I've been trying to work out how to place the ribbons on my husband's shirt. Our friends only had 1 to fit him and it's made with a patterned cloth. I love the pattern, but it's been problematic trying to add the ribbon around it. I looked for samples, hoping for a little inspiration, and stumbled on a few articles about the evolution of ribbon shirts.

It was basically an assimilation thing. I guess the sensibilities of the European settlers were shook a bit by traditional Native attire, or lack thereof. With trade came European style clothing and I certainly inherited the "Decorate It" gene from my Mother's People. A shirt with no collar is considered the Traditional style, a stand up collar is attributed to the Cherokee and the full collar to the western Tribes. Ribbon work dates back to the early 1600's, beginning on the East Coast with European contact and then progressing north and west.

After the Revolution, the French government decreed all clothing to be simple. That must have left all the French ribbon makers with a ton of inventory, they shipped to the New World. And Voila, a new artform spreads across America.

Well, it's makes sense and also makes for one weird connection. My husband is German/Portugese, but as a veteran, his participation is required in some things at Pow-wow. He needs to be dressed appropriately, so I guess he is being assimilated, reversely.

The website Powwows.com has some awesome examples of ribbon work and instructions.

Unless you are trying to be absolutely accurate, ribbons shirts, like regalia, are pretty much decorate as you like. At the pow wow Sunday, there were ribbon shirts that had giant chevrons of ribbons on the front like a chest plate, all the way to a few fluttering pieces at the yoke of the shirt.

3 years ago I had a ribbon shirt made that incorporated symbols of my uniformed years. I found an NA seamstress that would take on my challenge and she did more than I expected (& for a lot less than originally quoted). She took it as more of an honor to a veteran than an artistic enterprise. I haven't had the shirt out for a couple months & trying to remember the exact details. Can send pictures after accessing a different computer.

Having served in both the Marines & Navy, it was only fitting to use the service colors: Scarlet/Gold & Blue/Gold, respectively. Thus, the ribbon work is center of wide (3/4 - 1", I believe) gold bordered by 1/2" each scarlet & blue. The verticals on the back & chest have the gold cut to yield upward pointing red arrowheads. (This also goes well with my involvelment with the Boy Scouts' Order of the Arrow)

Now the kicker - the material is light nylon in a Vietnam era 4-color camouflage. A 'stand-up' collar of the choker-style Dress Whites or Marine Dress Blues.

I have got to locate a couple more 16/0 seed bead colors to do a lane stitch pattern of my military ribbons to wear on the left breast of the shirt. Also intend to applique a set of Naval Aviator Wings to wear above the beaded ribbons.

Have had many positive comments at Pow Wows & other NA venues where I've worn the shirt. Run into some that ask when I plan to get the beadwork completed. My reply, 'After I locate Kelly & Pine/Forest Green size 16s.'

Very interesting topic, lcp. Sounds like you have yet another great project ahead of you. I would love to see the results of your shirt.

I would also love to see a pic of your ribbon shirt, Beetle.

When researching for more info, I came across this interesting site with many different versions/thoughts on the origin of the ribbon shirt. It is fun to read everyone's entries at this site: Canku Ota - On Ribbon Shirts

Beetlemess, your shirt must be awesome. Would love to see a picture. I have no experience with ribbon work. Thankfully my husband likes things simple. I'll post a photo when it's completed, as soon as I find the instructions Phyllis so graciously provided.

I'll backtrack after re-reading my post; shirt is actually more of a polyester blend.

Having picture posting instructions would be helpful on this end also. Had a few problems last night.

Thanks for the picture posting directions, Wendy.

Did attempt to see if pictures of the shirt was still held online at abnother site. Nope.

But did come across this collared shirt that is done up very simple with the colors layered to match the campaign ribbon. www.redlodgeemporium.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HKVETS

Thanks for the link! It's a website I hadn't found yet. Now I'm wishing we had a solid fabric shirt so I could do the ribbonwork in Navy colors. However, the colors in the shirt we have are my favorites, browns and greens. I'll just have to work with what I have.

Would it be inappropriate for him to wear his silver dolphin pin on the shirt? Most of the other vets without ribbon shirts wear denim vests and caps with their military patches and pins. I've seen Navy chief crows on men's aprons. Just want to make sure his wearing the dolphin pin on the ribbon shirt is OK.

The wearing of veteran acruements can only be summed up by, 'What's the buzz around the circle?'

I've seen Gourd Dancers with the mini-medals on their blanket/shoulder drapes. I've followed a Navy Captain with his rank Eagles & Surface Warfare pin on his rear apron. I'd love to put my WINGS on my chest again - either the pin or the one I plan to bead. Even designing the shirt to have chevrons or service hash marks seem as though they would be welcomed. These are the coup feathers of today's freedom preservers.

I was very apprehensive in donning the cami-ribbon shirt, thinking that it would stray from the more traditional calico/solid shirts of the Mid-Atlantic circles. I was WRONG! I've been asked where I got it; can I get a picture to make a similar copy; would you be offended if I made one like yours... Flattered along with knowing that I got a veteran-discount in the price I paid. (Just learned that the responsible seamstress is no longer doing ribbon shirts.)

Earlier in the life of the cami-shirt, I asked other veterans/members of the circle if there was any dissention should I bead the ribbons, instead of wearing them or mini-medals. They keep asking when I am going to have it done. Still looking for the two shades of green 16/0 seeds. Just this morning at the uniform shop, I picked up the ribbon attachments that I will need when I do the lane-stitched beaded ribbon rack. Each ribbon comes out to be a 13 x 29 beaded rectangle and I'd be willing to share the pattern for the dozen I received. I decided to use 16/0s but they can be done with 11/0s or 12/0s.

So I guess it just depends where you are and who you are with. The good thing about wearing a pin, if it's not appropriate, you can simply remove it. My husband has been welcomed with open arms and hearts into the vet group at St. George. I'm sure they will let him know before he enters the Circle, if something isn't quite right with his attire.

All this reminds me of a situation I had with my Mother, who is retired Army. Before she retired, we were at a Pow-wow in SC and she didn't wear her shawl for the Veterans Dance. "I'm in the Army, I don't need a shawl." After much discussion, I ended up walking over to ask John Blackfeather, the MC, to set us straight. He smiled and asked, "How old is your Mother?" I told him and his reply, "I'm her Elder and she wears a shawl."

I must admit, I laughed all the way back.

Okay, let's see if I can do some magic...

Front - back - side

Gee - I really forgot what it looked like. Gonna havta get out more.

Awesome pics, Beetle! That is really a great shirt. Thank you so much for sharing with us. I am really impressed.

You did a fine job of learning how to post pictures.

Posting Pix: Resultant of patient mentors with excellent instructions. Thank you, Phyllis & Wendy.

I used a Facebook album as the resident placeholder for the files & had/have comments coming in from acquaintances who hadn't seen it either. Glad you approved of the shirt.

Your shirt is AWESOME! Thank you so much for the pictures. You've got me trying to figure out how to incorporate my husband's hash marks on the sleeves. I don't think he would like to include his medals. For some reason they are fairly irrelevant to him. He didn't even want a shadow box for his retirement, but I made sure he had one to be presented at the retirement ceremony. He is proud of his submarine service, but doesn't know where his dolphin pin is. I might need to pick one up before October. Thanks again for the pictures and the website link.

Thanks & good luck on your endeavor.
It is the spirit put into the shirt that makes it truly a part of the wearer. Adorn it in any manner he desires - it is him and a reflection of how he sees himself.

That statement certainly confirms something for me. The shirt we have won't work for the adornment which "suits" him. It was the only one available to fit at the time and I liked the pattern. However, the pattern placement on the sleeves is off, so I can't do the hash marks. It would look goofy, as my husband put it.

So I'm onto Plan B. A new shirt of plain fabric which I can decorate to suit his tastes. He'll end up with 2 ribbon shirts and my dress isn't even started:-)

Lucky him... Nice to have a spare for the circle if one gets soiled.

Was it a shirt that fit him & he claimed it would do? There's a start toward a basic shirt. A 'veteranized' one can be the formal, show-off shirt.

Ulp... Sorry about any delays in your dress.

That was my thought, a casual one "that will do," and a more formal one adorned to his tastes, in case they need a flag bearer for Grand Entry again. But he might also get to wear the formal one at our daughter's rehearsal dinner. The groom grew up in Texas, and his parents are hosting a Western dinner. I asked my daughter if her future in-laws would mind a few Indians showing up, and a nice ribbon shirt for my husband would fit the bill. They didn't specify "Cowboys" only.

A lil 'Cowboys & Indians' before the big event?

Grand Entry - absolutely - with or without bearing a banner/flag. I'm usually in with the Vets right behind the flags, but I was asked last year to bear the National Colors & was lucky to live only minutes away to grab the shirt.

<of course, I'm the kind of guy that showed up at a 50's themed party dressed in 1850's garb. Duh, they didn't say 1950's>

To funny

I happened to stumble onto the comments made by the seamstress concerning my ribbon color choices, beyond the Marine scarlet/gold & Navy blue/gold:

All colors are good. You have chosen a medicine combination that will bring healing to your spirit. I will put red arrows at the center for the warrior surround him with the blue healing and protect the union with gold roads of spirit protection. You have chosen well.

That is so wonderful, Beetle. Our choices of color is so important. She is a good seamstress and very spiritual.

My husband continually amazes me. Without me even mentioning it, he picked up a dolphin and USN pin at the Exchange yesterday for his ribbon shirt. I can't believe he remembered! Maybe it was our recent visit to the Tribal Grounds that reminded him. I think the "Reverse Assimilation" is complete.

While I was out in the woods, spooking deer, he was in the Library listening to stories. Clan Mother asked him about my People. My Tribe is very small and he had to expand a bit geographically before he hit some Tribal names they recognized. On the way home he joked he should have told Clan Mother the name of his tribe. It's hard enough trying to explain where the Beaver Creek are. I can only imagine them trying to figure out where the "Germanagee" are. That's my husband's German/Portagee family with about 15 members.

I would love to see a pic of his ribbon shirt.

Why were you out "spooking" the deer, lcp?

I was referring to when I was out alone on the boardwalk and both I and a deer got spooked. Still thankful, it wasn't the resident Momma black bear and cub.

Thank goodness for that! You ran into her once didn't you?

No I haven't crossed paths with the Momma bear, just the one large buck in the woods. He was a big deer for this area. I was standing on the boardwalk which is elevated about 3 feet. When I caught a glimpse of the white and brown of his neck and chest, it was slightly lower than my head. Combined with the loud thump of his toes as he scrambled, it was a Big Buck.

Several people at the Tribal Grounds have seen the Momma bear and cub.

unless I was between the sow and cub, I honestly wouldn't be too concerned bout a bear. But that is just me having grown up in the woods.

Now if the bear was wearing a ribbon shirt I would hesitate to cross paths with it.

We saw a mule deer buck a few days ago, with the largest rack we have ever seen. My brother was just having a fit trying to get close enough to take a pic. The deer was in someone's pasture and kept going away from us. Brother even drove around the neighborhood of farms to get to the main road, where the deer was heading -- but, by the time we got there the deer was no where to be found.

Now, I'd hesitate getting close to a buck that has a ragged ribbon shirt in his antlers...

That would be a real fright, for sure!

I've posted about completing my husband's ribbon shirt in other threads, but had to add this here. I talked with the vendor we had purchased the shirt from and she suggested I not put "ribbon dangles" on the back as they get caught in a sash. As soon as I finished the last ribbon cut, my husband walked up. I think he heard me yell. I turned it around and he immediately asks, "Where's the 'danglies' on the back?"

So the shirt is not COMPLETELY finished. I do have to add ribbon strips on the back. For some reason, I thought hash marks went on both sleeves. Wrong, only 1, so it will work to add them. He really likes the shirt, so he may have to wait for another, more formal one until I finish MY dress and his belt.

This shirt is going to be one very nice ribbon shirt. You are a busy lady, lcp.

The shirt will truly be him. His desires come from his spirit and it's this spirit that will remind him to hold his head high with pride when he dons your work or art. Many thanks for your contributions to a proud vet.