According to Navajo (Dine) legend, it was the deity known as Spider Woman who taught a young Dine shepherdess who was shivering from the cold the art of weaving upon a loom. After teaching her to sheer sheep, card, and spin wool Spider Woman told her: "My husband, Spider Man, constructed the weaving loom making the cross poles of sky and earth cords to support the structure; the warp sticks of sun rays, lengthwise to cross the woof; the heralds of rock crystal and sheet lightning to maintain original condition of fibers. For the batten, he chose a sun halo to seal joints, and for the comb he chose a white shell to clean strands in a combing manner." Spider Woman then warns the newly named Weaving Woman to "walk the Middle Way," keeping her life in balance and not to do too much of one thing. Good advice for someone taking on the challenge of weaving a large rug. Since Weaving Woman, the Dine have always been accomplished weavers through the generations, hoping to pay proper homage to the Spider Woman and her husband.
