The stitching proceeds along a continuous coil, so that each stitch is passed beneath the stitches of the coil beneath.
For convenience in analyzing these stitches the two reeds may be designated as the loose reed and the fastened reed.
The Navajo Stitch (Figure Eight).—Hold the commenced coil in the left hand which will cause the work to proceed from the right toward the left.
(a) Pass the thread between the two reeds toward you, (b) over the loose reed from you, (c) between the two reeds toward you, (d) down between the stitches of the fastened reed from you, and beginning again at (a) pass the thread between the two reeds toward you completing the figure eight. Draw the two reeds firmly together.
BASKET SHOWING THE LAZY SQUAW WEAVE.
This is the stitch used by the Indians in making the baskets which they ornamented with feathers, wampum, shells and beads.
The Lazy Squaw Stitch.—This stitch is made up of two parts, a long and a short stitch.
Hold the commenced coil in the left hand and work from right to left. (a) Wrap the thread toward you over and around the loose reed once, (b) then over the loose reed again, (c) and down from you between the stitches of the fastened reed and back to (a). This completes the long-and-short stitch.
The story of the origin of the name "Lazy-Squaw" stitch is interesting. If the squaw was inclined to slight her work she would wrap the loose reed several times before taking the long and more difficult stitch which bound the two reeds together. She would then receive from her companions the ignominious title of "lazy-squaw."