Buzz
There exists a wide variety of Native American headdresses, each with its own cultural significance, utilized by over 560 indigenous tribes, bands, and nations across the United States. While some headdresses are worn as fashion statements, others, such as the warbonnet, hold sacred importance and are crafted and worn only during specific ceremonial occasions. When crafting a headdress, it's essential to respect and learn about the culture you are representing. It's important to recognize that appropriating Native American attire for events like parties or Halloween can be deeply offensive to those aware of the extensive history of violence against indigenous peoples in the United States.
Steps
Crafting a Feather Headband
Gather your materials. You'll need scissors, a tape measure, a ruler, brown construction paper, crayons or paint, craft glue or hot glue, and either feathers (as many as you desire) or additional colors of construction paper. If you opt for paper feathers, you can create one feather for every inch of the construction paper's width. However, you may also choose to purchase multiple colors of construction paper and cut one or two feathers from each sheet.
Cut a strip of brown construction paper.
Template for Native American Headdress
Design the band. Utilize markers, crayons, paint, or colored pencils to craft a vibrant pattern, perhaps drawing inspiration from tribes like the Wampanoag, Lenape, and Abenaki. Online sources or books featuring Woodland Indian tribal patterns can provide helpful patterns.
- Tribe members in the Northeast favored purple and white beads, such as the Wampanoag.
- Create a geometric motif along the band. For example, sketch a sequence of nested triangles in alternating hues. Use a ruler to maintain straight lines.
- To mimic beadwork, apply patches of color to the band.
- If working on this project with a child, provide a ruler and a limited color selection (2-4 crayons, for instance) and explain that the pattern should be consistent all around.
Secure the band. Apply a dot of adhesive on one end of the decorated side of the band. Wrap the strip into a loop and press the other end on top of the glue. Allow it to dry.
- Ensure approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) of overlap between the paper ends.
- If standard craft glue isn't strong enough, opt for a glue stick or a more robust adhesive like hot glue.
- If using real or artificial feathers, affix them now. Dab glue on the interior of the band and arrange one or more feathers upright. If using multiple feathers, position them to fan out slightly from each other.
Select paper for crafting feathers. If you lack real or artificial feathers, fashion your own by cutting fringes into colorful ovals of construction paper. Any color and quantity of feathers will suffice. Consider matching the colors used for decorating the brown band.
Cut out each feather shape. Outline a slender oval on your initial piece of construction paper. The oval should measure at least 6 inches (15 cm) in length and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in width. Proceed to cut out the oval.
Create folds and cuts for the feathers. Fold the oval shape in half lengthwise and make slits along the curved edge, ensuring they do not intersect or reach the folded edge. These slits will form the feather's shaft. Unfold the paper feather and repeat this process with other colors of construction paper.
- The folding action establishes the feather's central shaft. Don't worry if the fold isn't perfectly centered, as feathers often have asymmetrical shapes.
- After unfolding the paper, repeat the process with different hues of construction paper.
Attach your feathers to the headband. Use glue to secure your paper or craft feathers onto the interior of the headband, allowing them to dry. Position the feathers so they all emanate upward and outward from the band's center. While one feather can stand upright, the others should fan out slightly.
Sport the headband indoors. Position the headband so the feathers rest behind one ear when worn. Use this opportunity to educate about the tribe whose designs inspired the headband.
- Avoid offensive attire such as 'indigenous costumes,' particularly during Halloween.
- Be mindful of the potential to offend by avoiding actions like painting one's skin or sexualizing minority groups who have suffered from historical sexual violence.
- If dressing as someone from another culture, research and represent a specific historical figure, such as Pocahontas, rather than resorting to stereotypical portrayals.
Make a Paper and Feather Warbonnet
Collect your materials. You'll need scissors, a tape measure, a hole punch, a 2-prong paper fastener, craft glue or hot glue, corrugated fiberboard, crepe paper, and craft feathers or construction paper for making paper feathers.
Prepare the fiberboard strip. Cut a corrugated fiberboard strip 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) wide and 2 inches (5 cm) longer than the wearer's head circumference.
- Corrugated fiberboard has ridges or holes inside, making it lighter than standard cardboard but thicker.
- Opt for thin fiberboard for easier bending into a band-like shape.
- These instructions yield a 'straight-up' style warbonnet, with feathers extending vertically from the headband.
Attach feathers to the fiberboard. Apply glue dots inside the holes of the fiberboard and insert the stems of craft feathers. Let the glue dry.
- To help feathers adhere, keep the fiberboard flat and attach feathers horizontally.
- Secure feathers with craft glue or hot glue.
Secure the headband ends. Fold the ends of the headband, overlapping by 2 inches (5 cm). Punch holes in both ends and fasten them with a 2-pronged paper fastener.
- Spread prongs apart to secure the band.
- For added stability, use two fasteners on each end.
Wrap the exterior. Use cloth, beads, or red crepe paper to cover the band. The strip should be 2 inches (5 cm) wide and 1 foot (30.5 cm) longer than the band.
- Center the strip over the band, leaving 1/4-inch (0.635 cm) overhang at the top and bottom, with 6 inches (15 cm) hanging from each end.
Trim the crepe paper edges. If using crepe paper, fringe the edges by cutting 1/4-inch (0.635 cm) strips along the top and bottom.
- Your headdress is complete. Feathers should stand upright when worn.
Explore different warbonnet styles. Warbonnets vary widely, from trailer warbonnets to halo warbonnets. They were worn by tribes like the Sioux, Crow, Blackfeet, and Cheyenne to honor bravery. However, they hold sacred significance and should not be worn as costumes.
- Warbonnets symbolize great deeds and are not worn by most tribe members.
- Wearing a warbonnet as a costume is likely to offend.
Weaving a Beaded Headband
Gather your materials. You'll need beads, beading string, a beading needle, and a loom. Make or buy a loom and select beads in your desired colors. Beaded headbands were worn by various tribes, so feel free to explore traditional patterns or create your own design.
- Construct a loom by attaching combs to a sturdy surface.
- Opt for slightly elastic string for added comfort.
Plan your headband design. Beaded headbands were part of many tribal cultures, including the Cheyenne, Sioux, and Crow. Research traditional patterns or invent your own. Drawing your design on graph paper helps visualize the bead layout.
- Beaded headbands carry less spiritual significance than feathered warbonnets.
Prepare the loom. Tie beading string to one end of the loom and stretch it across, tying it to the other end. Repeat this process to create enough parallel strings for your design.
String the beads onto a long thread. Align your pattern with the loom setup, threading beads onto the string according to your design. Start counting beads from the top row and follow your pattern, alternating direction for each row.
- This ensures the beads align correctly when weaving through the loom strings.
Weave the headband. Thread the needle and weave in and out of the rows, following the pattern. Begin weaving from the top left of the loom, alternating over and under each string. After completing each row, switch direction. Check the pattern after the first five rows and adjust if needed.
- If the pattern is correct, continue weaving the next five rows.
- If there's an error, undo the rows and reevaluate the bead count.
Finish it off. Measure the wearer's head and weave until reaching the desired length. Cut the headband free, tying the loose threads together to secure the beads. Optionally, add a large bead and loop closure for a decorative finish.
- Trim any excess thread for a neat appearance.
- Alternatively, tie knots on each side and connect them when wearing the band.
- If the size is perfect, tie the ends tightly for immediate wear.
Helpful Tips
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Research the meanings of designs and colors for a culturally-sensitive headdress.
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For a sturdier option, use a 2-inch wide leather strip instead of paper. Attach feathers with a hot glue gun and embellish with sewn beads.
