Yei Be Chai Navajo weaving

Likely woven in the Shiprock area (northwestern New Mexico)

Natural brown wool used for outer serrated border.

The word "Navajo" translates to "great planted fields". Their source of wool was the Spanish who in the late 1500's brought with them herds of churro-type sheep and goats. Weaving skills came to them nearly a decade later when Pueblo Indians introduced weaving to the Navajo.

Later the Navajos traded textiles with the Plains Indians, those from the Pueblos and the Spanish. As wagons full of Anglos journeyed west, a new source of supply in yarns, dyes and bolts of cloth encouraged the introduction of their weavings into Anglo cultures. The cottage industry of Navajo weaving had been launched.

Weaving styles such as Crystal, Ganado, Two Grey Hills, Wide Ruins, Teec Nos Pos, Red Mesa, Pine Springs were impacted by preferences of the trading post owners. Some traders provided rug design cards guiding weavers to produce more popular designs.