Weaving in Beauty

Explore the beauty and harmony of Navajo weaving

Build a Navajo Style Loom


Students using small workshop looms by Henry Lee Dedman

Students using small workshop looms by Henry Lee Dedman


One of the first steps in learning to weave with Navajo techniques is to acquire an appropriate loom.  If you already have a tapestry loom, it can probably be adapted to Navajo style weaving.  You can also make a small Navajo loom from a picture frame or canvas stretcher bars.   The PDF file link on this page will give the plans for a small workshop sized traditional Navajo loom.

Navajo style loom plans (PDF File, opens in new window)

There are currently 4 responses to “Build a Navajo Style Loom”

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  1. 1 On July 16th, 2009, barney rieff said:

    If you don’t mind, I have some questions on when and where you have classes using the small loom you show in the directions. I also have alpaca and llama yarn from my ranch, could this be used in weaving on the loom? Thank you

    posted on July 16th, 2009 at 9:45 am

  2. 2 On July 16th, 2009, Mary Walker said:

    Thank you for contacting me! I guess this means that I should put a link to our classes on those plans! If you follow the Learn to Weave tab on the web site, you’ll see the Weaving in Beauty classes that Jennie Slick and I do in Window Rock, Arizona and Garden City, Utah. Next year, we’ll also be teaching at Convergence 2010 in Albuquerque. The loom itself could be used in any Navajo weaving workshop class, so you may also want to look at the Where to Learn Indigenous Weaving Techniques too.

    The link for our classes is http://weavinginbeauty.com/find-a-weaving-class/weaving-in-beauty-classes.

    The link to see every Navajo Weaving class that I know about is

    http://weavinginbeauty.com/find-a-weaving-class/where-to-learn-indigenous-weaving-techniques.

    You can certainly use your llama and alpaca yarns. I have seen one beautiful Two Grey Hills style rug done with llama. I haven’t used them myself, but there’s no reason that they can’t be used. The llama rug that I saw had a little difference in the hand and drape of the fabric, but you’d expect that because of the difference in elasticity of the fiber. The Navajos call the llama tl’izi bida’a, which means “the goat’s uncle” and quite a few people use llamas as guard animals for their sheep.

    Thanks for your interest in Navajo weaving techniques!

    posted on July 16th, 2009 at 10:15 am

  3. 3 On June 28th, 2010, Nan Newberry said:

    What type of yarn do you suggest for the warp ? Are there directions for this in your building a loom ? Thank you , Nan

    posted on June 28th, 2010 at 9:52 am

  4. 4 On June 29th, 2010, Mary Walker said:

    The directions are only for building the loom and do not address weaving techniques. Our weaving techniques book, sold in the Weaving in Beauty Mercantile covers the knowledge needed to get started weaving the Navajo way.

    posted on June 29th, 2010 at 12:36 pm

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    Latest on Fri, 08:36 am

    Jackie Schweitzer: hello, if you happen to have a cancellation for Oct. 2010, i would like to take the spot. if not, probably May 2011. i have a 2nd person coming but he is not a weaver. thanks!

    Mary Walker: Our physical address is protected on the web site but appears on all of our online transactions and invoices. We can provide references from past students if you'd like them. We have provided classes on the Navajo Nation since 2000 and have taught over 500 students. Please contact me via email if you'd like to set up a phone or web conference to discuss a class. Thanks for your interest in learning to weave the Navajo way!

    Mary Ann Polacek: I am interested in signing up for future classes, but dont see contact info to discuss classes beforehand as you require or firsttimers. Also I dont do cyperspace business without a physical address involved when invovling money-waaaay too much internet fraud out there to submit deposits to cyperspace. Please advise how to contact you and engage in synchronous conversation about upcoming classes. Thank you.

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