Parfleche, a term used by fur traders, comes from the French pare une fleche, which means “deflects arrows.” Plains Indians used a parfleche as a travel pouch for carrying dried meats and pemmican (dried cakes made from meats, berries, and fats — a precursor of the energy bar), valuables, or other small items. Made from rawhide, they were painted with abstract designs identifiable by tribe or with maps showing the general geographical features of the surrounding land, like rivers and mountains.
Supplies
• 9” x 12” tan or cream-colored piece of felt
• ruler
• scissors
• embroidery thread, yarn, string, or leather lace
• large sewing needle with large eye
• 12” piece of raffia or leather lace
• markers
Tips
• Earth-tone markers and leather lace or raffia will give your parfleche a more genuine look.
• Look for mustard yellow, rustic orange, browns, and tans.
• Younger children can use a blunt-tipped needle.
• Thread, yarn, string, or leather lace tassels can be added to sewn sides.
• For a more authentic parfleche, use leather for the pouch.
Making the parfleche
1. Cut off the top corners of the felt piece. This will create the front envelope-shaped flap. In the center of the felt, ¾ inch from the top, make a small hole. Make a second hole in the center 1½ inches from the bottom and a third hole 2 ½ inches from the bottom.
2. Fold the felt up 4¼ inches from bottom and line up sides.
3. Thread your needle with leather lace, yarn, or string and sew ¼ inch from the edge every ½ inch along the two open sides of your parfleche. Knot both ends on each side to secure thread.
4. Take the additional 12-inch thread and loop it through the bottom holes with the thread ends facing out. This can be used as the tie when closing the parfleche.
5. Using your markers, decorate with geometric designs, like triangles, squares, and lines. Each Plains tribe had their unique design, so use your creativity.
6. Put personal treasures inside, loop one end of lose thread through third hole and tie a bow knot. Your parfleche is done!
Elizabeth Greenbaum is founder and executive director of the nonprofit ArtiCulture, an artist, and the mother of Cayla and Maia (two budding artists in their own right). Located in South Minneapolis, ArtiCulture offers visual arts education for everyone from 1 to 101. Learn more at Articulture.org.
