How to Make a Native American Medicine Bag or Pouch

The Native American spiritual philosophy is a kind and gentle one. I occasionally participate when my partner has a sweat in the lodge he has constructed. The lodge is built in a dome shaped with willow branches. It is then covered in hides, rugs and/or blankets to make it completely dark inside. Hot rocks, called Grandfathers, are brought in and placed in a pit in the center of the lodge.

Once the participants are seated and settled, the light proof door is closed and the ceremony begins. I will write a detailed article about constructing a sweat lodge, and explain the ceremony too, soon. Today I want to share with you how to make a Native American Medicine Bag.

A Native American Medicine Bag is worn around the neck to protect and nurture the wearer.

A Medicine Bag is quick and easy to assemble. You can decorate it with drawings, beads, hang fringe on the bottom if you choose. Each bag is a unique piece of art.

Instructions:

This project usually takes about 45 minutes.

Materials you will need;

• A 12 inch round piece of tanned leather, buckskin, deerskin, rabbit, etc.
• A smaller three to four inch square or oblong piece of leather. You can recycle old leather purses, jackets and clothes to use for your material if you don't have tanned hide available.
• A leather hole punch. If you do not have a leather hole punch you can use a sturdy sewing needle. Using a needle slows down the process but it still doesn't take very long. Use a thimble to help push your needle through the leather.
• Two or so feet of waxed, or other strong, thread.
• A small amount of herbs, weeds and/or small talisman that has meaning for you, to place inside the completed medicine bag. I have cedar for kindness, and sage for positive energy in my medicine bag. My partner has a wolf tooth in his. I made a bag for my friend and placed a 3/4 inch ceramic Buddha inside to bring her good luck and fortune. Be creative and use something that means something to you, an object that brings you comfort and solace.
• First, we will make the lace that goes around your neck. Take the 12 inch round leather and with a slow and steady hand, begin cutting around the perimeter, 1/4 inch in from the edge. When you come full circle to your starting point, drop down another 1/4 inch and go around again, and again, and again..until you have a leather lace long enough to hang the medicine bag around your neck. The lace I cut for my bag is approximately two feet long.
• Now pick up the smaller piece of leather, fold it in half and cut it in whatever shape you decide you want your medicine bag to be. Pictured above, is a bag I made recently. You will see that is is an oblong shape with rounded edges. You can leave the sides square if you like, making it easier to line up the hole punch holes.
• Take your folded piece of leather and punch holes through both sides,using the smallest setting on your punch, placing them as close together as possible. I have included instructions below for you to add fringe to the bottom of your bag for a funkier look.
• Thread your needle with the waxed thread and stitch your bag together, making sure to line up the holes correctly. Pull your stitches tight and make sure to tie of the thread securely and tightly so it won't unravel on you.
• Turn the bag inside out.
• If your bag is square or rectangular, accordion the top corners. Put your hole punch on a setting that will make a hole large enough to allow the leather lacing to go through it. Punch a hole through the accordioned edge. This will create four holes. Do this on both sides of the bag. If you have chosen a rounded top, don't accordion the edges, simply make four holes, two each lined up on both sides.
• Place your medicines in the bag, cushioning the harder objects with the herbs and weeds.
• Thread the leather lace through the four holes created in the accordioned edge, pull tight. Without cutting your leather, thread it through the four holes you created with your hole punch on the second accordioned edge, making sure to leave an equal length of lacing on both sides so the bag will hang evenly when you place it around your neck. Pull the leather tightly, take both sides of the leather lacing and gently but firmly tie the together.
• Ta-da! You have created a Native American Medicine bag to wear around your neck to protect and comfort you. A Medicine Bag is a quick and meaningful gift you can make for friends, family and loved ones.

**To add fringe to your Medicine Bag**

• Before you punch holes in your leather, separate the front and back pieces by cutting them at the bottom. Measure the bottom of your bag then cut a small piece of leather approximately 1/4 inch narrower than the bottom of your bag, in a rectangular shape. Carefully make three or so evenly spaced cuts up the leather, making sure not to cut completely through the top, leave 1/4 inch intact on one end.
• Place the fringe you have just created between the two pieces of leather you are using to make your medicine bag, intact end between the two bottom pieces of your bag, the cut ends protruding from the top of the bag.
• Using your hole punch on the smallest setting, hold all three pieces in place and go around the edge making holes as close together as possible without breaking in to one another. Make sure to pull your stitches tight.
• Turn your bag inside out and you will see you have created a decorative fringe hanging off the bottom of your bag.