Mariya’s Favorite Pastime

Master weaver Mariya Dmytroniak is only 37 years old, yet has been weaving rushnyky towels and besahy bags for twenty years. She learned the craft from her grandmother who made all kinds of Hutsul household necessities like blankets, carpets, hats, clothing, belts, bags and canvas cloth. Mariya learned to weave rushnyky towels just after she finished school. She started with simple patterns but soon began to experiment on traditional looms to create her own original modern designs. For Mariya, weaving is not a monotonous and repetitive process. Instead, it is relaxing and inspiring. She creates towel series, picking up improvised motifs from one towel and carrying them into the next. Most of her works are given as gifts as she rarely sells them.