How to Make Homemade Turtle Rattles

A turtle shell provides the resonator for a turtle shell rattle.

Rattles are important instruments in the musical traditions of many Native American groups. Rattles are made from turtle shells, rawhide, gourds and deer hooves. A turtle rattle consists of a turtle shell filled with stones, beads, or seeds, which is placed on a wooden handle. The rattle maker closes the openings of the shell with leather, sinew or rawhide and uses paint, dyes, feathers, and beads to decorate the exterior. Each element of the rattle is of ceremonial importance in traditional Native American religion, and many traditions regard a rattle as an instrument of the "three kingdoms." The shell represents animals. The handle comes from the plant kingdom, and the stones inside from the mineral kingdom.

Things You'll Need

• Turtle shell
• 3/4-by-11-inch dowel
• Marker
• Leather
• Glue
• Sinew
• #3 glover's needle
• Drill press
• Clay beads

Instructions

1. Push the 3/4-inch dowel into the front opening of the shell and firmly back to the rear of the shell. Inspect both ends and estimate the amount of space remaining around the dowel at each opening. Mark the location of the front of the shell on the dowel. Remove the dowel from the shell.

2. Wrap the end of the dowel handle, and the marked location with strips of leather. Continue to wrap until the leather creates a secure plug at both ends of the turtle shell, and prevents the handle from moving. Glue the leather strips to the handle. Glue the outside of both leather-wrapped sections and push them into the shell. Allow the glue to dry, so the handle attaches to the shell securely.

3. Drill holes at 3/4-inch intervals with a 3/32-inch drill bit around the outer edges of the shell. Cut a long strip of leather wide enough to cover the sides of the shell. Thread the glover's needle with sinew. Beginning with the holes nearest the handle, stitch one side of the leather strip to the upper edge of the shells, passing the needle through the holes you drilled. Repeat the process for the bottom edge to create a leather border for the shell. Before you completely stitch the shell closed, insert clay beads into the shell. Wrap excess sinew around the handle and tie it off securely. Glue both ends of the leather board to the leather plug on the handle to seal the shell.

4. Cut a 3/4-inch-wide strip of leather. Glue one end to the handle at the end nearest the shell. Wrap the handle with the leather strip until it is covered. Glue it in place. Decorate the rattle with feathers and beads according to taste.

Tips & Warnings

• When drilling holes in the shell, gently press the shell onto the drill, rather than pressing the drill into the shell. This will help to keep the shell from shattering.

References

• Nocbay Trading Company's The Learning Circle; Turtle Rattle; Loren Woerpel; 1999
• Pachanga Band of Luiseno Indians: Rattlemaking
• Mission Del Ray: Native American Rattles - Rawhide, Gourd, Turtle