How to Make Sioux Indian Designs in Jewelry
Sioux Indians celebrate animal spirits and nature through jewelry designs. They use hairpipe bones, beads and antlers to make patterns that symbolize their spirituality and tribes. The decorative designs are used to tell stories. Some of the jewelry pieces like the chokers were also used to protect the jugular vein and neck during battles. The tribe believes that the spirit of the animal the bone is taken from offers protection from various illnesses. Some of the animal designs carved in the Sioux jewelry include buffalo, bear and eagle. The tribes made chokers and bracelets using bones, beads and sinew strands.
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Things You'll Need
- Craft knife
- Shell button
- 4 sinew strands
- Awl
- Spacer beads
- Pony beads
- Hairpipe bones
Instructions
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1
Determine and find the design you will use on the piece of jewelry. Check Native American history books or websites for ideas. Use a craft knife to carve a primitive buffalo, eagle or bear into the shell button.
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2
Tie an overhand knot in the sinew strands. The knots should be about 9 inches from the end of each sinew strand.
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3
Use an awl to make a hole in all the spacers. The sinew strand will be passed through these holes.
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4
Place a spacer bead in each sinew strand.
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5
Put four pony beads in each sinew strand. Use different bead colors to get a variety of looks. Add a hairpipe bone and three more beads on every strand. The beads should be placed close to one another.
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6
Tie another overhand knot at the end of the sinew strands.
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7
Use an awl to make a hole in your eagle, bear or buffalo carving. This hole will be used to pass the sinew strands.
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8
Pass the carved design through the four sinew strands.
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9
Put another four pony beads in each sinew strand. Repat the color patern from the other side. Add a hairpipe bone and three more beads on every strand. Place all beads close together. Make an overhand knot at the end of each strand.
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10
Pass all the four sinew strands on the right side through a large bead and make an overhand knot. Repeat this process for the strands on the left side. Passing the strands through the large bead secures them in place. The large bead can also be used to secure the piece of jewelry around your neck or wrist.
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Tips & Warnings
The number of sinew strands used on the jewelry pieces can vary. A chocker or bracelet can have up to eight sinew strands.
Exercise extreme caution when using teh awl. Do not let young children attempt this craft without adult supervision.
