Navajo Weaving Workshop
|
Went to a wonderful workshop on Navajo Rug weaving at Carol Leigh's Hillcreek Fiber Studio. Carol Leigh did an excellent job teaching us the basics of traditional Navajo rug weaving. Over a four day period we went from warping the loom, to a finished rug, including the no fringe inch from hell which is what is worked on the last day. |  Carol demonstrating warping. |
 Carol tying the warp onto a loom |
Each day we were served a wonderful lunch of soup, sandwich and salad. Her husband Denny makes wonderful soups without any recipes. Much like many of our designs, create as you go. Carol's instructions were very good most of the time. Any questions regarding design were always met with "whatever you want, whatever feels right". This was very hard for me as I'm a very anglo recipe oriented person. I had to let go some, and follow Carol's advice to just do whatever happens, and let the yarn speak to me. |
|
After we got the hang of the different design elements, and there was nothing to do but weave them, Carol kept our minds busy by reading to us from different books about Navajo weaving experiences. The designs being woven were as varied as we were, and all progressed quickly. |  Jayne weaving away. |
 Amy adding sheep to her work in progress. | The class size was very comfortable at six people. I think we all felt like we were getting plenty of time with Carol as different problems arose. We all focused on different design techniques. Those with previous weaving experience worked on more advanced designs. I went hoping to learn how to weave good diagonals, and I wasn't disappointed. |
|
By the end of the workshop, I thought there was a very strong bond between all of us students. We all helped each other as we could. Carol took us all for a hike in the state park just down the street as well. A wonderful way to get away from the instensive weaving we had been doing. |  Pat's work in progress |
 Angelo working the last inch | The last inch of the work was very taxing. Because there is no fringe in a Navajo rug, the weaving is done from selvedge to selvedge. The last inch is woven up from the bottom, and down from the top. The trick is to get the same number of rows and the same tightness of weave in the last inch. That means weaving with a needle, row by row. Very tedious, and quite challenging. |