Article · 11 pages
A 1902 magazine article by George H. Pepper describing how Navajo women make blankets, based on observation in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. It follows the process from shearing, washing, dyeing (native black and yellow-green dyes versus aniline), carding and spinning with the distaff, to setting up the upright loom with stone weights, healds, batten and comb, and weaving the designs. It closes with criticism of traders' influence (store cord, aniline dyes, Germantown yarn) and the Hyde Exploring Expedition's efforts to revive native wool and dye work. Illustrated with photographs of weavers, camp, loom and finished blankets.