How to Make a Buffalo Robe
Buffalo robes are traditional clothing worn by the Native American peoples of the American West. They are the tanned hides of the buffalo, or American Bison. The hides are prepared in the traditional manner, using no artificial chemicals, and virtually no materials that were not available to traditional Native American cultures. Typically, buffalo robes are decorated with patterns of porcupine quills that are sewn onto the skin. Let us see how to make a buffalo robe:
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- (2) 2-by-6 inch wooden planks
- Buffalo Hide
- Buffalo sinew
- Buffalo Brains
- Water
- Scraper
- Knife
- Sewing Needle
Instructions
-
-
1
Pull the buffalo skin taut over a pair of wooden planks. You will need to stretch until it is completely flat.
-
2
Use a horn scraper or metal-edged scraper to remove all the hair and fat on the buffalo hide. Use buffalo sinew as thread to sew up any holes in the skin.
-
-
3
Mix buffalo brains with water and begin to rub them slowly into the hide. You will need about 4 lbs. of brains to cover the whole skin. Keep working the mixture in until the hide is soft. This will take some time.
-
4
Cut the buffalo robe into the proper shape. A simple robe resembles a blanket. Sew any areas that might be starting to split or otherwise fray.
-
5
Decorate your traditional buffalo robe with porcupine quills. Arrange the quills in patterns and sew them on with sinew.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Different tribes use different styles of decoration--everything from abstract patterns to floral designs. You can also paint designs or pictographs onto the hide. Look at examples of Native American quill work to get an idea of the styles you might like.
Tanning buffalo hides takes a great deal of work. Your buffalo robe will take some time to make. You will need to get a feel for exactly how much tanning needs to be done.
Resources
- Photo Credit http://bp1.blogger.com/_vb_Yo_ELC48/SGLBedcU7QI/AAAAAAAADec/_hLPdamFOU4/s1600-h/robelrg.jpg
