Ana María Santiago Lineros, Weaver in Orcera, Spain, presented by Homo Faber

Ana uses natural fibres in her weaving
She specialises in fashion and home pieces
Nature is her biggest inspiration

Ana María Santiago Lineros' career as a craftswoman began in 2005 when she decided to leave her job in business administration to enter the world of looms. Two years later she opened her workshop, which today is located in Jaén, in the Natural Park of Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas, in southern Spain. Here she specialises in weaving fashion and home pieces, handwoven only with high-quality natural fibres, certified ecological or recycled. Among her pieces, she creates scarves, shawls, rugs, cushions, blankets, or personalized fabrics. The entire production process is done by hand, from weaving by hand, the design and the assembly of the warp on the loom to the weaving and finishing, even the washing of the pieces.

Ana María Santiago Lineros is a master artisan: she began her career in 2005 and she started teaching in 2015.

INTERVIEW

First, the idea comes, then I make a project where I design the piece and make all the necessary calculations to be able to mount the warp threads on the loom, width, length, density, weave, armature, treadle, material calculations, finishes. Then I start weaving.

My work allows me to live in the middle of nature, where I can combine the creative part with mathematics and logic. It gives me the feeling of freedom and allows me to live where I want, in a privileged place.

In this province, there used to be weavers in low-warp looms weaving mainly household linen, but they have disappeared due to emigration and the lack of interest in the trade. Now, mine is the only professional and recognized artisan weaving workshop in the whole province.

I work with different natural fibres with very different behaviours, like linen, silk, wool, cotton, and mohair. Each one has specific needs and a different way of weaving. I am very methodical and a perfectionist in each of the techniques I use.