MDC

Plains Indian Dress

Materials

Review general instructions on leather-working and gather the items listed under basic materials.

Procedure

1. Obtain two large deer hides. Each hide should be long enough for desired length of dress. (Three hides may be needed if the dress is to have a yoke.) Cut as shown, using either pattern A or B.
2.  Lay the hides, right sides facing each other, matching the head, ends and sides.
3. For pattern A, sew shoulder seams, leaving sufficient neck opening. For pattern B, attach yoke to front and back sections of dress as shown. Cut neck opening.
4. Sew sides using a whipstitch. Leave sufficient openings between the side seams and shoulder seams to allow movement of arms.
5. Either fringe edges of the leather as shown or attach separate fringe. Decorate with cowrie shells or beadwork.