woven pouch
objectives: students will utilize traditional weaving techniques to create a weaving using personal motifs and colors.
a brief history of navajo loom weaving:
Navajo Native Americans, now the largest tribal group in America, live in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Originally from the north, the Navajo were late arrivals in the Southwest. They learned sheep herding from the Spaniards and weaving from the Pueblos in the early eighteenth century. From this beginning, they became the greatest of all Native American weavers.
Early Navajo weaving was made into clothing in the form of blankets worn around the shoulders. Later, the Native Americans began to wear manufactured blankets, and weaving began to die out. However, the trading posts realized the commercial value of the fine work, and the Navajos began to weave saddle blankets and rugs to sell. |
The early blankets were designed with stripes, edge to edge. The weaving made to sell became heavier so that it could be used for rugs. With this change came changes in design: new geometric shapes and borders. Over the past two hundred years, the Navajo have acquired skills through experimentation and handed them down through the generations; some designs have become very complex. There are now, in general, four categories of Navajo rugs:
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Different areas of the reservation have become famous for distinct styles and designs. But all weave basically in the ancient manner. Although some spun wool is now purchased commercially, generally sheep must be raised and the wool sheared, carded, spun, dyed, and rolled into balls. The loom is usually set up outdoors with the vertical warp strung between heavy logs suspended from trees or a wooden frame. The rug is woven by passing the weft over and under the warp threads and beating it down securely with a wooden comb. Heddles attached to every other thread open a shed to pass the weft through. A rug may take many weeks or months to weave, depending on its size. the design, no matter how intricate, is kept in the head of the weaver until it appears, wondrously, centered and perfect, row by row.
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important terms to know:
warp
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weft |
shot |
hill |
beat |
selvage
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practice assignment:
create a sampler of 5 or more techniques
- First you will practice using several different weaving techniques and materials.- Warp a cardboard loom, using an even number of warps.
- Create a sampler demonstrating at least five of the different techniques shown below. - Use a variety of materials including: yarn, string, electrical wire, fabric scraps, grasses, twigs, dryer lint, etc. - Maintain an even selvage. -Weave to within ½-1" of the top of the loom. - Remove the sampler from the loom and finish the ends with one of the finishing techniques. |
tabby weave (plain weave)
basket weave
vertical bars
dovetail
manipulated weft
twill weave
twinning
Twining--creates two-color diagonal stripes or zigzags. Start with a row of tabby, then twine the second color around it, alternating the over/under. Use a 6" (15.25 cm) needle for color A, and a 3" (7.6 cm) needle for color B. Reverse the direction of the pattern by changing the direction from which you twine color B. In the diagram, the needle is shown coming from above color A. On the next shot, bring the needle up from below color A to reverse the pattern.
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ghiordes
soumak
securing the beginning and end of your weft (when you are done with the weaving)
create a weaving with your own personal motifs and colors.
-You will make a woven pouch / bag. Your pouch can serve as a case for a phone/ipod/camera/sunglasses etc...
- Your weaving must incorporate a symbol/motif/design/pattern and a minimum of 3 colors. - Cut a piece of cardboard slightly larger than the size you would like your finished pouch to be. - Sketch out your design on a sheet of paper in a 3 1/2" x 6" box. - Look through the provided books and handouts of Native American symbols and designs for inspiration, or choose a symbol that is personal/significant to you. |
warping the loom
After bringing the string down the back of the loom, bring it up through the second slot on the bottom, towards the top.
Bring it through the second slot on the top. Then bring it to the next slot, the third slot on the top, wrapping it back around to the front of the loom before bringing it back down. |
weaving...
making your pattern / design...
joining 2 different colored sections together...
important
other tips
Try to incorporate a few different weaving techniques listed above. Also, don't be afraid to incorporate different materials into your pouch! Instead of yarn, you can try ribbon, fabric, felt, wire, beads, grass, dryer lint, anything!
finishing your pouch
Continue weaving until you have reached the absolute bottom of your loom.
Take your pouch off of the cardboard loom. Secure your end warp threads following the instructions below. Cut down any weft threads that are hanging out. FINISHING YOUR TAPESTRY. Thread a tapestry needle with your weft end. Following a warp thread, take the needle and put it between your weft layers for about 2”. , then trim. |