How to Prepare Feathers for Native-American Hair Ties
Feather charms are the traditional "tassels" for Native American hair ties. Birds are seen as messengers of the spirits in many Native American cultures and their feathers are used for hair ties, often in ceremonies. Hair ties with feathers are sold commercially but can be homemade. The feathers are often painted with spiritually symbolic designs and pictures, and they can express events and stories in the wearer's life.
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Things You'll Need
- Feathers (bird of choice)
- Glue
- Suede lacing
- Matching leather, one inch by one and a half inches
- Hair tie rosette
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Choose the feathers for the hair tie. Research the meanings attributed to the different birds in Indian lore and decide which to use. This decision is based upon the message that the feathers of each different bird will impart.
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2
Decide whether the feathers will be painted. Some Native American tribes paint symbols on their feathers. Decide which symbols will be meaningful to the person who wears the hair tie. Paint the appropriate symbols on the feathers (see Resources to learn how to paint on feathers).
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3
Pick two feathers and glue the veins of the feathers together. Glue the veins to a base fluff (a small piece of cotton will suffice). The feathers should face the same direction.
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4
Cut a seven inch piece of suede lacing. Lay the lacing along the feather's vein. Start at the base of the vein (about two inches from the feather's bottom tip) and bring the lace down past the end tip of the feather's vein.
Loop the lace at the tip of the feather's edge (about a one-inch loop past the edge) and bring the lace up again (leaving a loop at the bottom) winding the lace around the first two inches of the lace where it lays on the glued feather veins. Wrap it tightly.
Cut any extra lace off near the base of the vein and glue it tightly.
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5
Take a piece of leather approximately one inch by one and a half inches. Apply glue to the inside of the leather and wrap it around the lacing. The loop should be the only part of the lacing visible.
Glue the leather tightly around the lacing and snip off any excess. The seam of the leather should be at the back of the feather.
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6
Cut off a two-inch piece from the remaining lace. Insert it through the loop at the end of the feather and through the rosette of the hair tie. Tie it.
This will tie the feather to the hair tie.
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