Evdokiia Nesterova is weaving a carrying bag

Evdokija Nesterova weaves a carrying bag from synthetic fibers, using parts of her body to measure proportions.

“When you weave a carrying bag, you start with a circle – at first just using cords, or two cords right away, see? In the past, they made cords from fireweed and dyed them with clay. These parts of the pattern – we call them ‘smelt fish’. Back then, we used these bags to carry smelt and other fish. Then I add more patterns. Here, I’ve already finished three rows. With all these patterns, the bag should look beautiful.”

Recorded by Erich Kasten. Lesnaya, 2012.