Weaving is considered to have emerged due to stock breeding. There has been a weaving loom in each Bulgarian house in the past and the craft was transferred between generations – from mother to her daughter and from a grandmother to her granddaughter. Weaving is considered to have emerged due to stock breeding. There has been a weaving loom in each Bulgarian house in the past and the craft was transferred between generations – from mother to her daughter and from a grandmother to her granddaughter. ORIGIN

Hand-made craft The products were dyed with materials of animal and plant origin and the wool, hemp, silk, and cotton were the basic materials used for weaving. People often had to prepare the materials themselves. The products were dyed with materials of animal and plant origin and the wool, hemp, silk, and cotton were the basic materials used for weaving. People often had to prepare the materials themselves.

1.Wool The wool was first cleansed and then scalded in order to remove the grease out of it. After that it was dried and carded with a hackle or a carding frame and after carding it over and over again long fibers were extracted out of it. The wool was first cleansed and then scalded in order to remove the grease out of it. After that it was dried and carded with a hackle or a carding frame and after carding it over and over again long fibers were extracted out of it. nowadays in the past

2.Hemp Hemp fibers were extracted after the plant was dipped into water for several days. The stems were tied together into small sheaves which were then dried and hammered down. After that the material was carded like it was the case with wool and fibers were extracted in the same manner. Fibers were then boiled into lye and bleached in order to get the final product. nowadays In the past

3.Silk Silk was extracted out of silk-worms which were often breeded at home. The primary threads were extracted out of the cocoons that were dipped into boiling water. The threads were then winded into a ball or other forms. In the past nowadays

Looms Weaving was accomplished by primitive looms – horizontal or vertical. The horizontal one was the most popular. The ready products were classified according to their place in everyday life - clothes or products for family use. Weaving was accomplished by primitive looms – horizontal or vertical. The horizontal one was the most popular. The ready products were classified according to their place in everyday life - clothes or products for family use. Horizontal loom Vertical loom

Final products The final products of weaving were rugs, tufted rugs, table-clothes, pillows, etc. Some of the products like towels for example had a ritual function as well as their normal use in everyday’s life. The final products of weaving were rugs, tufted rugs, table-clothes, pillows, etc. Some of the products like towels for example had a ritual function as well as their normal use in everyday’s life.

Bulgarian patterns

Handmade products Industrial products

Traditional crafts Unfortunately, like the rest of traditional Bulgarian handcrafts, domestic weaving was gradually displaced by industrial manufacturing and is nowadays fading away. However, there are many people, most of them women, who are doing their best to keep the traditions and the craft alive for the next generations as a valuable knowledge of history and ethnology. Unfortunately, like the rest of traditional Bulgarian handcrafts, domestic weaving was gradually displaced by industrial manufacturing and is nowadays fading away. However, there are many people, most of them women, who are doing their best to keep the traditions and the craft alive for the next generations as a valuable knowledge of history and ethnology.