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.

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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!

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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