Why Were Navajo Rugs Considered Spiritual?
So why are Navajo rugs considered spiritual? This article explores the wide borders, the Indigo dye used, and the twisted end cords. It will provide some background on why rugs have been revered by Native Americans for generations. It will also provide an explanation for the origin of the twisted end cords. The twisted end cords are the main distinguishing characteristics of Navajo rugs.
Navajo rugs are spiritual
The Navajo people have a rich spiritual tradition that extends beyond the creation of artwork. It is thought that a rug is an extension of a person’s soul. When a weaver creates a Navajo rug, they entwine part of their spirit into the rug. This prevents the spirit from being trapped. Typically, a rug with a border has a Spirit Line. Not all rugs have Spirit Lines, but those that do are often in the top right corner of the weaving.
Interestingly, a few Navajo weavers do not incorporate this spirit line into their weaving. This may be due to a lack of belief in the spirit lines, or possibly because they never learned the method. In any case, we will focus on the Navajo weavers who do include the ch’ihonit’i. A Navajo weaver enmeshes part of his or her spirit in the woolen yarns used to create a rug.
Navajo rugs are made with Indigo dye
Navajo rugs are traditional items used by the tribe as decoration. The Churro yarn used to weave them blends well with natural home interiors and can last for many years. Originally, Navajo traders purchased Indigo dye but limited it to only a few natural shades. Today, over 200 vegetal dyes are used from a variety of native plant sources.
The weaving method used in Navajo rugs is known as tapestry weave and has been the predominant method of weaving for more than two centuries. The wefts are placed loosely and pressed tightly with a long-handled weaving fork. While a tapestry weave produces a textile with no visible warp, its fineness can range from coarse to very fine. Large rugs may be able to tell you who woven them.
Navajo rugs have wide borders
Traditionally, Navajo rugs have wide borders, no knots, and are woven with fussiness, synthetic aniline dyes were first invented by Hofmann and Nicholson in 1858 and then used extensively for many decades. They are also known as magenta. Some rugs are small, including the Gallup throw, which is a traditional Navajo runner with a tie-dyed warp at one end and a normal end cord on the other.
Navajo rugs are distinctive in their wide borders, which help identify them as Navajo rugs. They also feature what is known as a “spirit line,” a small strand of yarn running from a design element to its outer edge. This spiritual line, or “swastika,” was incorporated into weavings as a good luck symbol. While it may seem to go against Anglos’ traditional beliefs, it is not a sign of inferiority – the rugs were woven in a spiritual way to protect the spiritual energy of the people who made them.
Navajo rugs have twisted end cords
Navajo rugs have a special pattern with side selvage cords. They are often twisted and have a spiritual meaning, and their presence makes the piece stand out from other rugs. Mexican weavers tend to keep their pieces straight and use three or four warps instead of one thick warp. Many of their pieces are also bordered, and the end cords have the same color as the background.
A Navajo rug can be woven with either a traditional or synthetic dye. Wool yarn is often colored with fussiness, synthetic aniline dyes created by Hofmann and Nicholson in 1858. Another name for magenta is “madder,” a red plant. Smaller rugs, such as a Gallup throw, are woven with a traditional end cord finish, and the warp ends are tied at one end.
