Bessie Coggashell

Clans: Yucca Fruit In A Line, born for Red House
Date of Birth: about 1942
Reside in the Teec Nos Pos area of the Navajo Reservation
(Red Mesa, AZ)

The Teec Nos Pos style, particularly the Teec Outline design, has long been a tradition with the Coggashells. Bessie learned to weave from her mother at an early age, and in turn taught her daughters, Ruby Coggashell and Lucy Coggashell Yazzie the art. Bessie typically weaves small pieces, sometimes respinning the wool to make it very fine. Occasionally she will collaborate on a large textile (as large as 5' X 8') with Ruby. They will sit side by side at their large loom, working together with both the colors and the pattern. Ruby and Bessie live together (Ruby is unmarried), and both are full-time weavers, working up to 16 hours a day at the loom. Bessie's sister Mae Yazzie is the only other family member that weaves on a regular basis.