Buffalo Horn Choker Instructions

Hairpipe chokers served many different purposes throughout history – They adorned and protected warriors’ necks before battle, and also served to represent social standing. Hairpipe Chokers made with Brass Beads are appropriate for ‘old style’ Regalia. You can wear Hairpipe Chokers made with Glass Crow Beads with both Traditional Regalia and Contemporary Regalia.

Materials Needed:

24 – 1 1/2″ Buffalo Hairpipe
7 – Prepunched Spacers
66 – Nickel Beads
1 – 1 1/2 Abalone Disc
2 – 12″ Deerskin Laces
3 – Yards Imitation Sinew
2 – Metal Feathers
Craft Glue

You can acquire these materials separately or purchase a Buffalo Horn Choker Kit from The Wandering Bull, LLC.

Please read all instructions before you begin. Confirm that you have all the components required.

Choker Construction:

1) Start with the imitation sinew. Tie a knot in one end of the sinew 1″ from the end. Make sure the knot is larger than the holes in the choker strips (so it won’t pull out). String the end of the sinew without the knot through one end hole in the choker strip (See Figure A). Next add 1 bead, hairpipe, bead and another choker strip in the sequence shown in Figure A. Repeat 5 more times.

2) When you have used the seventh choker strip, the first row is complete! Do NOT cut the sinew. String it down and through the second hole in the choker strip to start the second row (Figure B) and repeat the bead sequence as in row one.Continue in this manner, passing through the next hole in the choker strip to create the third and fourth rows. See the stringing pattern in Figure C.

3) After the four rows are laced in proper sequence,pull the lace carefully to tighten each row of the choker to medium tension. Don’t pull it too tight or your choker will be uncomfortable to wear!

4) Now,with the correct tension, tie off the remaining long end of the sinew with a knot as shown in Figure A (Labeled “End Knot”). A drop of craft glue on the knots will help secure them. Snip off imitation sinew leaving approx. 1/2″. Tuck the remaining short ends of the imitation sinew back into the same holes to give a nice finished look (See Figure D). Note: Save the remaining imitation sinew to attach the abalone disc and feathers.

Adding the Shell Disc, Bead Drops and Metal Feathers…

5) Using the remaining piece of sinew, tie one metal feather to one end as shown in Figure E.

6) Next, string up to half of the remaining beads onto the imitation sinew. Pass the sinew through the front of one hole in the shell disc, and back through the other hole (Figure F).

7) Pass the sinew through the top bead on the first half of the bead drop (See Figure G) and string an equal number of beads. Attach the second metal feather to this end, as in Figure E.

Attach the Neck Ties:

8) Use the two deerskin laces to create the neck ties by attaching one to each end of the choker. Measure 1/2″ from the end of the lace and cut a slit through the lace 1/2″ long. (See Figure H). 9) Wrap the slit end of the lace (“End 1” in Fig. H) around the middle of the end choker strip and thread “End 2″ back through the 1/2” slit (See Fig. I). Pull snug and secure. Attach the remaining necktie to the opposite end following the same steps.