A HISTORY OF NAVAJO WEAVING

"If this weaver had shorn, washed, carded, spun and dyed her own wool, my friend conservatively estimates that it would have taken another 200 hours." (This 200 hours would undoubtedly be for both rugs together.) With reference to weavers known to this writer, the above listed times for weaving and preparation by Maxwell are approximately 1/3 more than would be used today. Still the number of hours involved is staggering. Recently we asked Mary Lou Curtis, a fine weaver from Leupp, Arizona, how long it took her to weave her approximately 2 1/2 foot x 4 foot Ganado style rug she had just sold us for $300.00 cash and $100.00 trade. Her response: "about 3 weeks but I didn't weave all the time." Note, also that if a weaver wishes to use vegetable dyes and picks the plants herself, another expense in time and cost of gathering must be added. (Editor's note:rememebr this quote on price is from the 1960's. Navaho rugs are worth much more to collectors now!)

RECOMMENDED READING:

INDIAN BLANKETS and Their MAKERS, George Wharton James, Rio Grande Press, Inc. Glorietta, N.M., 1974 (1st published in 1927) POSTS and RUGS, H.L. James Southwest Parks and Monuments Assn., Globe, Arizona, 1976 1979.

NAVAJO RUGS, PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE, Gilbert S. Maxwell Bell West Publications, Palm Desert, California.,., 1st printing Nov. 1963, 15th printing August 1973.

NAVAJO RUGS, HOW TO FIND, EVALUATE, BUY and CARE FOR THEM, Don Dedera Northland Press, Flagstaff, Arizona, 1st printing, 1975, 3rd printing 1979.

SOUTHWESTERN WEAVING, Marian E. Rodee University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, N.M., 1977

Many other excellent publications exist as well. The above are readily available, very well written and illustrated. We have drawn from their contents as well as others for this paper.

Also to make your own loom and weave an authentic rug: The Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing Book