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by: Noel Bennett, Tiana Bighorse, John Running
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Book Description Navajo Weaving Way is a compilation of Nol Bennett's earlier, out-of-print books on Navajo rug-weaving traditions: Working with the Wool, Designing with the Wool, and The Weaver's Pathway. This book augments the information in Bennett's previous works with all-new chapters on spinning, carding, and dyeing techniques. Illustrations include photographs by John Running of Navajo women carding, spinning, and weaving, along with detailed line drawings depicting specific techniques.
Card catalog description Noel Bennett met traditional Navajo weaver Tiana Bighorse in 1968. In time Tiana took her into her family as a daughter. Together they sheared sheep, collected plants, dyed wool, carded, spun, and wove. This book records their many experiences together, a collaboration that spans nearly thirty years. In 1971, Tiana and Noel wrote Working with the Wool: How to Weave a Navajo Rug. Noel later wrote Designing with the Wool and The Weaver's Pathway. Now, this single, authoritative volume brings together those three books - with updates and revisions - as well as excerpts from other published articles and books by Noel and Tiana about Navajo weaving, culture, and history. Detailed charts and illustrations help the weaver find her way step-by-step through the making of a first sampler and through several more advanced techniques. Brilliant photographs by John Running illuminate the pages.
Editorial Reviews From Library Journal The publisher has performed a real service in making available the work of Bennett, whose books on Navajo weaving and tradition have been out of print for some time. In 1968, as young woman, Bennett moved to the Navajo reservation in Arizona planning a two-year stay to learn traditional Navajo weaving and spinning techniques. She remained for eight years, learned to weave under the tutelage of Tiana Bighorse, and began a life-long fascination with the Navajo way of life. This volume is a reworking of Bennett's Working with the Wool (1971), The Weaver's Pathway (1974), and Designing with the Wool (1979), combining material from these earlier books with new information on Navajo spinning and dyeing techniques. Recommended for scholarly decorative arts holdings as well as public how-to collections. Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Reviews:
Written with respect -- Noel Bennett's book on Navajo Weaving is a gem. It is as much a description of her personal odyssey into the world of traditional Navajo weaving as it is a how-to book. Ms. Bennett learned from Tiana Bighorse not only the techniques of weaving but respect for the culture that created the techniques. In describing the creation of the weaving tools, the collection of dye plants, even the hand spinning of the wool Ms. Bennett shows how the creation of a rug can be a spiritual experience. Her book includes plans for a home-built Navajo loom, covers all the major weaving techniques, and includes a teaching sampler with full instructions. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain an insight into Navajo weaving.
Wonderful! and What a life saver! It's difficult to get information on the Texas Gulf Coast about Navajo weaving. As an art major I had no trouble locating weaving classes (fiber arts) but no one seems to be into the Navajo style. This book singlehandedly taught me how to not only make a Navajo loom but also how to weave a rug (that turned out beautifully!). It has very easy to understand instructions that utilize contemporary easy to find materials. It also gives good resources for weaving fibers and/or tools that may not be available in your area. I haven't tried the Navajo spindle yet (to spin my own yarn) but the spindle is on order and I can't wait. Wonderful book!
A good book of how-to and folk-lore -- I recently bought this book in hopes of understanding how a Navajo rug/blanket was woven. I was not diasppointed at all; I believe I could do it with just this book--and that includes building my own loom! The authors include Navajo dyeing plants and proceedures, wool carding and spinning, and, of course, the weaving process. There are also a couple of patterns that beginners might try. In addition to the process, the author inserts quotes from Navajo women about the traditions and folk-traditions of the craft--such as the dangers in not completing the weaving in a timely manner, how spirits of the dead may work the loom when the weaver is away, etc. I like the book, but I cannot say that it has answered all of my questions.