Tumpline?

[ike]

Can anyone give directions on how to make a tumpline? I have some some finger weaving but need something more specific. I have searched the internet and find you tube videos but I work better from written step by step directions. Thanks for the assist.

 

[Black Hand]

Wide strap in the middle and skinny ends...

 

[Crewdawg445]

Well... They honestly are not that difficult. I don't prefer to use them for extended treks as there are better carrying options. However the four I've made do get used allot for simple bedrolls and overnighters.

As Black Hand mentioned above, really not much else to it, wide strap, skinny ends... I use 1/8" hemp and make my own cordage for the rope ends. That's about it! :hatsoff:

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I bought a woven sash, that was made of wool as the weft and linen (ok maybe cotton) cords as the warp , instead of a stretchy, all wool one. Then I marked the middle with pins and how far out from the middle would work as the shoulder strap portion of the tumpline. Then I removed the wool weft until it met the pins.

This left me with several, long strands of warp on both ends, which I braided into pairs of cords on both ends....voila, a woven tumpline. Not finger woven, I know, but I like a very wide strap, and none of the finger woven ones were that wide. :idunno:

Even with the wider strap..., a tumpline pushes you toward minimalist when it comes to weight.

LD

 

[Black Hand]

I used 18 strands of the thin hemp twine. Made a twined strap about 1.5 inches wide by 24 inches for the center and 7 foot tails - 16 inches of flat braid which split into 2 separate tails that were braided (3 strands of 3). Next time, the tails will be a single strap rather than split.

 

[BillinOregon]

Assume those that use a tumpline use it draped across the shoulders and not across the forehead?

 

[MOwoodsman]

I've only done the split tail.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Here are some original examples...

Plain and decorated tumps: http://www.britishmuseum.org/resea...spx&numPages=10&currentPage=2&asset_id=308191

This site has an excellent description of methods and uses of the tumpline http://collections.nysm.nysed.gov/morgan/display.cfm?catno=36778
For more information: TEXTILE FIBERS USED IN EASTERN ABORIGINAL NORTH AMERICA. WHITFORD, A.C. ANTHROPOLOGICAL PAPERS, Volume 38

Basic straps from Eastern Canada, the Great Lakes and the Northeast United States. http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropolog...e_dup.cfm?catno=50.1/ 7611&show_portfolio=yes http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropolog...e_dup.cfm?catno=50.1/ 6432&show_portfolio=yes http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropolog...e_dup.cfm?catno= NAE/ 0429&show_portfolio=yes http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropolog...e_dup.cfm?catno=50 / 7221&show_portfolio=yes http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropolog...e_dup.cfm?catno=50 / 6229&show_portfolio=yes http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropolog...e_dup.cfm?catno=10 / 21&show_portfolio=yes
http://collections.civilisations.ca/public/pages/cmccpublic/alt-emupublic/Display.php?irn=48312&QueryPage=Query.php&lang=0


Examples of ornate and decorated tumplines. http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropolog...e_dup.cfm?catno=50 / 6686&show_portfolio=yes http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropolog...e_dup.cfm?catno=50.1/ 1800&show_portfolio=yes
http://collections.civilisations.ca/public/pages/cmccpublic/alt-emupublic/Display.php?irn=38941&QueryPage=Query.php&lang=0
http://collections.civilisations.ca/public/pages/cmccpublic/alt-emupublic/Display.php?irn=37033&QueryPage=Query.php&lang=0
http://collections.civilisations.ca/public/pages/cmccpublic/alt-emupublic/Display.php?irn=35435&QueryPage=Query.php&lang=0

 

[coloradoclyde]

Here is another picture gallery....note the scrolling arrows towards the margins to advance to the next picture.

http://frenchinwisconsin.com/2013/09/the-humble-tumpline/#jp-carousel-1053

 

[Einsiedler]

Greetings,

My first post. I know this is an old thread but here are a couple of my tumplines I did from commercial hemp. Twined the "brow" straps, made them long as I wanted and oblique finger wove the rest of the strap. Not difficult, just a bit time consuming. Took about a week to finish.

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[Black Hand]

Excellent workmanship!

 

[Einsiedler]

Much obliged BH. I need to start twining again. I haven't done any in over 10 years!

Edit;

I use the bottom tumpline in place of a sash. Has come
In handy many a time.

 

[Einsiedler]

I'm sorry!!! I dunno why I said I oblique wove the straps in above post. They are chevron woven. I hardly ever oblique wove back in the day. Much preferred chevron!

Please forgive!!

Le Nez

 

[coloradoclyde]

Very nice... :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[Einsiedler]

Thank you, CC!

 

[Elnathan]

Greetings,

My first post. I know this is an old thread but here are a couple of my tumplines I did from commercial hemp. Twined the "brow" straps, made them long as I wanted and oblique finger wove the rest of the strap. Not difficult, just a bit time consuming. Took about a week to finish.

[/URL][/img]

Now those are very cool. I was thinking about trying to make a one-piece tumpline this last winter, but due to financial issues never got around to ordering the material.

Got a couple questions, if you don't mind: How wide is the center part, what size twine did you use, and how many pieces did you need on the warp? Did you continue the same number into the finger-woven section?

 

[Black Hand]

I was thinking about trying to make a one-piece tumpline this last winter, but due to financial issues never got around to ordering the material.

Buy hemp twine in the craft section of your local Walmart. About $10 should get you a roll with enough for a tumpline.

 

[Einsiedler]

What Black hand said! Walmart used to have like three sizes of hemp twine.

The bottom tumpline is made Of 14 strands of the the medium size twine approx. 10-15' long when starting out. I always start in the middle and work to the ends. Twining the brownband and when I started to get to the end of the band tonget the taper I would start twining groups of 2 or adding even numbers of until I had used it up. Resulting in 14 strands to start the chevron weave. ( I would lace the loose ends of my twining back into the brow band with a bone needle I made).

When you get down toward the ends you can split the tail end too if you want. And finish the weave. Whip the ends with a piece of twine and your good to go.

I know the directions ain't to clear. Sorry I don't have a laptop or anything. Doing all this on an iPhone is taxing on my 61 y o eyes! . I'll attempt some better photographs when time
Permits. Maybe that will give you a better idea
Of what I'm trying to write!

Le Nez

 

[Einsiedler]

Here is brow band taper detail. See you just gather up
Strands and twine them into a taper.



Bill is for scale. This tumpline is 18' long. Detail of brow band and split end. This is the simpliste method I have found for the construction of these items.

 

[chawbeef]

Very nice work :thumbsup: ..........Daniel