they heat it up, and toss it over the thread, and shake and rinse as before (Vidal de Milla 2000).

References Cited

Vidal de Milla, Delia (2000). El arte textil: simbolismo de los motivos decorativos. Cusco: Municipalidad Provincial.