Navajo selvedge?

[Lynn Catlett]

Greetings, all! It's great to find a group where
weaving is one of the primary subjects and the reader
doesn't have to wade through a lot of other very-interesting-
I'm-sure-but-sure-not-weaving topics...

Can anyone help me understand about the "twisted selvedge" or
"three-cord selvedge" on Navajo rugs? Those phrases are about
the extent of the description I've found in my reading so far
and I don't quite get it. Do you warp three threads together
and just pick up one (two?) of them on each pick? Is there
more to it? Some writers have said that certain patterns in
the twining of the selvedge were/are the hallmark of certain
weavers... what, how, hey?

Grateful for any enlightenment,
Lynn Catlett
Total Newbie
lcat...@u.washington.edu

[TheKs]

This post is to provide my 3-cents worth to what is a "three cord
selvedge" in
a Navajo rug. It goes something like this.

The "three cord Selvedges" are 3 extra threads, usually doubles that are
woven in with the outer most warp on each side of the regular Navajo rug
warps. They are tied on at the bottom to the edging cord that is holding
the warps in place. These "extra" cords are hung loosely up at the top
beam. Then as one weaves up the rug, two of the cords are included with
the outermost warp so that the weft goes around three threats ( one warp
and two selvedge cords). The third selvedge cord is not include and is
allowed to hang free. Every 4 or 6 or 8 wefts you select include the
selvedge cord that was left out and exclude one of the selvedge cords that
was included.

You end up with a thick, strong outer warp thread, since it has three
cords in it.
And you get a 4 or 6 or 8 pick float on the outside edge. If done
correctly it adds a very nice finishing effect.

I don't know about a particular pattern being a trademark on anyone
weaver, but we are all known by what we do best.

I think that you can find more detailed information about this subject in
Noel Bennett and Tina Bighorse's book "Working with the Wool" and/or Noel
Bennett's book "Designing with the Wool". Both books are published by
Northland Press.

I hope that this helps.
cheers, dan klinglesmith iii
Daniel A. Klinglesmith III
th...@aol.com