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I have been learning Navajo Style weaving for over six years now. It's very interesting and I have had an excellent teacher, Roy Kady, a Master Navajo Weaver. I've put his web site on the Links page if you would like to see some of his weaving. The following picture is of my version of a Second Phase Chief's Blanket, woven in the Navajo Style. The actual size is 30 by 30 inches.
This is my first attempt at this type of rug and I did have some problems with the warp showing at overlap joints of my weft, especially the color Brown. The top and bottom are approximately the same, I just took this picture looking down and in from of the rug. I finished this one on Thanksgiving Day, 2002. My daughter now has this blanket in Pennsylvania.
The following picture is my version of a Third Phase Chief's Blanket. I adapted this design and doubled it to do a 30 inch by 30 inch version. The original was about 7 feet wide and 5 feet tall and was made around 1880. I had problems getting a good bright red wool yarn and wound up getting it from Tierra Wools. All the yarn in this Blanket is Churro (except for the Selvedge Cord which is regular wool from Brown Sheep. I finished this blanket on May 11, 2003.
The following pictures of a 2nd Phase Chief's Blanket similar to the one my daughter has except for the colors. For this one I'm also using Churro wool from Tierra Wools. I Started this 30 inch by 30 inch blanket on May 17, 2003 and completed it on August 16, 2003.
The Following Series of Photographs are some of the Steps in Starting a Rug on a Navajo Loom.
This is a warping frame with the warp for a rug approximately 30 inches by 30 inches. The warp is a tightly spun and consists of 85% wool and 15% mohair (for added strength). For a 30" by 30" rug warped at 10 warps to the inch requires approximately 750 feet of warp. The warp is the vertical strand of the rug which is hidden by the yarn or weft. I use the 1" black pipe to keep the 1" wooden dowel from bending during warping. It should be noted that Navajo woven rugs and blankets the warp is continuous and is not knotted or tied on the ends as is done on horizontal or English looms.
In this photograph, I'm lacing the end selvedge on the warp pairs. This is the top and bottom edge of the rug. The end selvedge is three strand of normal yarn, spun, tripled, spun again and then soak in water to wet and then stretched out tightly in the sun to dry.
Here the warping is completed and the end selvedge has been laced on both ends.
In this picture, I'm lacing the end of the warp, to a 1" dowel, using the end selvedge. This takes me about an hour to do one 30" end.
Here the warp is completed and has been tied to the 1" iron pipes and ready for installation on my loom. I'll have some pictures later of my next project.
My next rug/blanket will be a First Phase Chief's Blanket, which are only stripes with not other designs. I again will be using Churro wool and I'll keep you posted as I progress with it. This time I'll post pictures of the process of warping my loom and the steps necessary before any weaving starts. Incidentally the Churro wool I'm using is single ply blanket yarn. This type yarn is approximately 800 yards to the pound.
This is an unusual First Phase Chief's Blanket I'm using my loom warped with four heddles, and doing the same design on both sides, but with different colors on each side. It's a learning process for me, so watch the progress. This is the status as of December 22, 2003
This is a full picture of the front with one shed rod and three pull heddles
This is a closer look at the front, with about 10 inches completed
This is a picture of the reverse with the different colors
Status as of February 4, 2004 - About 20 Inches Done Picture of Front
Status as of April 11, 2004 - About 29 Inches Done Only About 3 Inches to Go
Status as of April 24, 2004 - Getting Slower - Only 3/4 of an Inch to go Front
Back
May 2, 2004 - Finished - Still on Loom Front - I like this side best
Back.
Removed from Loom - Front
Back Side
Front with Corner turned to show back side
Thanks for Looking
July 29, 2004 - Navajo Two Grey Hills Style Project - 10" by 20" I started this small rug about the middle of July in an attempt to do a "Two Grey Hills" style of rug/blanket. This project will be of four colors: Black, Grey, White and Brown (Colors used in most Two Grey Hill Blankets and rugs).
Status as of August 4, 2004 - About 6.5 Inches Done Front
Back
Status as of September 11, 2004 - Over Half Done - Front
Back with Sun Shining on Front - The White is Translucent but Color is a little Off
Finished September 25, 2004 - Still on Loom Front
Back
Removed from Loom Front
Back
This Project is Based in Ganado Red Style Navajo Rugs This Style of Weaving Originated near Ganado, Arizona, which is near The Hubbell Trading Post This Rug will be approximately 23.5 Inches by 40 inches If my calculations were correct, it should come out OK. I started designing this on September 27, 2004 and here is the Status as of October 6, 2004
I gave this Rug to my Sister-in-Law in Texas for her Birthday 2004
Status as of October 11, 2004 - No Sunlight for Good Picture
Good Picture from the Back
Status as of October 30, 2004 - About 7.5 inched completed A new learning curve working with the vertical warp not evenly tensioned.
Status as of January 18, 2005 This is fighting me, but I've got about 14 inches done.
Status as of March 15, 2005 About 30 inches done, only 10 more inches to go. This has been quite a learning experience.
April 9, 2005 - Finished Finally Not as good as I had hope, but a lot of learning doing this rug
Pictured on Dining Room Table
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