Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Craftsmanship => Clothing and Other Crafts => Topic started by: Darren Haverstick on June 13, 2024, 08:27:05 AM

Title: Medicine Bag Necklace
Post by: Darren Haverstick on June 13, 2024, 08:27:05 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/pmsS82q.jpeg)

My best bud, John "Cool Johnny" Norris, asked me a while back to make him a medicine bag necklace. Due to the bag's small size, it was hard for me to come up with a design that would be functional, would look good, and would be something that I could actually sew by hand. After a few starts and stops, I settled on the bag you see here. It is made from deer hide. I'm still not crazy about how it draws to close but it is what it is.

I had a better idea for what I wanted the lanyard to look like, but that also provided some challenges. First off, I had to learn how to do a 4-strand round braid. Braiding deer lace can be a challenge because of how stretchy it is so I used suede lace which is a little more stiff. Then I had to design a clasping mechanism that I could carve out of deer antler that wouldn't be too bulky. I had a vision in my head of a hook and loop kind of clasp with the hook having wings at the end to lock it in place. That proved to be tough to carve out and I lost a bit of skin in the process. Lastly, I needed to figure out a decent way to secure the deer antler beads and turkey spurs in place. I settled on putting a metal brad through each piece and then epoxying the brad in place.

I hope it brings Cool Johnny good luck in the woods. It already has a bunch of powerful mojo in it!

Darren

Title: Re: Medicine Bag Necklace
Post by: Butler Ford 40 on June 13, 2024, 08:40:12 AM
Looks great!  Well done.  :bl th up
Title: Re: Medicine Bag Necklace
Post by: Nessmuk on June 13, 2024, 09:00:00 AM
A really clever design all around!!   :bl th up :bl th up :bl th up
Title: Re: Medicine Bag Necklace
Post by: No Powder on June 13, 2024, 03:24:21 PM
I'd carry my meds in that any day of the week. That's beautiful Darren.
Title: Re: Medicine Bag Necklace
Post by: PetahW on June 18, 2024, 06:52:53 PM
.

Great minds think alike, Darren - I made this rustic example, much the same, a few years ago.

Nice work, there.  :bl th up


(https://i.imgur.com/WSTPO2el.jpg)
Title: Re: Medicine Bag Necklace
Post by: Darren Haverstick on June 19, 2024, 12:07:30 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/a2yENmP.jpg)

I gave it to him last Saturday. He was quite pleased with it.

Darren