| By :
Craig Chambers
Native American rugs can range in cost from an average price to very expensive. This is due to the hand woven quality. However, the weavers making the rugs are shrinking in number because the younger generation has other outside interests and the rug making process is becoming obsolete. The availability of cheaper store bought rugs has hindered the popularity of these tribal works of art as well. One of the best known types of textile art available in North America is the weaving of Navajo Native American rugs and blankets. Typically, they are extremely pricey, but the level of craftsmanship and attention to detail are impeccable. In the southwestern United States as well as in many parts of Mexico, the rugs are still made in the traditional way. The artisans kneel down in front of a loom made of wood, and they weave colored threads using a shuttle. Many intricate and impressive geometric designs are formed. Made of hand spun cotton thread, we sometimes find the older original Native American rugs. When domestic sheep were introduced by the Spanish at a later time, they shifted to weaving with wool. Of the many impressive Native American rugs that can be found, the Navajo designs are among the best. Finger weaving is another interesting method done in crafting Native American rugs. This major method has been used for hundreds of years and up to this day, immaculate finger woven Native American rugs are created by many tribes such as the Tlingit people known as chilkat. The iconic Seminole sash is another popular pattern which is woven in this method. Another essential area of the textile art of Native Americans is found in their creative patchwork. Quilting which was taken from Europeans, was given a new kind of energy with their skilled craftsmanship although they had their own methods of making textiles. Star quilts are something they are known for as well. Many other designs also still exist but modern times and mass production, as well as a fast paced life, has greatly impacted this tradition. By teaching the younger generation, many older Native American artists are still trying to keep this art alive. It is getting more difficult to find many of those resilient weavers that use the old traditions of hand weaving Native American rugs today. The prices could sky rocket due to the very exclusive and the difficult time to work on these rugs. Rugs that are vintage can cost more. Only a small percent of the younger generation of Native Americans will study the intricate art of rug weaving. It would be a perfectly good investment for those who desire to get an exclusive design that exudes the Native American culture. Though this would not be for general use, but rather, a more ornamental and decorative piece, it would be great if more people come to recognize the ancient and slowly withering tradition of Native American rugs.
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