Fingerweaving

Fingerweaving is an art form used mostly to create belts, sashes, straps, and other similar items through a non-loom weaving process.

Belts, sashes, leg bands, capes, gun straps, even dresses, shirts, and pants were created by the sometimes intricate patterns and methods.

The French Voyageurs (fur traders in the northern US and southern Canada) adapted the finger weaving patterns to create belts and sashes which showed which company they belonged to.

The Spanish conquistadors used fingerwoven sashes to proclaim which command they were in, as well as to record their conquests over the Native Americans.

By making slight changes to the weaving process, a wide variety of unique patterns can be created.