A Navajo blanket
The colors in the blanket on page 141
This very beautiful Navajo blanket, shown in the illustration, has three broad red stripes, two narrow red stripes about one-half the width of the former, and four gray stripes about one-half the width of narrow red stripes. The centers of all the figures are red, like the filling—a brilliant scarlet. The colors of the large figures, beginning at the center of each, and counting from left to right, are as follows: Nos. 1, 3, and 5, red, green, and light yellow. Nos. 2 and 4, red, white, and black. The small figures, counting the same way, are: Nos. 1, 3, and 5, red, white, and black. Nos. 2 and 4, red, yellow, and green. The four corners are finished with twisted red cord-like tassels. This cord also extends across the warp ends. Dr. Matthews tells in his article on "Navajo Weavers" how two cords are twisted and woven at the sides with the woof.
A very beautiful Navajo Indian blanket, showing the manner of decoration
The two Navajo Indian blankets illustrated in this chapter, and the pattern on the following page, may be easily adapted for the loom. Germantown knitting wool or carpet ravelings can be used, although to obtain softer wool is better. Some of the handsomest Navajo blankets have a long nap.
Navajo patterns laid with tablets
The children will take pleasure in laying Navajo patterns with triangular tablets, and then transferring the pattern to paper by drawing and coloring, or by cutting and pasting in colors.