How to Attach Feathers to an Indian Headdress

Donned by the cultures of the Great Plains, feather headdresses are among the most iconic and easily recognizable items of native costuming in North America. Great care is taken in the construction of feather headdresses due to their ceremonial significance. However, they are relatively easy to repair if problems arise. Among the most common issues needing repair in feather headdresses is loss of feathers, but they are easy to reattach or replace with only a few basic tools.

Things You'll Need

• Awl
• Heavy-duty thread
• Needle
• Leather lacing
• Feathers
• Scissors
• Measuring tape

Instructions

Preparation

1. Inspect the headdress for broken, loose or missing feathers. Remove any old thread from areas with missing feathers.

2. Determine how many feathers are needed for your headdress. Be sure to have extra on hand in case they are damaged during attachment.

3. Punch a hole through the quill of each feather with the awl. The hole should be positioned no less than a half-inch from the end of the quill.

Attaching Feathers to the Brim

1. Thread a needle with heavy-duty thread, creating a long loop approximately two feet in length. Set this aside for the moment.

2. Peel back the fabric or leather band covering the feather attachment site at the brim, revealing gaps in the construction. If any broken feathers or old quills remain at this point, remove them with scissors and discard them.

3. Push the needle through the fabric from the back in the area needing a new feather. Pass the needle through the hole in the quill previously made by the awl and back through the fabric, taking care to make sure the feather is laying flat. Repeat this four times, or until the feather feels firmly attached to the fabric. Tie the thread snugly at the back of the fabric.

Attaching Hanging Feathers to the Back and Sides

1. Measure and cut lengths of leather lacing, sized according to how high or low you want the feathers to hang.

2. Pierce the end of each leather lace with the awl, creating a guide hole through which to pass the needle and thread. Sew the end of the lacing to the fabric or leather band of the headdress at even intervals using four or five stitches. Tie it off.

3. Attach the feathers to the end of the leather lacing, passing the needle and thread through the hole in the leather and the hole in the end of the quill. It is necessary to pass the needle through the loop at the end of the thread to make it secure.

4. Wind the thread around quill until completely covered. This makes a secure fastening and disguises the end of the leather lacing. Using red or black thread is ideal since these colors often appear in ceremonial feather headdresses.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult laws within your state concerning what feathers may be legally collected.

• Be careful when punching holes with an awl. Perform this task on a work bench or table, never on your lap.

References

• "Encyclopedia of American Indian Costume"; Josephine Paterek; 1996
• "Costumes of the Plains Indians"; Clark Wissler; 2006
• "Traditional Clothing of the Native Americans: With Patterns and Ideas for Making Authentic Traditional Clothing, Making Modern Buckskin Clothing and a Section on Tanning Buckskins and Furs"; Evard H. Gibby; 2000