tsalagiama1607

hello all. im new to the native clothing and regalia.and i want to learn how to make a bustle can anyone give me directions. or a pattern to go by. or a website that will show me how?????

thanks,
dawn~

powwowdancer7

There's a thread on here already called bustle construction. Its under fancy feather forums.

crazywolf

Go to crazycrow.com and order a catalogue. Then get the book called "The Modern Day Fancy Dancer" available in the catalogue. It has all kinds of decent instructions on how to make stuff. Its either that or go to a pow wow and give tobacco to a fancy dancer and ask him how he did it.

Derek

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I believe in something I want to believe, not what someone wants me to believe.

beeleaf

Crazywolf, this is the book, right?

Modern Fancy Dancer Book- C. Scott Evans & J. Rex Reddick: Crazy Crow Trading Post

Iowa_Boy

But the book has problems. The history is selective, although the interviews with Chico and Joe B. are great. The book is mainly an advertisement for their kits which are not the best way to go.

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beeleaf

OK. Thanks, Iowa Boy.

crazywolf

Actually,the instructions provided in the book are better than in the kits. I made the mistake when I first started out and got the super deluxe all hackle bustle kit from Crazy Crow and followed its instructions, more or less. THe bustles lasted for a year and a half, but I went ahead and wore them for one year after that.

When I got the book, and read the directions they gave there, I could see they are a lot better. They would be good for anyone that does not have a clue as to what they are doing as far as making something. ANyone with good craft experience can make inprovements on the fly or on their next set. The big difference between the two sets is when you prepare the spikes for tieing on the hackles, in the kit they tell you to notch the feathers for the rows. In the book they tell you to notch only at the base of the bottom row. This makes for a much stronger spike. I went a step further and tied my flagging (1/8 inch satin ribbon) for the whole lenght of the feather where the hackles will be tied on, and this makes the feather even stronger.

As Iowa boy said though, the kits are definatly not a way to go, they use substandard materials, you still have to buy extra materials (like the dowel extenders) and honestly, you can get much better for a lot less. I bought my materials for my last set from crazy crow. I bought TWICE as many spikes that I needed because I know they can come damaged, same for hackles, and bought my ribbon and thread from a sewing store. The price for all of this I think was around $150 (cant remember exactly) The kits cost you around $200. I also used rawhide for my quill base loops.

Finally, use a dremel with a very small bit to drill holes for your bridal string. Using a needle to split a hole splits the feather and will make them weaker. Drilling them seems to work a lot better.

Derek

__________________
I believe in something I want to believe, not what someone wants me to believe.

lostsalt

Never use a dremel on a feather, to risky. Keep a lit candle handy. Heat the end of the needle(not too long ) it goes right thru the feather and partially melts the edge of the hole your are making, therefore no cracking or spliting

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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

sookout sh'nob

I use a Dremel with a small bit too - never had a problem with it and it's much faster for me than using a heated needle.

lostsalt

I just have horrific visions of the dremel "catching the quill" or riding up the quill making it bigger than necasarry.
I have to say there are as many ways to make a bustle, we all have our preffered methods. But if it turns out looking good, no problem.

__________________
"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

beeleaf

Thanks, guys!

Any suggestions for making them, well, um featherweight?
;~)

crazywolf

As with everything else I do, I try it on something else, a few crappy feathers to start. I also started slow, a mistake. Yeah the bit can catch and split the quill, so... Crank up the RPMs to maximum if you have a dremel with an adjustable speed. Light pressure works better than trying to force it. Its a little like wood. Let the machine do the work. Also, the bit should be the smallest wood carving bit you can get, I think its like 3/32". Its so small it looks like a ball point.

I have never tried the heated needle, but there are advantages to cuarterizing the hole for sure.

Derek

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I believe in something I want to believe, not what someone wants me to believe.

randyinkc

I use a Dremel to make my holes too. I have a drill press stand designed for Dremels that makes it easy and keeps the bit from drilling where you dont want it to....

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Randy

Iowa_Boy

I use an old 2x4 and a Sears craftsman drill, made 22 sets, working on 3 right now, never, ever split a quill. I hold the quill with my foot and drill through it into the 2x4 (so I don't drill the floors).

I think any method works if you practice it and take your time. I've developed a feel for my method over the years, may change someday, just not today.

Hey Lostsalt, I told my wife about this thread, she laughed picturing me on the floor drilling spikes with my foot holding them with my old drill.

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sookout sh'nob