IndianaDancers

I am making my son his second set of Bustles. I really created the first set blind, but have some good info for this next set. However, I haven't really seen any good info on the mount, how the top set stays around the shoulder or neck? The first set was set up with a strap around the neck and one around the chest, but it was uncomfortable around the neck choking him...LOL hard to dance when you can't breath!



Jr. Head Dancers Regalia mistress lolol

WhoMe

Indiana,

Get two extra thick and extra long shoe strings. Drill a hole on the upper corners of his mount and tie one shoestring to each hole.

Once this is done, pull both shoe strings over the shoulders then under the arms and tie the shoestrings together on his back. (same concept as a backpack).

I hope this helps.


WhoMe

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Furiously-Fancy

I respect WhoMe's advice. This is how my Dad and Uncles used to tie theirs on.

Here are my variations to that method. Use scarves or handkerchiefs (most are fairly short so you would have to use several) around the posts and over the shoulders cross the scarves in front pull them around the back then bring them back in front and tie them under the cape around the upper abdominals.

I find the scarves to be more comfortable than the strings. Also if they're tied in the front it's a lot easier when you don't have an assistant.

This is how I fasten my top hackle bustle.

The eagle bustles are a lot easier, because I can handle that top bustles tied around my neck.

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lostsalt

[quote=Furiously-Fancy;1128093]I respect WhoMe's advice. This is how my Dad and Uncles used to tie theirs on.

Here are my variations to that method. Use scarves or handkerchiefs (most are fairly short so you would have to use several) around the posts and over the shoulders cross the scarves in front pull them around the back then bring them back in front and tie them under the cape around the upper abdominals.

I find the scarves to be more comfortable than the strings. Also if they're tied in the front it's a lot easier when you don't have an assistant.

This is how I fasten my top hackle bustle.


The Honorable WHOME and Honorable Furiously-Fancy
have mentioned 2 of the best methods.
He is my personal variation on the top bustle.
I also use scarves, they do not dig in as bad as string, rope, straps.
I drill holes in the 4 corners of the backboard. String the scarves thru the hole (1 per hole).
The top 2 i bring over the shoulders and around the neck. I tie a good knot with about a fist of room between the knot and your adams apple.
The the bottom 2 come from underneath your armpit. 1 under the top loop you already tied the other 1 over. Tie off in a good knot.
Hideing all the scarve knots under your yoke.
BUt that is just me. I've been wanting to experiment with "backpack method'"with padded straps and an anchor point in the front.
N E Way, lots of ways to do it.

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crazywolf

Boozhoo niji,

I can see everyone is putting up their methods, and mine is a little different so I thought I would add it.

My shoulder bustle is tied on with silk. You can buy it by the yard at any fabric store and its pretty cheap, less than $5 a yard, and you only really need one yard of it. The piece you get is about 3 fee by 4 or more feet, depending on how they folded the fabric at the factory. My mom took and made two tubes out of this that were pointed at the ends, if you folded one in half it would be about 6 inches wide,and about 4 feet long.

My backboard is set up pretty much like everyone elses but constructed different, but we will not get into that, holes in the four corners is fine for now. I tie the two "scarves" into a square knot and make one long peice. This is good because you can adjust the length of the whole thing that way. pull the ends from the back to the front, so that the knot goes out the back underneath the feathers. That way your son will not feel the knot.

Now the way I do mine I do not need anyone to help me, had to do it this way because I dont have anyone to help me. So I got used to doing things by myself. Your son should be able to hold his bustle with one hand, over his shoulder, and reach with the opposite had behind him, and grab the scarf on that side, and pull it under his arm, and then thread it through the top hole. Little note here, my holes are about 3/4 inch large. Then he can take and do that with the other side. So now he should have two scarves going around his shoulders like a backpack. Once they are threaded through the top holes he can tie them around his neck, tight enough so they dont slip but loose enough to be comfortable.

The silk stays supple for 2-3 pow wows and then needs to be washed. You need to iron them as well, they tend to get a memory of where the little folds are when they get bunched up. Iron silk with medium heat.

I have been wearing my bustles like this for almost 10 years now. I can go to a pow wow, get dressed at noon and stay dressed for the whole pow wow, until they close down around midnight or whenever. It leaves a little red mark around my neck, but its not rope burn, and the mark goes away in an hour or so.

Good luck with your sons new regalia.

Derek

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Iowa_Boy

Another variation which I learned at the Meskwaki Proclamation Powwow last summer getting dressed with a bunch of fancy dancers, I use the "backpack method" but cross the "scarves" in front. It gives a little more "control" over the top bustle. Additional scarves can be tied to the uprights and tied around the neck for more support.

Also some guys use elastic with buckles for the top bustle as well.

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IndianaDancers

Thanks guys! Those are some great ideas! I have another question for the lostsalt,and the bustle construction..When your are preparing the spikes, and measuring off the 5" and 1.5" for the hackles, is the original measurement from tip to end of the spike? For instance; my spike is 15" long..on the ruler I should have approximately how quill? Then 5" up from that the feather, then he 1.5 sgments for the hackles...I hope that made sence, I am on my mobile and can't really follow my thread..

crazywolf

I have tried that, the length of my silk lets me try just about anything I want, but for some reason I totally did not like it. It was harder to do, because I crossed them under my cape, had to thread them through and everything, and I guess having something across my chest like that made it harder for me to breathe or something. I did not notice any extra control over my neck bustle.

I am not saying that this wound not work for someone else, its just not my thing. I get plenty of ricking motion just tieing it around my shoulers and neck.

Derek

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Iowa_Boy

It also matters where you wear the bustle, either up high on the base of your neck or down low between your shoulder blades. Also it depends on the size or the shape of your bustle, as well as the size and shape of your bustle backboards.

Whatever you do, just make sure that they are on well and comfortable. If they are loose and you are constantly fiddling with them, or if they hurt (too small attachments,like shoestrings that dig into your armpits) they you cannot really get into the song because you have stuff bothering you. Its like any other part of the outfit, it has to fit and be comfortable to some degree so you can dance with it. Some guys are look great before grand entry but fall apart when they start to move.

On a related note, I use elastic on my armbustles, shoe string ties hurt too much. Elastic does not hurt and contrary to what you may think, they never slipped down or fallen off, and they are easy to get on and off.

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lostsalt

Well make sure read the bustle construction thread.
But here is a shorter answer. I dont know about the five inches, the more fletching you have to work with the better.
I dont make that mweasurement until later after I've inserted the dowel rods.
You need to know the approximate size you want the bustles. Once you have that measurement. Then you can decide how long to make the dowels. You want good strength on the tips Find the weakest link feather of the ones you are using. The one that has the lest amount of good fletching, the one that has the shortest weakest tip. it will determine if you have at least five inches plus hackles room(what every you're using).Then straighten,insert rods, glue, measure ,cut , wrap.

Uhhh.... did that answer your question? I ususally cut the spike right @ the end of the fletching(making sure it will take the rod). Then measure

Lostsalt

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"Now remember, things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is." JW

IndianaDancers

Well, thank goodness for Blackberry phones! Okay, I think it's a good explanation.. what I am looking for is, where do you begin the measurements for the hackle cuts... from the tip or the quill end? I think I got it! Thanks!!

Lorie
Dalton
Josie

kneegrow_native

I had a metal plate surgically installed near the top of my shoulder blades with four snap mounts, then I just snap on my bustle, before that I would just duct tape it on, it kinda hurt peeling it off though........LOL...just kidding guys...sorry!!!!

I used to go with the method prescribe by FF.

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