Adobe Gallery Blog

The coiling technique for basketry is limited to the villages of Second Mesa-Shungopavi, Shipaulovi, and Mishongnovi.  It requires two sections of differing materials, placed basically at 90-degree positions.  One is called the weft and the other the warp-the warp being the foundation and the weft the design or finished part.  Galleta grass is used for the warp foundation and yucca leaves for the weft.

The galleta grass needs no special preparation before being used, but the yucca leaves require quite a significant amount of preparation.  The yucca leaves have to be split into very thin strips, laid out to dry, bleached in the sun or dyed with native dyes.  Many months of preparation are required before a basket can be started.

Read more about this Hopi basket here..