How to Make an Indian Chest Piece Necklace

Breastplates are part of Plains tribes' regalia.

A Native American breastplate epitomizes the image of proud Plains Indians. Traditional Native American dress or regalia often includes a breastplate. The chest pieces were originally used as a type of armor, and later they were worn only for important ceremonies. Breastplates were made of long shell, bone or buffalo horn beads called hair-pipe. Hair-pipe beads are available for making authentic traditional breastplates for regalia and ceremonial use, but substitutes such as polymer clay beads can be used for costume work.

Things You'll Need

• 80 4-inch hair-pipe beads
• 40 1 1/2-inch hair-pipe beads
• 25 yards thin leather lacing
• 160 3/8-inch round beads in color A
• 50 3/8-inch round beads in color B
• 4 17-inch by 5/8-inch pieces of strap leather
• Leather punch
• Awl
• Leather lacing cord
• Needle nose pliers
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Use a leather punch or awl to make 42 holes in a piece of strap leather. Space the holes 3/8-inch apart, beginning 1/2 inch from the top. Repeat with the other four pieces of strap leather.

2. Cut a 15-inch piece of leather lacing cord and thread it with one of the round Color A beads. Thread through the second hole from the top of a leather strap. Add a 4-inch bead and another leather strap. String a round bead of color B, a 1 1/2-inch bead, and a color B bead on the cord. String on the third leather strap, a 4-inch bead, the fourth leather strap and a color A bead.

3. Center the leather cord. Push the beads snugly against one another and knot the ends of the cord close to the beads. Make 39 more rows, stringing the parts in the same order.

4. Cut two 9-inch-long pieces of lacing cord. Thread one cord through the top hole in the left leather strap. String 20 beads in color A. Thread the lace through second leather strap. Snug the beads together and knot the ends. Repeat on the right side. Cut two pieces of lacing cord and attach to the center of each bead loop as neck ties.

5. Cut two pieces of lacing cord as waist ties. Attach one through the bottom hole of the left-hand leather strap and knot. Repeat on the right side. Trim the row laces to form an even fringe.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the fit before adding the waist cords. Remove rows to adjust the breastplate if it is too long. Thread the waist cords in the hole next to the last row of beads. Trim off excess leather straps.

References

• "Powwow"; Ben Marra; 1996
• "Plains Indians Regalia & Customs"; Michael "Bad Hand" Terry; 2010