Weaving Symbols
Weaving symbology is prevalent in Native American designs, and many of the common symbols are familiar to us because they made their way into popular culture. Kokopelli, the storm pattern, and animal symbols are all common items that were woven into Native American designs, and make the weaving beautiful, functional and meaningful.
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Craftsmanship
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Most Native American weaving was done by hand, and is known as finger weaving. Very simple looms were used, where only the warp strands were suspended on one end, and the rest of the work was done by hand with yarn, moosehair or plant materials, depending on the object's intended use. The skill and craftsmanship in finger woven items became so popular that these items were traded throughout the Eastern seaboard.
Navajo
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The eastern Native American tribes were not the only ones known for weaving, and Navajo crafts are still popular today. Many of the symbols used have become part of popular culture. The sun and the horned lizard turn up in Navajo crafts, but are also generally popular throughout the Southwest. Another popular and beautiful weaving pattern among the Navajo is the storm pattern. This design contains bold colors, the four sacred mountains, and lightning.
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Pueblo
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Kokopelli is a prevalent symbol throughout the Southwest. He is known as a fertility symbol, a trickster, and plays a flute. In woven items, he is used to protect crops. Other common Pueblo symbols include the turkey and the parrot. Their feathers were revered and used in rituals as well as in weaving.
Mayan
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Mayan weaving was also often used for telling religious stories. The universe design is a diamond-shaped pattern that illustrated the sun's travel through the heavens. Some weavers put two suns in to indicate the two solstices. Mayan weavers also often used numeric patterns in their weaving to mark off days in a calendar. They also did ancestor-themed designs, to honor their spirits and accomplishments. Mayan weaving places a heavy emphasis on the spiritual and religious designs.
Mapuche
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The Mapuche live in Chile and their weaving symbols are known for depicting practical items, such as the anümka, a medicinal plant, as well as supernatural figures, such as Lukutuwe, a supreme deity. Mapuche work also often includes hooks and crosses, which represent nature and the elements.
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References
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