The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-03-13
Navajo Blankets .
Grow in Popularity .


tFrom the New York sun
The prosperity % h Navajo IN
dian blanket business began about
ten years X und is increasing rap
idly. ia spite OF the competition OF
eastern factories. II was only "a few
years ago thn the navajo was glad
Go accept u fcW dollars especially II
the offer WIS IN the form OF silver,
for the product ol his wifes loom.
but nowadays he has az his com
mand e marke, vastly more rcmun.
erative. Nine tenths Of the blankets
made in M pueblo regions OF the
southwest are disposed Of through
regularly organized channels ~ bus-
mess that give 90 handsome reward
for the labor expended.
Agents regularly visit the Navajo
country and make their purchases
generally ON the basis 81 weight. In
certain grades the value Is determine
ed by the character Of he design. the
nnencss of the weaving and the
combination of colors. These values
ARE well known 10 the Indians.
Practically an b weaving if done
by Mrs. Navajo. Whle she has
found that GcrmnntoWn yarns make
bmnkets tina soil better than some
she makes from native wool. h a IS
about the only modern idea that she
cares 10 accept.
The Navajos belong la the Athahns-
can family. which originally came
from Alassa. aud has always pro-
duccd Indian Weavers. originally
these weavers were restricted IN IN
choice Of their material 10 harks ahd
the woody nhcTs ~ trees and plants.
but the Spaniard who invaded the
southwest following conquestndors
brought sheep with hen and made
IL poss Ihle for thn Indians to fin a
splendid substitute for their native
cotton and thu woody substance oi
the various forms of cacu.
About she only modern implements
lthat are employed ia weaving are the
nand cards wire toother combs f"i
lthe wool ana shears With which "a
make cuttiups The frames are
made az rude poles with the heam'
lhcld in place 10y rawhide ropes VIII
HUT "a few variations the process %
itha same az In the home looms OF
American pioneers
The Indian puts his frames on Mp
lrghtr usunil. stukcd and dashed e
ltrees Ia front Of his hogan or house
lTho women do the weaving squait"'
lupou the ground with legs folded
lunder them. They are close enough
To- reach go either side or half wn'
lup. when the work has progrosse'
lao a height where 81 Is uncomfortable
Tor them go reach. they tlt the loon
90 that they mas continue in thei
loririuai pusIron. The spindle in uE'
Is that of 81 hundred years ago,
lstick thrust through the center Of
wooden disk. Tho work is EXCEED
ltuTly slow. an inch or Two being
IdaN work ON the better grades
Most az the genuine Navajo
blankets that find their way Ia mar
lket are graded ns half fancy. "a
laro made from high grace woods. h'i
lthe dye used Is anlhne and not N
Vegetable kind which marks the gen
uine blankets. These antine aye
blankets preserve most Of the oi
patterns and sunhursts ~ coiors ~
Tho Weaves ahc not as durable. tn
Hest blankets are made Of line ma
live wool spun 30 a tension thf
makes them almost az durable d
steel with dyes that last always Tn
coarser grndes Of blankets haze pa
Few fiecks 81 colora. being usual
white, ~ ~ brown
The Navaios have LONG had q hiE
,reputaiiou as cxnert m The uFn =
idyes In the old days they had
lnarve blue but uowadays indigo
lonen substituted. Their blacks AZ
made from roasted ochfe mixed wit
lrrm from the small nine and leii
Joined io an infusion ~ lcnf'
land fvifr. a rcd dre p formf
lfsom barks and I'D % sumne NH