The Pueblo tribe is believed by the Navajo to have introduced weaving, or at minimum a new method of weaving using a vertical loom. They were able to weave long, sturdy, smooth fibers and rugs thanks to their new loom. Pendleton Blankets is synonymous with Native Americans. It is the most widely recognized name in American Indian Trade blankets. These blankets of wool in many different colors and patterns were created for tribes all over the West.To make the Navajo Rug Quilted Wallhanging Pattern: Cut six 4 X20 inch strips and four 4 x4-inch squares from dark brown. All patterns can be downloaded.It is just one aspect of the amazing Navajo weaving that we can appreciate the value of a chief blanket.

At the turn of the 20th century, there was growing interest in the rest of the world for all things Native American. Tourists from the rest of America, and beyond, would come to the Southwest in search of authentic souvenirs. The exotic designs caught on and remain popular to this day. Over the course of the 20th century, various types of designs sprang up, providing added variety to Navajo rugs, which became widely admired. Rugs made in the Navajo style are named for what region they originate from, or what influenced them. The following are the Navajo rug designs you will come across: These rugs do not have a border on them. They feature horizontal bands and are made using natural vegetable dyes. The stripes also usually include added design elements, including arrows, stars, triangles, and diamonds.

southwestern area western style rugs

It is not surprising that the intricate designs take more effort to weave. The story is similar for the tightness in the weaving. Understanding the source of the Navajo rugs can help you to understand the reason why the rugs cost so much more. What is the Navajo rug made from? Weavers used to use three-ply yarn in the mid-19th century. This was called Saxony. Saxony is a name that denotes high-quality and silky years naturally dyed. Natural dyes are much better than artificial.

southwest design rugs

southwest design rugs

These rugs were not made for survival by the Navajos before the 15th Century. These rugs have become one of the most important decorative items in households. The Navajo rugs are luxurious and costly because of a variety of factors. Here are some common reasons why these rugs are so expensive. Contrary to other types, weaving rugs is more difficult than the others. These rugs use handlooms, which can be operated manually. Back then, weavers set up their weaving looms between two trees. Nowadays, weavers use poles rather than trees. They sit on small tools or on the floor while weaving on their looms. For a perfect base design, weavers often overlap the threads multiple times. Then they add layers of other designs. They are commonly known for their distinctive patterns, which allow people to recognize the rugs. You can clearly tell the difference between Navajo rugs and other types of rugs if you look at the wool and fabric. Hand-spun wool was made by the Navajos from their own sheep to be used on the rugs. They used Saxony, a silky, naturally tinted yarn.These rugs are made with all-natural ingredients, which guarantees the high quality of the Navajo rugs. It was also hard to spin these wools, making them so costly because of the tedious work and effort required by the weavers. Unique designs made the Navajo rugs unique and special.

native american floor rugs

native american authentic rugs

Burntwater, another center of vegetal dye weaving near Wide Ruins, has given its name to a distinctive rug type which combines the bordered, central geometric designs of modern Ganado and Two Grey Hills rugs with bright pastel, vegetal colors. Weavings that incorporate images of objects and people in their designs have slowly gained in popularity since the early days of rug-making. Such Pictorial Rugs may include small representational images within a larger geometric design, or may consist primarily-even solely-of a picture. Small pictorial motifs such as feathers, arrows, animals and other common objects may have held some personal significance for the individual weaver.

native american authentic rugs
native american rugs cherokee
native american rugs cherokee

A watershed in Navajo weaving came in the 1860s with the incarceration of about 8000 men, women and children at Bosque Redondo reservation in eastern New Mexico. In an effort to subdue and “domesticate” the Indians, the US Army slaughtered the Navajo’s sheep and destroyed their crops and homes. The government allowed weaving to continue during the internment by replacing the Navajo’s home-grown wool with factory-made yarns from Europe and the eastern United States.

native american themed rugs

Navajo rugs don't have ridges at their ends. Sometimes, someone trying to pass a rug off to Navajo, or to make it look more Navajo, will run the warps back into a rug to remove the fringe. However, this can create ridges at the ends. You can see the doubled-up warps if you separate the weft yarns. This is what I will do next time I see it. This is a common feature in Ye'i rug reproductions made in Mexico.

native american themed rugs

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, please let us know within 3 days from when you placed your order.
As soon as your order ships, you will receive an email with tracking info and then following emails with shipping updates.
We accept all major credit or debit cards. You can also pay with your PayPal account.
Just send us an email with your order number and we’ll send you instructions.  We will give you a full refund within the first 60 days after your order ships out.  After that, we have to charge a 25% restocking fee. You are responsible for return shipping fees unless you are swapping for a different design or size.
Yes! We can ship anywhere in the world. Please send us an email with your address before placing an order outside of the US and Canada though. We need to partially charge you for shipping when you place your order.
All of our rugs are made to order and go through a rigorous inspection process. You can typically expect your rug to be shipped 2 weeks from when you make your purchase.
We find rug pads are not necessary to protect your flooring. However, some people choose to use rug pads to prevent their rug from sliding around.