Wabanaki beadwork

Instructions and patterns for Wabanaki style peaked caps are available for sale in PDF format in my Etsy shop. If you need instructions in another format, contact me.

If you cannot access Etsy, you may contact me to arrange payment through PayPal.

Kits containing all materials, patterns, instructions to make and bead your own peaked cap are available for a limited time in my Etsy shop.

click the following link to go to my Etsy shop:

https://wabanakibeadwork.etsy.com

IN 2011, THIS HISTORIC PENOBSCOT PEAKED CAP SOLD FOR $35,500 AT AUCTION IN BOSTON, MA.

BEAUTIFUL AND RARE

WILL YOU BE A PART OF THE REVIVAL OF PEAKED CAPS?

(Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Penobscot, Abenaki styles)

Are you concerned about peaked caps (also known as hoods) being lost to time?

Don’t know where to start? What to buy? No one to teach you? Don’t know how to bead?

I’ve taken care of all of that for you.

I’ve done the shopping for the best materials and supplies.

I’ve cut out a pattern for you.

I’ve written clear instructions with photos of how to make your peaked cap.

I’ve written clear instructions with photos of how to bead.

All you need to add is your own beadwork design.

Now you can be a part of the revival of peaked caps.

Now you can learn and pass your knowledge on to others.

I’ve heard from people all over Canada and the US as they told me about their progress on making peaked caps from my instructions and patterns. Grandmothers on small rural Native communities, reservations and reserves took the patterns and taught their grandchildren. Men and women started sewing and beading these caps. People sent me pictures of their peaked caps and kept me updated on their progress. To play a small part in this revival of Wabanaki style peaked caps made my heart soar.

As time went on I found there was a need for more than just patterns and instructions. I saw students struggle with poor grades of wool fabric, irregular and misshaped beads, breaking cheap beading needles, fraying ribbon among other problems. This left them discouraged, frustrated and having to invest more time and often, money, in bringing their work up to par.

Two years ago, I offered peaked cap kits for sale and they sold out quickly. I am again offering a few peaked cap kits for sale. These kits include all you need to make and bead a peaked cap. The supplies are generous and much is reusable. Due to the time, complexity and expense of putting these kits together, supplies of the kits are limited.

I dream of a day when peaked caps are not perceived as a rare thing.

I dream of a day when peaked caps flourish outside of dusty museums.

I hope you will join me in this dream.

You may purchase peaked cap kits in my Etsy shop: https://wabanakibeadwork.etsy.com

Rhonda Besaw 2026

Molly Molasses peaked cap

Traditonal and contemporary peaked cap Mi'kmaq style

I was inspired to make this Mi’kmaq style peaked cap to honor Clarissa Basque Tellier, a Mi’kmaq woman and great grandmother of artist and author, Gerry Biron. In a portrait that Gerry did of Clarissa she is wearing a beautiful Mi’kmaq peaked cap. I wanted not just to recreate this old style peaked cap, but to also include a contemporary design to honor the woman that Clarissa was.

The beadwork design on the upper portion of this peaked cap follows a design found on a Mi’kmaq peaked cap held by the British Museum. The bottom panel is my original design which represents the medicine plant, juniper. Small white birds carry the remembrance of Clarissa and all our Grandmothers. My work is signed in beadwork, the mark of a squirrel.

This peaked cap is made of wool, glass seed beads, antique steel cut and brass beads, silk ribbon, cotton lining.

Mi'kmaq style peaked cap completed 2015

Mi'kmaq style peaked cap completed 2015

Clarissa Basque portrait by Gerry Biron

Mi'kmaq hood British Museum

click on the portait of Clarissa and it will take you to the website of Gerry Biron

click on the Mi'kmaq peaked cap from the British Museum for more information about this hood

garden spider and web

back of peaked cap

Abenaki Style Peaked Cap

Abenaki Style Peaked Cap/Hood incorporating raised beadwork......seldom seen today, these beaded peaked caps or hoods were popular among the Wabanaki People in the 1800's. This peaked cap is my design. Dark purple wool lined with cotton fabric. 100% silk ribbon trim. Glass seed beads and abalone shell centers in every flower.

Mi'kmaq Style Peaked Cap

Completed in 2014, this Mi'kmaq style peaked cap is made from wool, seed beads, bugle beads, antique steel cut beads and other antique beads, silk ribbon, vintage lace, cotton fabric.

My original "spiderweb" beadwork design is on the top portion of the peaked cap.

It includes 7 Spiders, each honoring the 7 directions.

The bottom red wool panel incorporates traditional Mi'kmaq double curve designs.

This work is not an historical reproduction,

but a mix of contemporary beadwork designs and traditional designs.