Ikat Shawl

The macana of Cuenca is a feminine shawl of Spanish origin that is very similar to the Mexican rebozo. It is woven on a back strap loom with yarns that were previously patterned in a tie dye technique.

The resulting pattern appears on the center of the shawl while the monochromatic wide banded ends are macramed in open work and finished with fringes The yarns used for both the center and the ends are usually continuous and feature flowers, birds, animals or small figures. Pulcay, just north of the Gualaceo, is the production center for these shawls. Current quality is vastly inferior to the old ones and the ends are not continuous.