Navajo Weaving Way

by Noel Bennett

Noel Bennett met traditional Navajo weaver Tiana Bighorse in 1968. In time Tiana took her into her family as a daughter. Together they sheared sheep, collected plants, dyed wool, carded, spun, and wove. This book records their many experiences together, a collaboration that spans nearly thirty years. In 1971, Tiana and Noel wrote Working with the Wool: How to Weave a Navajo Rug . Noel later wrote Designing with the Wool and The Weaver's Pathway . Now, this single, authoritative volume brings together those three books--with updates and revisions--as well as excerpts from other published articles and books by Noel and Tiana about Navajo weaving, culture, and history. Detailed charts and illustrations help the weaver find her way step-by-step through the making of a first sampler and through several more advanced techniques.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Art, Native American, Indigenous

160 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1997

Reviews

[Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having signed up for a Navajo weaving class, I thought it might be a good idea to get a better idea of what might be involved. I've always loved the look of Navajo rugs and this book helped me understand just how much work and care is put into each weaving. It covers the whole process, from carding the wool to spinning and dying the yarn. It also covers how to build a loom, create the weaving tools and how to weave a sampler. There are plenty of ways to test out your weaving skills just based on the the basic sampler outlined in the book. I haven't taken the class yet, but can definitely see that this will be a great resource! My only problem is that I am a visual learner and needed to watch a few videos on how to spin the yarn to completely understand the explanation in the book.

[Emily]

this is the in print version, devoted to sharing my first weaving technique (navajo)...I have no titles,book or otherwise, with regard to being a weaver, but, am glad that how to books feature the style, the history, the understanding of navajo weaving arts. Books that communicate and thus encourage the perhaps otherwise not so easily accessible experiences (of appreciating, and creating the blanket and other goods'designs)are welcome, in today's 'attention deficit' climate. This particular style underwent some disruptions, some recovery, and brilliant renewals, rebirth..and, there is room for more...contributions welcome (says a me!). Anyone else into finding two trees, and weaving, over time...welcome!

[Bev]

Clear illustrations and explanations really are helpful to the beginning Navajo weaver.