Neck Bags

[KLWeaver]

Hi there, I have just started crafting with leather and have made some neck/medicine bags, just wanted to see your thoughts?

 

[Cruzatte]

I like the beads strung on the fringe on Bag #1. And the brass cones are a nice touch on Bag #2. For general purposes, the color of the leather in Bag #1 is OK. I'd go with Bag #2 if my customers were serious about rendezvous. Next thing I'd do is study the decorative arts of a chosen culture, perhaps one in your area. I see you're location listed as Ohio. How about investigating the Shawnee, or Delaware and see how they might have created such objects.

 

[Artificer]

I know almost nothing about neck bags. What was their use and historic period? Were they worn by either men or women?

In my early buckskinner days in the 70's, I made a small medicine pouch that I wore around my neck and decorated it with beads in the Crow fashion. Is that the purpose of the pouches you are making or something else?

Oh, I do like the beads on the fringe on the first pouch.

Gus

 

[bubba.50]

in my limited experience, neck bags are worn around the neck but under the shirt. for me personally i believe that heavy braided strap would really rasp on me after a very short while.

my opinion & free of charge.

 

[BrownBear]

I used one for years, but actually quit before I started using muzzleloaders.

Mine was probably a little bigger than yours, but I carried a small pipe and a day's supply of tobacco in it. Purty neat and handy. Pipe and fixings were easy to get to, even in raingear and a downpour- the big reason I wore it rather than any sense of style.

I wore it inside my shirt all the time, so I figured no problem in our brush. But somehow one day I managed to snag the cord on a pretty stout stob as I was sliding down a slick steep hill.

Came very close to strangling myself. After that I switched down to a lightweight cord just so it would break free if that ever happened again.

 

[KLWeaver]

I know almost nothing about neck bags. What was their use and historic period? Were they worn by either men or women?

Both men and women would use them for anything that they would need regularly. Natives would wear several at a time. Anything from medicines, tobacco and pipes, trinkets, etc. I am not sure about the period they were used in but I know that lots of painting of native or mountain men, I've seen dated pre 1820, most the time medicine/neck bags were seen.

I usually see them worn outside the shirt, though trekkers, hunters, other people on the move would tuck them into their shirts, especially if the bag was filled with a personal memento.

 

[KLWeaver]

I also have made a bunch that aren't with braided straps not only because I liked the look of a simpler strap, I thought the braid made be scratchy if someone was wearing more than one at a time.

 

[Calum]

'morning,

I wear a medallion with the cord of braided artificial sinew, and even new it doesn't rasp. But after a couple of days to a week, it was nice and soft. I'd think the leather braid would do the same.

Sometimes I'll also wear a neck knife (also braided artificial sinew) and I was very pleased to find that they didn't tangle.

Calum

 

[KLWeaver]

I didn't even think about using sinew. Is it a very thin strap?

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

I didn't even think about using sinew. Is it a very thin strap?

http://www.crazycrow.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?


search "sinew" from the sight. I tried posting the submenu with the sinew listed, but it only pasted as the main page....

I own a couple rolls of natural colored artificial sinew, the artificial stuff looks kind of cheap and junky.

 

[omarick1948]

Back in the late 70's and early 80's, I had a friend that made and beaded dozen's of little neck bags for guys to carry their BIC lighters. I still see a few of these around today, but now they like to call them emergency fire starter bags!...... :rotf:

 

[Tallswife]

Hubby has two he alternates between, one with pipe and tobacco, and a second that's a fire starting kit.

Nice work!

 

[S.Kenton]

I like neck bag #1 I like the color and with the exception of the beads, it's more of a native design. It also could have been used by a long hunger in a trade with the natives. The Shawnee tribe used a lot of vibrant colors in their ceremonial dress and a neckbag of that style and color would fit into almost any middle to late 18th century persona..thanks for sharing!

 

[KLWeaver]

I have a roll of sinew, but was just thinking that braided sinew would be very thin.

 

[KLWeaver]

Haha, I made a few of those too!

 

[KLWeaver]

Hey thanks for the positive comments. I made several (different colors) in that style because they're just too cute but wanted to try different styles.

It seems most people like the design of #1 better.

 

[Calum]

Sorry for the slow response, life caught up to me in the form of a stomach bug.

Yup, Obi-Wan's link is very similar, except mine came from Jas Townsend.

Here's a photo. It's a simple three strand braid, and this has been worn virtually 27/7 for the past year.


Calum

 

[KLWeaver]

Thank you for the photo! I appreciate the clarity. I really like how clean the braid looks, I'll definitely be making some more like that.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

Really nice work!

I might make one suggestion though. On the second bag instead of having the stitching exposed, turn it inside out. You can still put the fringe on it by cutting the fringe in a piece of leather leaving it attached at the top. Then set it in between the two pieces of leather with the fringe pointing up towards the opening and sew it in as a welt at the bottom of the bag.

Then, when you turn it inside out, the seams will all look like those in your first bag and you'll still have the fringe hanging down. Then put the brass cones on to finish it.

Just a suggestion...

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:
Dan

 

[Rifleman1776]

I have always thought of them as being medicine bags.
I have a heart shaped neck bag I'm fond of. At ronny I used it to carry money. Money is good medicine. :wink: