What Size Should I Use?

[tsuj510]

How do you properly determne what size bustle and roach to use?

The user is 5"5' and goes about 150lbs.

Wa Do!

[tigger]

it's all personal preference. but most dancers use roaches that are 18- 22 inches long. not sure how to explain the bustles though, it would depend on how big you want it.

[Wojapi4Me]

I agree with Tigger on the roach sizes...those are pretty much across the board for most adult men.

On the bustle, I'd say a size 12.
Sorry, couldn't resist...I'm a smarta$$ I know.

Just make it where it looks good on the person and isn't too extended. If you've never made a bustle set before, maybe find someone your size who's got a bustle that you think fits them and just measure it...couldn't hurt.

[tsuj510]

I agree with Tigger on the roach sizes...those are pretty much across the board for most adult men.

On the bustle, I'd say a size 12.
Sorry, couldn't resist...I'm a smarta$$ I know.

Just make it where it looks good on the person and isn't too extended. If you've never made a bustle set before, maybe find someone your size who's got a bustle that you think fits them and just measure it...couldn't hurt.

Goot one!

Here's a link to a Stewie vid on Google:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7539237314685468196&q=family+guy

Yeah, that makes sense, measuring and all. It seems like in pictures the typical bustle like I'd want goes from the shoulder blade to the bend of the knee. I'm embaressed to admit it, but to be honest, I dont have the time or resources to put my regalia together by myself, so I was thinking about buying some pieces. I have never bought any regalia like that before, people back home made my outfits for me, so I feeli kind of wierd about it, but what can I do? I reckon as long as I can see it before I buy it and try to get an idea of who made it and their history in rrelation to the community, it might be ok.

What do you guys think? Has anyone ever bought their stuff or was it all homemade?

[turtleclaninc]

i have a 3 row bustle ( i know it looks like a satelite dish ) and i pay for it at every large dance. nowadays it seems my bustle is a target, i have to repair a lot. when i made mine several people suggested 3-4 inches past your shoulders on a u shape, 6-8 past your hips on a round...singerdads suggestion would be the best i'd say hope this helps......in answer about making VS buying i say make what you can its supposed to take time to do ...it teaches us patience and improves our artistic minds plus you put your love and medicine in your regaila then when you wear that item in the arena you share that good medicine with everyone there....out of respect..Onen

[suthernwaterbird]

you cant just ask people how you want your feathers to be. every diferent size and style bustle have diferent meanings. like for example there are horse bustles, which obviously you rode into battle in. there are the chicken bustles which were made to disguise warriors while they were hunting. so really it depends on wut tribe you are and wut story ur tryin to tell.

[southern_xtreme2k5]

i say....

i say it..... .....ask dancers in your area is your best bet besides the adivce given ^^^^^

[WhoMe]

you cant just ask people how you want your feathers to be. every diferent size and style bustle have diferent meanings. like for example there are horse bustles, which obviously you rode into battle in. there are the chicken bustles which were made to disguise warriors while they were hunting. so really it depends on wut tribe you are and wut story ur tryin to tell.

suthern,

Very interesting comment.

Bustles tell stories?

[tsuj510]

hmm...

suthern,

Very interesting comment.

Bustles tell stories?

Yeah I wondered about that too. I apprecaite it but I dont think googles gonna answer my questions and I dont think I'd want them too anyhow.. Obviously Im not going to utilize somthing that I haven't put a lot of thought into.

I didnt realise that there are so many different bustle types out there.

So an 18-22 on the roach and the bustle-I dont think a 12's gonna cut it for me-I need something bigger! AYYYE! I'm kidding, I'm solid but not THAT solid..

Thanks, Men.

[sookout sh'nob]

suthern,

Very interesting comment.

Bustles tell stories?

I don't know anything about down south, but if you hapen to be Treaty 3 area Anishinaabe and it's an eagle feather bustle, then in traditional thinking the answer is yes. There's a good legend that goes with it, but the short version is that a thunderbird spirit is present in each feather and when you put on that bustle and dance you become a messenger for the people. It's in the job description i guess. That's the long story short anyhow.

I have a smaller bustle for when I dance in urban areas and indoor arenas - people seem to go out of thier way to damage or otherwise attack my bustle in these places. Little kids pull on the feathers almost non-stop and older kids and adults are always running into me when I'm standing with my family. For cryin out loud, I must be nearly three feet wide and two meters tall with my bustle and roach on - how tough could i be too see?

That in mind, If I had to go with only one bustle, I'd reccomend a smaller bustle that is popular. Somthing that goes just past the side/hips and is maybe... I'm just spitballin here; maybe from the mid-thigh/lower mid thigh to the mid-back - nothing much past the bottom of my scapula/shoulder blade.

Mishkwahmeezhigen: Crown style - 9 inches and Crown style - 7 inches. The 7 inch roach is traditional where i'm from - How the make it is ust a deer tail with the top (from near the ***) rounded. Sometimes there was a row of deer hair added at the top. All the hair was left on the tail and it was typically worn hair said out and tied like a hair tie. Feathers and spreaders/sockets are optional.

Ahaw.

[CherokeeScoutCB]

Ok you had the same question I had a long time ago. I am 17 im 5'6 and 150lbs just like you and well it really is personal preference. My bustle has 6 inch extenders comin off of mostly 15" feathers, but that dosent need to be what you use. defiantely look at bustles in your area, and find out what they did. making a bustle isnt hard. If it dosent come out right the first time then chalk it up to experience. you have to know what you want.