Page 92 - TheHopiIndians

84 MESA FOLK OP HOPILAND

years, gorgeously dyed and cunningly woven. Long
before the introduction of trade dyes the Hopi were
satisfied with sober colors; the dark blue and brown
given to the yarn by the women were from the plants.
Even now the Hopi weavers stick to their colors and
refuse to perpetrate the zigzags of the Xavaho. For
this reason the women of all the pueblos of the South
west dress in dark blue and brown, as the Hopi are
purveyors of stuffs for wear to all their fellow house-
dwellers of Indian lineage. Good cloth it is, too, and
worthy of its renown, for it wears exceedingly well.
More than one generation often enjoys its service, and
when the older folks get through with their blanket
dresses, the little ones have garments fashioned from
them for their own apparel.
If one will examine the Hopi blankets, he will be
surprised at the skilful weaving they show. The
blanket dress often has the body of plain weaving in
black and the two ends bordered with damask or bas
ket weave in blue. Sometimes a whole blanket is of
damask, giving a surface that, on close inspection, has
a pleasing effect. The women's ceremonial blanket
of cotton with blue and red borders sometimes show
three kinds of weaving and several varieties of cord
ing. The belts also have a wonderful range of pat
terns. On the whole, one is led to believe that the
Hopi are more adept at weaving than their rivals, the
Navaho.
The carding and spinning are thoroughly done, the