Preparing Gourds for Peyote Gourd Rattles - Crazy Crow Trading Post
Preparing Gourds for Peyote Gourd Rattles - Crazy Crow Trading Post

Rate This Article

 

Preparing Gourds for Peyote Gourd Rattles

Missouri River Brand: Developed by Master Craftworkers

By Crazy Crow Trading Post ~ April 10, 2013

Preparing Gourds for Peyote Gourd Rattles

Missouri River Brand:
Developed by Master Craftworkers

By Crazy Crow Trading Post ~ April 10, 2013

Gourd shells have both a thin outer skin and a pithy center that should be removed in order to make them suitable for use as a gourd rattle. These instructions explain how this is accomplished.

Preparing Gourds for Peyote Gourd Rattles - Crazy Crow Trading Post
Preparing Gourds for Peyote Gourd Rattles - Crazy Crow Trading Post

STEP 1

Step 1: Scrape off the “skin” (outer husk) of a raw gourd or soak it briefly in water and then scrub off the skin.

Step 2: If the bottom of the gourd has not been cut off, do this now and remove the seeds. A coping saw with a fine blade or hacksaw works well for this.

Step 3: Prepare a 30-penny nail by flattening one end, then sharpening it and bending it at a 90 degree angle. A baby spoon with the edges filed sharp also makes a good tool for this. Another alternative is to do the initial cleaning using a small grapefruit spoon with the sides ground down to make it narrower. This way, the spoon will fit through smaller gourd necks, and the rough front edges will make a good first tool to remove the bulk of the pith when you’re first starting to clean out the gourd.

Remove as much pith as absolutely possible. Finish up with a sharpened spoon or the flattened nail to make a smooth inside surface.

Step 4: Drill the top center of the gourd with a 7/32″ (or smaller) bit. Use an awl to make an initial guide impression so that the drilled hole will be perfectly centered. It is better to make a hole a little smaller than the diameter of the stick where the top of the gourd will actually rest. The hole probably will enlarge slightly as you put it on and off the stick while checking for fit. Use a small rattail file to carefully and gradually enlarge the hole through trial and error to its finished size. Never force the gourd, as it probably will crack.

Preparing Gourds for Peyote Gourd Rattles - Crazy Crow Trading Post
Peyote Rattle, late 19th-early 20th Century - Crazy Crow Trading Post

Credit Above Photo: Museum Expedition 1911, Museum Collection Fund, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons. Peyote Rattle, late 19th-early 20th Century

Step 5: The gourd shell may be left in its natural color or further colored and / or decorated using any of the following options:

  • Boil in Rit dye. Note: Over-cooking will cause the gourd to turn to mush.
  • Soak in pokeberry juice.
  • Use leather dye, then apply a clear leather finish solution to impart a polish.
  • Use shoe polish. When buffed, this gives a nice polished sheen.
  • Use a wood burning tool to decorate with images.

Step 6: Antiquing options for the horsehair tassels to achieve an “older” look:

  • Stain white horsehair using strong tea.
  • Use dark red or yellow horsehair for the tassel.

Step 7: The gourd can also be baked to darken the color and to give it a “brighter” sound. However, baking makes them brittle, so if you choose to do this, it must be done SLOWLY and carefully.

  • The hole must be drilled in the top of the gourd before baking.
  • Set the gourd on a grill in oven. If several are being prepared, space them so that air can move around them.
  • Raise the temperature only to a maximum of 225-250 degrees until they begin to smell like roasting peanuts.
  • Carefully monitor the gourds during heating and remove them when the desired color is achieved. Desirable colors range from light buckskin to dark brown.

Note: The darker the color, the more brittle the gourd becomes.

Crazy Crow Articles

Crazy Crow Trading Post March-April 2025 Crow Calls Sale

Current Crow Calls Sale

March – April

SAVE 10%-25% on popular powwow, rendezvous, historic reenactor, bead & leather crafter supplies. Save on many of our most popular items such as Colonial Clothing: Waistcoats, Knee Breeches & Frockcoat, Missouri River Deluxe Hunting Bags, Readymade Drumsticks, Powwow Drums, Hand Drum Kits, Smoked Color Buckskin, Bison Leather, Trekker Boots and other Colonial Shoes for men and women, Jingles & Lids, Stainless Steel Blades with Guards, Polished Steer Horns, Oval Chevron Beads, Lance Heads, River Cane Flute, Plains Hard Sole Moccasin Kits, Southwest Shoulder Bags, Traditional Serapes, Beaded Cinch Top Bag, Beaded Backpack & more!.

Gourd Rattles – Related Products (click images to view product detail)

The following items are used in the above-article, or may provide added reference and helpful information.

Gourd Rattle Kits - Crazy Crow Trading Post

Gourd Rattle Kits

These Gourd Rattle Kits are based on a style gourd rattle that was originally used in the Gourd Dance on the Southern Plains, and is now used in the Native American Church throughout the country. Regular and deluxe versions offered.

Bell Gourds for Rattles - Crazy Crow Trading Post

Bell Gourds for Rattles

Crazy Crow Trading Post’s extra nice quality Bell Gourds for Rattles are available in three sizes. These have been cleaned and are selected for shape. Seasonal item, availability varies.

Gourd Rattle Handles, 14" - Crazy Crow Trading Post

Gourd Rattle Handles

Lathe turned from select, hard maple and ready to use for making peyote gourd rattles or gourd dance rattles using our bell gourds or aluminum salt shakers. Overall length is 14″, with turned-down areas for beaded sections and for attaching fringe.

Cedar Church Box - Crazy Crow Trading Post

Cedar Church Box – 18″x4-1/2″x4-1/2″

Handcrafted from aromatic cedar and made with top quality wood and hardware, using strong, glued joints. After being sanded, it was coated with shellac or an oil & urethane finish for protecting the wood and to keep it looking nice for years to come.