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All of our rugs are woven by Navajo weavers who live on the Navajo Indian
Reservation which is located in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. This
is the largest Indian Reservation in the country, some 16 million acres
with over 400,000 Navajos. From the inception of weaving by the Navajos
around 1700, weaving has provided and important economic benefit to the
tribe and a fine outlet for their artistic talents. Their rugs are made
in the weaver's home or hogan on vertical looms using the same methods
they have used for the past three hundred years.
The Navajos are the only Indans today doing a large amount of weaving. We
are presently getting less quantity of weaving than in the past, but
the quality is the finest that it has ever been.
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Too little recognition is given to the Navajo weavers for their creative instincts and artistic
talents. Out of their minds, without benefit of pencil and paper, unfold these beautiful designs
in the Navajo Rugs. Their spirit, a proud one born through years of adversity, is reflected in their
weaving. The rug becomes part of the weaver, and many times we have seen her sigh, taking one last look
at her rug and the many hours of labor it represents, as she leaves the rug behind after having sold it to us.
Perhaps she is wondering who will own her rug, and will the new owner appreciate the effort she has put
into her weaving.
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Native Handspun Wool: Some of the Navajo weavers still raise their
own sheep. They shear, clean, card, dye, and spin the wool from their
sheep, then weave this finished spun wool into their rug.
Processed Wool Top: Today, much of the wool is sent out to be commercially
cleaned and carded. This does a better job than the Navajos can do with
their limited facilities. The wool is then spun into warp and weft threads
by the weaver. There is also available now a processed prespun one-ply wool, which can be
respun by the weavers.
Commercial Wool Yarn: Wool that is spun into more than one ply is usually
referred to as yarn. We are seeing more use of this commercially cleaned,
carded, dyed, and spun four-ply yarn. This yarn is more symmetrical
than handspun, easier to work with, and saves the weaver many tedious
hours in preparing the wool for her rug.
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Natural Wool Colors: The natural colors of the sheep's wool: white,
black, brown, and grey, are used in some of the finest rugs such as
the Two Grey Hills. The black is often dyed to obtain a more intense color and the grey can
be a carded mixture of black and white. These natural colors are also
carded together to obtain various shades such as tan and beige.
Vegetal
Dyes: Since 1920 there has been a resurgence in the use of
coloring obtained from native Reservation plants. These plants are boiled
to extract the coloring and a mordant (usually an acid) is added to
fix the color fast. The wool is then cooked in this mixture until the
right shade is obtained. These native colors generally have soft, pleasingly
light earth tones.
Aniline Dyes: The aniline or commercial dyes were introduced to the
Navajo weavers around 1870. These are the bright colors, the red of
the Ganado rug, the vivid hues of the Teec Nos Pos, the contrast of
the Yeis and Yei-be-chais. These are the bright colors that made the
Navajo rug commercially well known.
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The prices of Navajo Rugs are based on the amount of time required and the skill exhibited by the weaver. This is
reflected by the type of wool used, the fineness of the spinning, the tightness of the weave, complexity of the design,
color, and size. The compensation for the weaver has been increasing and will continue to increase. The factor combined
with the phasing out of the older, more experienced weavers, and the lack of younger Navajo women taking up the craft, relfects
why today's Navajo Rugs are truly a good investment for the future.
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- Deal with a dependable dealer.
- Establish your requirements: style, size, color, quality, budget.
- Select a number of rugs that meet the requrements that you have set.
- Eliminate one by one until the right rug remains.
- Place the rug on the floor; the best rugs lie flat with no gatherings.
- The designs should be symmetrical and the lines straight.
- Slight imperfections are acceptable; Navajo Rugs are handmade.
- Buy the rug that appeals to you most, it is the right one. You will like it even more the longer it is with you.
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Navajo
Rugs are tough. They will accept a lot of wear and last for generations
if given proper care. If your rug is to be used on the floor, a foam
mat underneath it will prevent wear and skidding.
Vacuum cleaning is normally all that is required. Do not let water sit
on the rug; it is wool and will shrink and some dyes may run. Do not attempt to wash the rug yourself; the best method is to have it handwashed by professionals. If the weaving becomes stained or deeply soiled contact a reputable dealer for their advice.
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For mounting a Navajo rug on the wall we recommend 2" wide Velcro
with contact adhesive on the back. Simply remove the paper backing from
the adhesive side and place the strip of Velcro on the wall. Press the
top edge of the rug on the strip; the Velcro will hold it there. Cut
3" long pieces and place under each bottom corner; this will pull
the rug smooth. This special Velcro is available from our store. Both
sides of a Navajo rug are the same; turn once or twice a year.
Click here for a photo tutorial.
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Printable Version 
