The technique used in this Chinchorro Extra Large Wayuu is the so-called "Keiñasu" (difficult to translate but it would be something like "chain!).
Weaving a hammock like this takes four to six months of specialized craft work.
The Wayuu people have developed a rich culture over the centuries in which textiles have acquired a singular importance and are undoubtedly a distinctive and important element of their daily life.
This piece has been made with double chain wefts arranged three or four centimeters apart, on a single warp of one color or in multi-colored stripes.
Large part of La Guajira is a desert area, mostly hot during the day but at night it can become chilly. These hammocks protect from the cold that rises from the ground and the impressive side fringes, besides being a beautiful decoration, also serve as a blanket on cold desert nights.
The colors of this very special hammock recall the intense and warm colors of a sunset in the Colombian Guajira.
The cabuyera is a strong and solid ending knotted to the body of the hammock from where the hammock is hung on trees, posts or walls. They can measure between 50 and 70 cm long depending on the width of the body and can have from 16 to 50 rings in the warp. They are woven on a small vertical loom.
The ruffle or fringe is a long fabric made entirely in crochet that can measure between 30 and 50 cm wide. Each side takes 1 month to make. The designs of the fringe can be traditional, normally geometric figures or lately also floral figures are used like in this beautiful and exclusive Chinchorro.
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