How To Attach Metal Cones – Craft Tutorial

How To Attach Metal Cones – Craft Tutorial
Native American Crafts - Attaching Metal Cones
Photo 1 – Woodland bag, earily 1900’s. Cones atached with knot and fringe sewn into the bag seam.

We have looked back over the years we have been doing this and can offer a few techniques and planning ideas. The use of small metal cones as a decorative piece goes back to the early trade period when metal items like these were introduced to Native American crafters as trade goods. (Photos 1 and 2)

Native American Crafts - Attaching Metal Cones
Photo 2 – Plains style bag. Fringe added to bag through awl holes and cones crimped.

 

Today the small decorative cones are available in tin, aluminum, brass, and copper. Sizes vary from 1Ú2 inch in length to 11Ú4 inch. All are slightly smaller at the top than at the bottom. That fact is what is used to invent ways to make them stay where you want them to on either cloth or leather fringe.

Whether you use them on fringe that is already part of your design or whether you sew the fringe into an item after you mount the cone is something you need to plan after you learn the basic ways to attach cones.

Native American Crafts - Attaching Metal Cones
Photo 3 – Crimp Method. Cones are crimped after threading fringe halfway into the cone. Crimp them with a jewelry pliers for cleanest look. A 1/16 inch wide crimp looks good.

The simplest look is just the dangled cone without any extension. If the fringe is attached to the item already and there isn't enough room to pull the fringe all the way through the cone and tie a knot, simply cut a small point on the fringe, push it into the top of the cone about half way down inside, and tightly flatten the top edge with a pliers. (Photo 3)

A note about modern materials though. If your cone is plated, you can not use this flattening method as that flakes off the plating. This applies to silver plating as well as any other metal plating. The long nose pliers is another trick. They now are readily available with smooth metal inside jaws for jewelry making. It's best to use them instead of the ones found in a hardware store.

Native American Crafts - Attaching Metal Cones
Photo 4 – Inside knot method. Tie knot Pull cone down over knot.

If you have enough room to extend the fringe through the cone, pull it out the other side. Using a scissors, cut the fringe in half down the center. Tie a knot. Then pull the knot back into the cone until it is snug. In this style, you can either cut off the fringe at the knot so it does not extend below the cone, or leave it long and let it extend for a double fringe extension look. (Photo 4)

Native American Crafts - Attaching Metal Cones
Photo 5 – Tie on a decoration and pull into cone.

Other decorative materials like horse hair or ribbon can be attached to the fringe knot before pulling it into the cone. The plan has to be that you either attach the fringe to the item after you have positioned the cone end, or you have to plan enough room to do all this with the fringe attached to the item. That means you need to know your whole plan before you start cutting your pattern pieces. (Photo 5)

Native American Crafts - Attaching Metal Cones
Photo 6 – Cones are threaded on the fringe like beads.

One other way to use cones is to thread them on a fringe like a bead. In this style, the width of the fringe is planned to tightly hold the cone in place, but still allow you to pull it through the cone. To do this, make the fringe longer than needed. Using a scissors, cut a thin starting piece about as long as the cone. Thread the cone with the fringe point, put it into position, then cut off the fringe to the final planned length. (Photo 6)

There are probably other ideas out there being used. Finding them is  the challenge and the fun of crafting.

Copyright: 2005 by Loren Woerpel, Noc Bay Publishing, Inc.

Last Updated on December 13, 2023 by Paul G

About Paul G

Paul G is the founder PowWows.com, who wears many hats as a business coach, photographer, and collector of quirky shirts. Paul started PowWows.com in 1996 while pursuing his graduate degree. With a passion for travel, he and his family hav  traveled the world, capturing unforgettable memories and photos. When he's not coaching or clicking, he's indulging in the magic of Disney.


2 Comments on “How To Attach Metal Cones – Craft Tutorial”

  • Avatar for Hehaka Gleska

    Hehaka Gleska

    says:

    I recently moved far away from access to my supplies and though I have everything else reasonably available, I was down to two agonizing cones. My beadwork was piling up without any finishing touches, and as we all know, if you work on something for a long time, you can’t wait to see it done! Out of desperation I grabbed a pair of shears and cut down a tin soda can into squares and hand rolled a few on a skinny screw driver, and it totally worked! I’s kind of dangerous, so BE CAREFUL if you try it. Also, it gave my stuff a really old timey feeling that was really nice, and I just imagined all my aunties back in the day doing the same thing trying to make something pretty. Store bought is cool, but knowing I made every thing myself feels better to me.

  • Avatar for bearcat

    bearcat

    says:

    One can never have too many good ideas on file when crafting … enjoyed this tutorial!

    Nyawh:gowa

    🙂

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