Weaving is a traditional and ancient branch of Lithuanian folk art. It includes weaving of woollen fabrics, linen cloths and towels, curtains, bedspreads, sashes and tablecloths. The folk artists use diverse techniques: vertical and horizontal looms, knitting, weaving, knotting. This branch of folk art is descended from Lithuanian dukes when weaving was one of the main occupations of Lithuanian girls. Since old times each Lithuanian woman takes pride in textiles of her own making.

Many archaeological finds tell us about ancient Lithuanian traditions. Linen and woollen cloths have been found in the burial-grounds of the 2nd-3rd centuries. In the 4th century sashes were found in the graves of rich women even in our district, in Medzionys village. The patterns and the techniques of weaving were ascertained from these finds. The textiles were characterized by the abundance of patterns. Patterns were chosen from the nature: lilies, daisies, tulips, stars, etc. Later these patterns were adapted and were augmented by more complex geometric patterns - triangles, squares, etc.

The abundance of patterns encouraged the search for new ways of weaving.

Towel and bedspread designs became more intricate. Newer thread-brading techniques were incorporated into the closed composition between straight, broken or curved lines, circles, squares or their groups. These designs can be composed of dots and checks that are called apples, harrows, cucumbers, glasses, and, more rarely, motley stripes. Selected greetings inscriptions, flowers or living things were inserted. Later the weavers used two-thread open-work techniques. In table-covers, large and small, these techniques are joined with embroidery to produce beautiful effects. Lithuanian textiles are so well known not so much for their perfection of technique and detail as for their intricate patterns and colour combinations.

Some of the best weavers live and work in Prienai. A lasting contribution to the art of weaving was made by three sisters, Albina, Ona, and Terese Buzaitytes closely followed by Marija Pukiene, Brone Papeckiene, Marija Bendoraitiene, Ona Marcinkeviciene. Their colourful weaving and abundance of patterns has brought fame to our native land.

National Sashes

National sashes are a traditional and ancient branch of Lithuanian folk art that is experiencing a new revival.

At present hand-plaited sashes, especially those that reveal the taste of the Lithuanian people for coloration, have gained in importance. Folk weavers from Panevezys territory are known to be the best makers of such traditional sashes.

Block-braided sashes, known in Lithuania since the 4th century, have also gained in popularity. Folk masters, ardently devoted to this craft, are known in Kaunas, Klaipeda, Vilnius and Prienai.

Woven sashes with hand-picked designs have been known since the 13th century. Geometrical ornamentation, having quite a few variants in ethnographic sashes, is most important in their design.

It is very difficult to traditionally interpret present designs, since, by ignoring rules and archetypical structures of the style, one can invent designs not characteristic of the Lithuanians and those that had never occurred in the old system of symbols. The best known weavers of these sashes live and work in Vilnius, Kaunas, Birzai and Prienai.

Ornament