How to Thread a Concho

The Navajo people were inspired by the ornate Mexican silver hair and bridle ornaments. They hammered silver coins into flat discs, which would ultimately be known as conchos, the Spanish word for shell. A length of leather was threaded through holes hammered into the conchos, which were sometimes etched or decorated with stones or turquoise. The ensemble was worn as a decorative belt. While the concho style has evolved, it remains a classic piece for both Native American style and an haute couture wardrobe.

Instructions

Choose a long, narrow piece of leather or fabric that fits through the slits in the conchos or through the loops soldered onto the back. Make sure that the belt fits snugly in the slits so that the conchos don't slip along the belt.

Lie the conchos on your work surface. If you are using a variety of conchos, arrange them in the order that you want them to appear in the belt. Alternate larger and smaller conchos, along with ornate and unadorned conchos.

Choose the concho that you want visible in the middle of your back, and thread the left end of the belt through the holes in the concho. Push the concho along the length of the belt until it is squarely in the middle of the belt.

Choose the concho that fits next to the primary concho in the back, and thread the left end of the belt through its holes. Push the concho along the length of the belt until it is about 1 inch to 2 inches away from the center back concho.

Continue to thread conchos until you have one side of the belt threaded and enough tie on the end to cinch the belt at your waist.

Choose the concho that fits next to the primary concho in the back, and thread the right end of the belt through its holes. Push the concho along the length of the belt until it is about 1 inch to 2 inches away from the center back concho.

Continue to thread conchos until you have one side of the belt threaded and enough belt on the end to tie the belt at your waist.

Adjust the conchos so that there is an equal distance between each silver piece.

Put the belt around your waist and tie the loose ends together to determine if you have enough belt length to tie the belt firmly. If necessary, remove one concho from each side in order to allow more belt length to tie securely at your waist.

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