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Step-by-Step Nasqurrun Making Guide

Nasqurrun (Headdress) made with decorative trimming, beaver, wolf fur, canvas, and embellished with beads.

Prepping for Nasqurrun Making

Materials Needed:

  • Wolf fur (cut into ½" strips) – One wolf can make approximately 15-20 nasqurruns

  • Beaver fur (cut into ¾" or ½" strips) – One beaver can make approximately 10-15 nasqurruns

  • Canvas (cut to 21" wide, 10.5" height)

  • Razor (for cutting skin)

  • Decorative trim (for karaliqs - embellishments)

  • Elastic or moosehide (for ties)

  • Beads (Size 6mm or 8mm for general beading, 10mm for finishing)

  • Beading needles (Glovers size 10 recommended)

  • D-Nymo thread (Black and white)

  • Sewing machine & Thread

Traditional vs. Modern Materials

  • Brown beaver was traditionally used.

  • With the introduction of dyes, black beaver was incorporated.

  • Today, the choice of fur color is based on personal preference.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Nasqurrun

Step 1: Stretch the Wolf and Beaver Skins

  • Wolf: Split the skin, wet it, fold it skin-to-skin, and let the water soak into the fibers before stretching.

  • Beaver: Block-stretch by wetting the skin, folding it skin-to-skin, letting the water soak in, then stapling it to a plywood board.

Step 2: Cut the Fur into Strips

  • Once stretched and dried, carefully cut the fur into the designated strip sizes.

Step 3: Prepare & Decorate the Canvas

  1. Hem the edges: Fold ¼" down and sew to create a clean edge.

  2. Cut and iron:

    • Cut canvas into 21" x 10.5" pieces.

    • Fold in half and iron to create a crease.

  3. Decorate:

    • Start decorating one side only (the side with the crease).

    • Begin with karaliqs and work your way toward the end.

  4. Sew fur pieces:

    • First, attach karaliqs.

    • Next, sew beaver fur using a sewing machine.

    • Finally, layer and sew wolf fur on top.

💡 Need a visual guide? Check out my Sew Yup'ik YouTube channel!

Step 4: Finish the Edges

  • Sew both ends down with a ¼" seam to complete the edges.

Step 5: Add Beadwork

  1. Mark Placement:

    • Try on the nasqurrun and mark the end of your eyebrows—this is where the beading will start.

  2. Bead as Desired:

    • The amount of beadwork is your choice!

Step 6: Attach the Ties

  • Sew one side with elastic or moosehide ties.

  • Adjust and sew the other side accordingly.

  • Final stitching: Sew the top canvas edges together, avoiding sewing into the wolf fur.

💫 Tuai! Your nasqurrun is complete. Wiinga aqa taqua!

Nasqurrun (headdress) made with wolf, beaver, decorative trim and adorned with beadwork.

🌟 Stay Connected with Me!

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💌 Stay in Touch

📧 Email: sewyupik@gmail.com

If you would like download the PDF it is below. If you make a nasqurrun please tag me on social media. Quyana Chuck Norris!

Here is the YouTube for reference: https://youtu.be/xSdluEebTec

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Sew Yup'ik Sew Yup'ik

Qaspeq Resource List

Check out this blogpost for all the qaspeq makers and qaspeq instructors.

Qaspeq Workshop in Alarneq (Alakanuk) sponsored by AVCP Tribal Workforce Development

Please if you are a qaspeq/atikluk maker and would like to be added to the list send me a message.

Quyana!

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Sew Yup'ik Sew Yup'ik

Sew Yup'ik Uluaq Bag Pattern

It all begins with an idea.

Waqaa,

Here is a fun bag pattern that represents an Uluaq. Uluaq in Yup'ik translates to woman's knife. Below is the translation of uluaq taken directly from the Yup'ik Eskimo dictionary which can be found here at this LINK

uluaq traditional Eskimo woman’s knife shaped like a broad wedge set in a handle opposite the arc- shaped edge; semi-lunar knife; any type of knife (CAN meaning) # sometimes called ‘ulu’ in English, from the Inupiaq name for this kind of knife; the sharp edge of an uluaq is its kegginaq, the handle is its egkuaq; uluakun ulligciuq ‘she is cutting fish for drying with a semi-lunar knife’; Urluvminek- gguq tauna tan’gaurluller tegumiarrarluni. Tauna-llu-gguq aipaa nasaurluq uluamek. Nanikuangengamek taum tan’gaurlullraam tauna nasaurluq pillinia, “Uluarpegun kepqerru.” ‘The little boy clutched his bow and arrow and the girl her semi-lunar knife’. When they panicked, not knowing quite who to do, the boy told the girl, “Cut it with your semi-lunar knife.”’ (PAI 2008:400); NS, Y, NI, NUN, CAN, K, BB, NR, LI;cf. ulu; > uluara-, ulurpak; < PE ulu(3) and ulu3a3

The image above is what your uluaq bag will look like. You can create your uluaq bag however you would like. You can add a separate material for the handle. You can embellish it with qupak designs. Here is this video on my Sew Yup'ik YouTube channel I show you how I make my qupaks CLICK HERE

To make this bag pattern you will need:

Material for the outside, the uluaq bag pattern is 19" wide by 12.5" height

Material for the inside, the uluaq bag pattern is 19" wide by 12.5" height

And interfacing, I personally like to use 987F Pellon Fusible Interfacing when making these bags

10" zipper or longer

And then sewing machine, coordinating thread

To make the handle you can utilize scrap material as well, I like to make my straps 2.5" wide and iron in a fold, and then sew them together and the length is up to your liking

(I will share this in the video on my Sew Yup'ik Youtube Channel)

You can mix and match your material if you wanted to use scrap fabric for the outer material and liner material

Here is the downloadable PDF pattern to use. You will need to print it on two pages and then tape the handle to the blade pattern.

Here is the downloadable PDF pattern to use. You will need to print it on two pages and then tape the handle to the blade pattern.

Once you have the material, and the pattern printed please refer to my Sew Yup'ik Youtube channel for the instructional video. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/6nAmDHRIuxo

Or click HERE to access the video

When I have the time I will create a written downloadable instructional outlining the steps. For now please refer to my Sew Yup'ik Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/@SewYupik

Quyana for downloading this Sew Yup'ik Uluaq bag pattern. I hope you had fun creating your own uluaq bag and please if you make one and share it online tag me Sew Yup'ik. I am on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Youtube.

Copyright © 2023 Nicolette Corbett

This pattern graphic, the photos and the instructions are copyright Nikki Corbett at Sew Yup'ik. Please do not copy, publish, sell, redistribute or alter them in any way. Please do not rebrand this work as your own and sell or give it away, even if altered. This is intended for your personal use. If you would like to recommend these instructions, please pass on the original download link at Sew Yup'ik . Thank you for your understanding.

Usage – you ARE allowed to use this pattern to make things to sell on a small handmade basis, such as for craft fairs and for your Etsy shop. However it may not be used for larger scale commercial purposes without a commercial license

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