Navajo weavings

Weaving is at the heart of being for many Navajo, an essential part of their lives that is both vital to them individually and vital to their lives in their community. --From Guide to Navajo Weavings by Kent McManis and Robert Jeffries

The Navajo ("Din" is their name for themselves) most likely learned how to weave from their Pueblo neighbors in the 1600's. The traditional Navajo loom is a rudimentary, upright apparatus with no mechanical parts, requiring the artist to lay in each strand of wool by hand. Yet Navajo weavers produce beautifully sophisticated weavings from the laborious and time honored techniques employed on these simple devices. This unique loom produces a finished product with four closed selvage edges, and no knots to break or unravel. The beauty of Navajo weavings is apparent in the weaver's selection of color and design. Equally important is technical excellence: straight edges, balanced patterns and even, compact stictches.

Kent and Laurie McManis purchased their first Navajo weaving together on their honeymoon in the 1970's and have enjoyed them ever since. Kent lectures on the art of Navajo weaving, as well as judging this category in respected Native American juried art shows. Grey Dog Trading Company concentrates on fine contemporary Navajo weavings, but from time to time offers historic ones as well.

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