CRAFT FOCUS: Porky Roaches
No other headgear, with the exception of the Plains warbonnet, personifies the North American Indian as much as the hair roach. Historically, its distribution and use covered virtually all tribes of the Plains, Plateau, Great Lakes, and Eastern Woodlands cultural areas.
Paintings by artists in the 1830’s reflected the use of the hair roach at that early date, and contemporary use of the porky roach may be seen in the outfits of the Grass Dancer, Oklahoma Straight Dancer, Oklahoma Feather Dancer, Northern Traditional Dancer, and the Old Time dancer.
O N L I N E R E F E R E N C E 
Porky Kit Instructions Online - Crazy Crow Trading Post
First and only online instructions for porky roaches. Fully illustrated.
Care and Storage of Your Porky Roach - Crazy Crow Trading Post
Online instructions and tips to help you keep your porky roach in top condition. Fully illustrated.
M I S S O U R I R I V E R C R A F T K I T S®
Deluxe Porky Roach Kit
Kit Includes:
- 1-1/2 oz porky hair for an 18" porky roach
- 3 deer tails for the outside row of deer hair
- 18" ready-made roach base
- base cord
- tying cord
- beeswax
- highly detailed, well illustrated instructions
Standard Porky Roach Kit
Kit Includes:
- 1-1/4 oz porky hair for an 15"-16" porky roach
- 2 deer tails for the outside row of deer hair
- 15" ready-made roach base
- base cord
- tying cord
- beeswax
- highly detailed, well illustrated instructions
Economy Porky Roach Kit
Kit Includes:
Same items as the Standard Kit, but the porky hair averages 1" shorter length.
P O R K Y & R O A C H V I D E O S
Making of a Porky Roach: Craft Video Series
Produced by Loren Woerpel, this 25-minute video shows you step-by-step how to make a contemporary 15-inch "porky" roach, worn by traditional dancers, straight dancers and fancy dancers. Each step is shown in detail: From building a loom for your work and choosing porcupine quills, to the final sewing and wrapping on the roach. The video includes and insert with plans for the loom and detail drawings. We recommend this video for people who already have some craft experience or those of you who are just curious about the technique. 30 minutes.
4080-001-017 VHS Format . . . . $19.95 Order Online
B O O K S - P U B L I C A T I O N S
These publications do not have instructions regarding the making of a porky roach, but do a nice job of showing how it is used with these popular dance outfits.
The Modern Fancy Dancer
C. Scott Evans & J. Rex Reddick - Detailed instructions, photos, and illustrations will guide you through the process of making an authentic set of Fancy Dance clothes. Tips and tricks, close-up photos of many beautiful outfits and color action shots from powwows all over the country. Trace the history and evolution of the Fancy Dance style from its origins to modern day. Highlights include music, powwow etiquette, and interviews with champion dancers. 64pp: 16 color pages showing photos of current outfits. SC
4105-051-900 ... $15.95 Order Online
Northern Traditional Dancer
C. Scott Evans - This revised 2nd Edition is an in-depth look at the Traditional style of dance and includes full color photos featuring dancers and powwows from all over the Western U.S. Contains illustrated instructions on correct traditional clothing articles, including bustles, anklets, breastplates, bandoliers, chokers, moccasins, roaches and traditional dance staff. 48pp: 68 photos & 67 illustrations. SC
4105-041-900 ... $12.00 Order Online
M A T E R I A L S & S U P P L I E S <
Click any link below to view detailed product and ordering information.
Hair
• Porcupine Guard Hair - 1 ounce bundles with enough hair for 15" roach
• Horse Hair - black or white, 13-15" length
Deer Tails
• Natural White - extra large
• Dyed Deer Tails - white, red, orange, yellow, turquoise, royal blue
Roach Bases
• Hand Braided Yarn Base - Superior to rope base & easier to sew on the rows of hair; 12" to 24" sizes
• Rope Roach Bases - white only, but can be dyed any color; available in 12" to 22" sizes
Storage
• Roach Sticks - 2 lengths, for up to 16" & up to 23" roaches
• Elastic Bandages - 3"x60" long, perfect for wrapping roaches
Roach Spreaders
• German Silver Spreaders & Rockers - top quality, hand-made single & double socket spreaders and rockers; plain or with hand-stamped design
• Traditional Style Spreader Kit - leather base, used to hold roach feathers
Other Roach Kits (other than porky hair)
• Horsehair Roach Kit - includes deer hair for outside trim
• Fiber Roach Kit - economical kit makes a good-looking roach
Other
• Beeswax - 1 oz cakes; for waxing thread, increases life & prevents tangling