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Tying a Turban.
One afternoon I happened to be discussing native traditions with friends, one
of whom is an African immigrant, the other an African-American historian very
interested in material goods and life ways of African-descent slaves in the
Southeastern US. Eventually the conversation came around to turbans.
These two ladies proceeded to teach me several ways to tie a turban as it has
descended from Sub-Saharan Africa. I don't pretend this is a documented
method of tying turbans among Southeastern Natives, though the clothing styles
of white and black people in the Southeast did affect native clothing styles.
| These instructions tie the
turban backwards. I was told it is easier for novices to do that
way, and tend to agree. When I do it the other way, I get the part
that covers the top of my head all tangled up. Special thanks to Sam for
being a head model.
At right is "Ah-yaw-ne-tah-car-ron" - a Menominee by George
Catlin. notice the double wrapped, tied in the front style of turban
he is wearing. Though not southeastern, this image does show the
turban wrap very clearly.
Start with a square of
cloth. Silk, lightweight wool, cotton print, or even linen will do,
but should be a fabric available in the time period you represent.
As it was a piece of dress clothing, a fine fabric is suitable.. 36
x 36 inches is a good size for an average person.
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| Fold the square of
cloth in half diagonally. The length of the fold should be more than
twice the diameter of your head. For example, a person who wears a
size 7 hat would need at least a 44" diagonal measure.
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| Fold approximately 2-3" up
from the center towards the point of the triangle. Continue folding
3 or 4 times until you have a "cuff" with a point on top that is
long enough to span from your forehead to the nape of your neck. (image at
right) |
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| Place the folded cloth around
your head, with the "cuff" outward. arrange the tail and
sides neatly. |
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| Twist the ends enough to allow
you to tie an overhand knot -- like the first part of tying your
shoe. Pull this pretty tight right now. The cuff on this is
really too wide for Sam's head, so isn't making a very narrow knot. |
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| Take the ends that are dangling
and bring them up, tucking them in between the "cuff" and the
"triangle". A mirror helps in getting it all tucked in,
especially at first, but do the initial tuck by feel unless you're really
good at thinking in reverse. |
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| Once both sides are tucked in,
grab the end of the "triangle" and pull it snug, tucking and
folding loose edges in. If you got the triangle size just right, you
won't have many loose edges to tuck in, and only a little tail will hang
down in back. |
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| Right side view of nearly
completed (but backwards) turban. |
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| Ok, we messed it up taking it
off and putting it back on facing the right direction; that's one of the
problems of tying it on someone else :-). Once you've rearranged it,
or tied it in the right direction in the first place, you can take the
tail of the triangle, pull it snug again, and wrap it up over the front. |
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| Variations: If it's long
enough, wrap it all the way around twice, without the overhand knot, then
tie a square knot in the front or back. You should attempt to get a
smooth overlap on the first pass. See several of the images on the
"Turbans" page, or the image at the
top of this page, for what I mean by "smooth overlap". You
can tie a square knot or just an overhand knot in the back after wrapping
twice and let the ends hang down your back.
At right is me wearing a double wrapped, tied in the back style.
Ken Purdy is wearing his wrapped once and tied, more of an early
style. Appropriate since he's only part Choctaw ennyhow...(said
tongue in cheek) This photo was donated by Terri, and is from
Westville's "Creek War", 2002.
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