Wasa watana (hair tie). Unfinished hair tie (part a) and sample (part b). The hair tie is braided, not woven, but the intersecting bands are inserted into the main band in the same way as woven examples. After insertion, each half of the added band is braided away from the main band. The smaller fragment illustrates an asymmetric insertion of threads for a single band that branches off the main band.

Wasa watana (hair tie). A braided hair tie made in the combined techniques of oblique interlacing (dark threads) and oblique twining (mainly pink and orange). Each end of the hair tie has 3 tassels made of 3 bands. Most of the added bands intersect by passing through the threads of the main band, however 2 of the 6 tassels have folded bands that are sewn on.

A pair of non-identical wasa watana (hair ties) woven in complementary warp weave, and sewn together. Each has tassels formed by intersecting warps that are woven as separate bands, but each end of each hairtie has a different branching conformation. Both hair ties are edged with small beads, which were threaded on the weft yarn before weaving. Another complete hair tie with intersecting warps is folded and inserted between the non-identical hair ties and sewn in place. Alpaca and sheep’s wool.

Wasa watana (hair tie) woven in a complementary warp weave. Tassels formed by intersecting warps that are woven as separate bands. The added bands also have intersecting warps that are woven, but the two ends of the hair tie do not have identical numbers of added bands. Warp fringes. Alpaca and sheep’s wool.

Wasa watana (hair tie) woven in a complementary warp weave. Tassels formed by adding a single intersecting warp band to each end, and another intersecting warp band to each end of the new bands. Small beads, which were threaded on the weft before weaving, line the edges of the main band and the intersecting warp bands. Warp fringes. Alpaca and sheep's wool.

Wasa watana (hair tie) woven in a complementary warp weave. Tassels formed by intersecting warps that are woven as separate bands. The added bands also have intersecting warps that are woven. Warp fringes. Alpaca and sheep’s wool; spun very fine.

Wasa watana (hair tie) woven in a complementary warp weave. Tassels formed by intersecting warps that are woven as separate bands. Warp fringes. Alpaca and sheep’s wool. Each end has 2 intersecting warp bands.

Wasa watana (hair tie) woven in a complementary warp weave. Tassels formed by intersecting warps that are woven as separate bands. Warp fringes. Alpaca fibre, finely spun. Has 6 intersecting warps on each end, and one of those has another intersecting warp.

Wasa watana (hair tie). A braided hair tie made in the combined techniques of oblique interlacing (black threads) and oblique twining (colours). Each end terminates in many coloured tassels, which are joined together by wrapped and embroidered bands. The tassel bands have one major bifurcation plus many minor bifurcations ending in tassels.

Wasa watana (hair tie) woven in a complementary warp weave. Tassels formed by intersecting warps that are woven as separate bands. Warp fringes. Alpaca and sheep’s wool, finely spun. Notable for the large number of intersecting warp bands and the fineness of the spinning.