Eccentric weave

Weaving the first strip is well under way now and the heddle bar has certainly made the weaving easier. I have based my first design on the patterns of rust appearing on my steel strips, combined with a variation of Navajo style weaving techniques and the colours of both rust and the  landscape of Arizona.

As the weaving progressed I incorporated one of the strips of steel, that I had not yet rusted, to reflect the strength and courage of the Navajo race. 

The metal was woven in at a wider warp spacing than the weave to secure it in place and the warp threads were dyed a rustic colour to compliment the rest of the work.

Detail of metal strip showing warp spacing.

Later  strips will be added across the weave, gradually becoming more rusted as the landscape progresses, to represent the Navajo's deterioration of health.