Subject: #2.-:- A Navajo Loom (or rather, lack of.)
Now a fear that a clear picture has yet to develop
in the regard of this all important warp string, has caused
me to bring one more term to bare.
A "Cord."
Because a string brings to mind what would be used to fly a
kite, and a cord is of much stouter stuff, then we will
apply the two terms together. In order to give a clearer
definition of what is being spoken of.
For the sake of
this picture, we will use the term, "cord," as it is closer
to what was being used in the primitive weave. Though not
always.
Mainly, a mental picture of a string or a cord with enough
tensile strength to withstand a great amount of stretching
tightly and over long periods of time, is needed to be
drawn.
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Starting:
Now picture a pair of poles inserted into the ground
approximately the distance apart from each other that is
equal to the length of the piece one wishes to weave.
The weaver now ties this warp cord to the bottom of one
pole and proceeds to wrap it from one to the other in a
figure eight , from the bottom toward the top of the poles,
until the amount needed for the width of the piece is on
the two poles.
Then the weaver will tie the other end
to a pole and put two smaller sticks into the two openings
that are created in the figure eight.
This is the same as the two poles that the cord is
stretched on, except that instead of having them next to
the poles, they are next to each other and separated only
with the crossing of the cords at the apex of the figure
eight.
This is where they will be tied together, one to the other.
This is to keep the two shed openings from being lost
in the next step. As will be seen.
The reason for the figure eight is to set-up the two
different shed openings, that will remain throughout the
weaving process of the piece.
The next mental picture that must be drawn, is that of
a method to suspend from above and tie below, these first
two poles. Any method that will allow enough strength to
stretch tightly, the warp cords between the top and bottom
pole.
Many and various methods were used by this primitive
weaver.
The bottom pole seemed to give the most trouble
and so was affixed by many and various means.
From
partially burying the ends of a stout limb or small log
under rock piles to other methods that have no need of
mention for the intent of this writing.
The top pole was tied to tree branches, tripod pole
arrangements or the framework of the hogan or a rafter of
the pueblo.
The need was only to be able to suspend or hang the work
in position for the next step, however.
Not to stretch, but just to hold enough tension to keep
the warp cords from
becoming tangled with each other.
This, in order to place the bottom pole in a horizontal
position
at a good working level to the weaver, who is now seated in
front of the hanging bottom pole.
A pole that perhaps
has enough weight to keep the warp straight without a need
for additional tying in place at all. At least for this
next step.
The next process of "twilling" a triple cord to the top
and bottom of the loops of the warp cords, is one that
caused me as much trouble
to understand as any other in the whole of setting up the
"loom" in preparation to weave.
What seems to have been done, as well as what one says is done, is not always what has been done.
When it came time for me to do it myself I found the only way for me to understand what had been done in reality could only be resolved finally,
by un-ravelling a piece
to see the result of the process.
Once it was discovered
how very simple it was it was a mystery to me as to how
simple minded I had been in understanding it.
Though I can now admit most of my trouble came from haveing a pre-conceived idea of how to do it.
I will make the attempt to describe it here. But first
an explanation of what the purpose or purposes was for it,
will be needed.
The idea is to set the loops of the warp cords at each
end of the piece and tie them in position , as relates to
the needed distance from each other and to also bind the
ends of the finished weave to a hard finished, twisted
cording. In order to bind the ends of this completed weave
in a manor that will
allow it to last through the wares of time, without being
worn down.
The more pressing and eminent need when setting up your piece is to have a method of
removing the poles to the outside of the loops of warp, and
to have something to tie them to, once removed. Thus comes
the horizontal twisted, stout cord at the top and bottom
ends of the piece being woven, and a method of setting the
spacing between the warps at the same time.
So now that a picture is in minds eye of our work hanging
from the top pole, from a loop of rope at each end of that
pole and outside the warp, and the two smaller poles tied
loosely to each other and also to the above anchor. In
order to keep the two shed openings and to keep them above
where we are working, at the bottom pole.
We may proceed to the tying of the end loops of warp into
this "twilled," three-stranded cord that will remain at the
ends of the finished woven piece.
edit: Sept, 12/01
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