Navajo rugs, blankets and weavings
from sheep to rugs - Warping the loom

The Navajo weaver uses a heavy two-ply yarn to space the warps. By a process of twining this cord, permanent edging is formed which holds each pair of warps an equal distance apart. Because it is the twists which hold the warp turns the proper distance apart, for a relatively fine weave only one twist separates each turn. In heavier weaves two and occasionally three twists of the edging cord are needed to make larger spaces. The edging cord is doubled, and a knot is tied in the folded end, forming a 5" loop. One end of the edging cord is slipped through the first turn of the warp on the under side of the dowel, and pulled through until the edging cord knot is next to the warp turn. At this point one end of the edging cord is beneath the first warp turn, the other is free. A twist is formed in the edging cord, from alternating each cord over the warp, then under the warp, and forms a stabilizing top and bottom border. When the opposite edge is reached, the ends of the edging cord are tied together snugly, using the same knot as at the beginning. The same procedure is repeated at the top.

When the entire warp is strung and secured, the warp frame is dismantled and the warp, with the tied shed rods intact, is relocated and mounted on the permanent upright loom, by lashing the warp dowels to the upper beam and lower beam of the loom, with a lightweight rope. The edging is temporarily tightly bound to the dowel rods with twine, and removed when the rug is finished.

The upper warp dowel is first attached to another third dowel of the same size, called the stick, with pieces of wire or twine. This new dowel and the upper warp dowel should be a uniform 1” apart, and tied in three places, on each outside edge of the weaving and the center. This method will permit rope-lowering or raising of the rug to desired heights. The bottom warp dowel is secured to the lower loom beam in the same fashion, with wire tied on each outside edge of the weaving and the center.

This new dowel is then lashed to the upper loom beam with lightweight rope. One end of the rope is attached to the left side of the top beam just outside the edge of the loom, encircled under and over to the other side, and secured by circling once or twice and tucking through. The shed rods are then untied but not removed, one is moved upward and the bottom one down. The warp is straightened within the loom frame and a desired tension is applied to make the entire harness a taut unit.

sheep to Navajo rugs - Warping the loom - page 1

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