Textile pattern design and mathematical aspects of backstrap weaving by traditional Karen weavers in Northern Thailand

Source abstract

Ethnomathematics focuses on the interaction between culture and mathematics for traditional cultures whose mathematics is not widely known, such as the Karen culture of northern Thailand. Studies of traditional methods such as weaving, have shown that people who produce the textiles employ mathematical knowledge that can even include advanced concepts. This article presents a collaborative project between the authors and the Thai Tribal Crafts Fair Trade Company Limited (TTC), and its traditional Karen weavers in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We aim to enable the Karen weavers to preserve their culture of backstrap weaving and transfer this experiential knowledge and skills to their cultural inheritors. In 2023, four pairs of Karen weavers participated in a design-and-weaving project. They created textile patterns, using a digital application by which frieze groups were set as a rule in design. This resulted in photographic images of the desired patterns, and subsequently, these participants made the woven fabrics. In this article, the authors focus on how these participants translated the photographic images to the physical weaving process. The concept of symmetries and visualization of information are used as analytical tools to elicit and verify information. We present two main findings: (i) challenges in weaving frieze patterns the same as the desired patterns, (ii) the various number and arrangement of rods used to create the textile patterns.