The vintage treadle sewing machine shown here has little in common with the high-tech, digital equipment being used these days for ribbon appliquée and all kinds of other fancy work. Fortunately, we’re more interested in words!
Here’s a collection of nearly 300 sewing terms, gathered from the itwêwina online dictionary (https://itwewina.altlab.app/), but also from Solomon Ratt, and from a project belonging to Andrea Custer and Belinda Daniels. The dictionary is surprisingly rich in sewing and beading vocabulary.
I began by looking up “sewing” then searched whatever other words I could think of (in English) related to clothing construction. You might have fun doing the same, especially since the dictionary also includes audio links with pronunciation for some of these terms (just click on the audio-speaker icon).
To supplement my list, Andrea and Belinda sent the following notes, offered as a family-based language activity. The terms they collected have been incorporated into the longer table, below.
This list is far too long to accompany with a single audio file, but if you look up individual words in https://itwewina.altlab.app/ (or copy and paste them into the search field) you may be impressed as I am how many of them now include the little speaker icon indicating an audio link. Some have recordings of several elders pronouncing the same word form.
| Beading is an ancient form of art. Traditionally, artisans would use natural materials that were available to them. Materials such as stones, shells, bones, copper and other natural materials. It is an art that demands hours of meticulous work that requires knowledge of art and design. Today, many people do beadwork, and it is a sign of resilience and pride in one’s culture. Children learn first by observing and then by doing. Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles can pass on an ancient art while they teach patience and perseverance. | |
| Materials: | Steps: |
| Beads Needles Scissors Thread Thimble Hide Pattern | 1. One by one show each item and ask them to repeat in Cree after you. 2. Demonstrate each step slowly and say the words as you do them 3. Offer praise and encourage them to keep trying. 4. Tell them to think good thoughts as they work. Bad thoughts could lead them to make mistakes or hurt themselves. |
The following table of terms displays only ten lines at a time, so you’ll need to hit “Next” (at the bottom of the table) to look further. On the other hand, you can enter Cree or English sewing terms into the search box to see what comes up. You might even find a word for “treadle”!
| Cree: kaskikwâsowin itwêwina | Sewing & Beading Terms |
|---|---|
| tâniwê paskwahamâtowin | where are the scissors |
| nîso âpacihtâ sâponikana; pêyak ohci mîkisak êkwa pêyak ohci ta-sakâstahwacik mîkisak | use two needles: one for the beads and one for tacking the beads down |
| tâpwê miyonâkwan (ni) | truly, it is beautiful! |
| tâpwê miywâsin! (ni sg.) | truly, it is beautiful! |
| tâpwê miywâsinwa (n pl.) | truly, it is beautiful! |
| nahiyikohk | to the proper degree, to the proper extent, just enough, just right, fittingly, appropriately; exact quantity, exact number; evenly; better |
| tahkopita kisipanohk | tie at the end |
| misicihcâna | thumbs (of mittens) |
| tâpisasa | thread sinew |
| tâpisiminê ((vai) | thread beads |
| asapâp (na) | thread |
| kâ-wâposâwisicik mîkisak | those yellow beads (animate colour term with animate “bead”) |
| kâ-wâpiskisicik mîkisak | those white beads (animate colour term with animate “bead”) |
| kâ-mihkosicik mîkisak | those red beads (animate colour term with animate “bead”) |
| kâ-nîpâmâyâtisicik mîkisak | those purple beads (animate colour term with animate “bead”) |
| kâ-wâpikwanîwicîkosicik mîkisak | those pink beads (animate colour term with animate “bead”) |
| kâ-osâwisicik mîkisak | those orange beads (animate colour term with animate “bead”) |
| kâ-askihtakosick mîkisak | those green beads (animate colour term with animate “bead”) |
| kâ-sîpihkosicik mîkisak | those blue beads (animate colour term with animate “bead”) |
| kâ-kaskitêsicik mîkisak | those black beads (animate colour term with animate “bead”) |
| kâskikwâsonâpisk | thimble |
| sihtapêh (vta) | tack down the beads. |
| êsawêhkwak | square needle for sewing leather |
| isawêhkwak | square needle for sewing leather |
| yôsk-ayânis | soft cloth (e.g., lining) |
| êsawêhkwakos | small square needle for sewing leather |
| isawêhkwakos | small square needle for sewing leather |
| sâponikanis | small needle |
| ayiwinisis | small article of clothing; [plural:] children’s clothes; child’s clothing, child’s apparel |
| wanakway | sleeve; his/her sleeve |
| anakway | sleeve |
| astinwân (ni) | sinew |
| cîstatêyâpiy (ni) | sinew |
| ocîkwahikan | sewing rod for pleating moccasins |
| kaskikwâcikan | sewing machine; item being sewn |
| kaskikwâsopayihcikanis | sewing machine |
| kaskikwâsopayîs | sewing machine |
| kaskikwâswâkan | sewing machine |
| kaskikwâta | sew thumbs |
| pihtawêkin (vta) | sew onto lining with sinew |
| pihtawêkina (vti) | sew onto lining with sinew |
| pihtawêkwâcikê | sew lining (i.e., put the lining in the leather part) |
| kaskikwâta (vti) | sew leather |
| wâskâkwâcikê (vai) | sew all the way around |
| môsotowin | scissors |
| paskwahamâtowin | scissors |
| tâpiskâkan | scarf, necktie; necklace; handkerchief |
| sakâskwahon | safety-pin; button; brooch; buckle; clasp |
| masinistahikâkêw | s/he uses s.t. for embroidering |
| kocihtâw | s/he tries s.t., s/he tries to do s.t.; s/he fits s.t. in |
| kocîhtâw | s/he tries s.t., s/he tries to do s.t.; s/he fits s.t. in |
| masinihtatâw | s/he traces s.t., s/he uses s.t. as a pattern |
| tâpisaham | s/he threads s.t. (e.g. needle) |
| kâskiskinikêw | s/he tears seams, s/he rips seams, s/he detaches things in sewing |
| nîmikwâsow | s/he takes his/her own sewing along |
| mâtisikêw | s/he starts to cut (as a pattern) |
| kaskikwâsow | s/he sews, s/he does his/her own sewing; s/he sews s.t. |
| kaskikwâswâkêw | s/he sews with something, s/he uses something in sewing |
| nihtâwikwâsow | s/he sews well, s/he is a good seamstress; s/he does fancy sewing |
| miyokwâsow | s/he sews well |
| akokwâsow | s/he sews trimming (e.g. on a dress) |
| kaskikwâcikâkêw | s/he sews things with something, s/he uses something to sew things |
| mâwasakokwâcikêstamawêw | s/he sews things together for s.o. |
| mâwasakokwâcikêstamâkêw | s/he sews things together for people |
| mâwasakokwâcikêw | s/he sews things together |
| kipostahikêw | s/he sews things shut |
| itistahikêw | s/he sews things on thus |
| kaskikwâcikêw | s/he sews things CW; He sews by hand, giving attention to detail. |
| kipokwâcikêw | s/he sews things closed or together; s/he sews things shut; s/he closes things up by sewing |
| miyokwâtam | s/he sews s.t. well |
| nihtâwikwâtam | s/he sews s.t. well |
| sîpostaham | s/he sews s.t. up (as a rip in his/her own clothes) |
| wiyikwâtam | s/he sews s.t. together, s/he sews s.t. up |
| mâmawokwâtam | s/he sews s.t. together into one, s/he pieces s.t. together in sewing |
| mâwasakokwâtam | s/he sews s.t. together |
| mâwasakostaham | s/he sews s.t. together |
| isikwâtam | s/he sews s.t. thus |
| kispakikwâtam | s/he sews s.t. thickly |
| kipostaham | s/he sews s.t. shut |
| kîpikwâtam | s/he sews s.t. quickly |
| itistaham | s/he sews s.t. on thus |
| âniskokwâtam | s/he sews s.t. on as an extension |
| akostaham | s/he sews s.t. on (as trimming) |
| akokwâtam | s/he sews s.t. on |
| nanâtohkokwâtam | s/he sews s.t. into quilts |
| wâwiyêkwâtam | s/he sews s.t. into a circle |
| titipikwanaham | s/he sews s.t. in overcast stitch (e.g. the spiral loops around the vamp of a moccasin) |
| pîmikwâtam | s/he sews s.t. crooked |
| kipokwâtâw | s/he sews s.t. closed or together; s/he sews s.t. shut; s/he closes s.t. up by sewing |
| kipokwâtam | s/he sews s.t. closed or together |
| pîhtawêkwâtam | s/he sews s.t. as lining into a garment; s/he sews s.t. in between covers, s/he sews covers on s.t. |
| kaskikwâtam | s/he sews s.t. |
| nihtâwikwâtêw | s/he sews s.o. well; s/he sews well for s.o. |
| miyokwâtêw | s/he sews s.o. well |
| sîpostahwêw | s/he sews s.o. up |
| mâwasakokwâtêw | s/he sews s.o. together (e.g. pants) |
| mâwasakostahwêw | s/he sews s.o. together |
| isikwâtêw | s/he sews s.o. thus (e.g. pants) |
| kipostahwêw | s/he sews s.o. shut |
| kîpikwâtêw | s/he sews s.o. quickly |
| akostahwêw | s/he sews s.o. on (as trimming) |
| akokwâtêw | s/he sews s.o. on |
| wâwiyêkwâtêw | s/he sews s.o. into a circle |
| pîmikwâtêw | s/he sews s.o. crooked |
| kipokwâtêw | s/he sews s.o. closed or together |
| pîhtawêkwâtêw | s/he sews s.o. as lining into a garment; s/he sews s.o. in between covers, s/he sews covers on s.o. |
| itistahwêw | s/he sews s.o. (e.g. porcupine-quills) on thus |
| kaskikwâtêw | s/he sews s.o. (e.g. pants); s/he sews for s.o. |
| kaskikwâswêw | s/he sews s.o. |
| nanâtohkokwâsiwêw | s/he sews quilts for people |
| nanâtohkokwâcikêw | s/he sews quilts |
| kîpikwâsow | s/he sews quickly |
| nanâtohkokwâsow | s/he sews patchwork blankets |
| kaskikwâtisow | s/he sews for him/herself |
| moscikwâsow | s/he sews by hand |
| mâyikwâsow | s/he sews badly |
| piskihcikwâtam | s/he sews an extension on s.t. (e.g. canvas) |
| piskihcikwâtêw | s/he sews an extension on s.o. (e.g. pants) |
| nanâtohkokwâtêw | s/he sews a quilt for s.o. |
| sîpostahamawêw | s/he sews (it/him) up for s.o. |
| akostahamawêw | s/he sews (it/him) on for s.o. |
| kaskikwâtamawêw | s/he sews (it/him) for s.o. |
| kaskikwâtamâsow | s/he sews (it/him) for him/herself |
| kipokwâtamawêw | s/he sews (it/him) closed or together for s.o.; s/he sews (it/him) shut for s.o.; s/he closes (it/him) up for s.o. by sewing |
| kipokwâtamâkêw | s/he sews (it/him) closed or together for people; s/he sews (it/him) shut for people; s/he closes (it/him) up for people by sewing |
| moscikwâtam | s/he sew s.t. by hand |
| moscikwâtêw | s/he sew s.o. by hand |
| tâpiskahêw | s/he puts a necklace or collar on s.o. |
| sîpâpitêw | s/he pulls s.o. under; s/he pulls thread under the sewing machine |
| cîstahwêw | s/he pricks s.o., s/he pierces s.o., s/he jabs s.o., s/he spears s.o. with a pointed object; s/he give s.o. an injection, s/he injects s.o., s/he vaccinates s.o. |
| sakâskwaham | s/he pins s.t.; s/he buttons s.t. up; s/he fastens s.t. |
| sakâskwahamawêw | s/he pins (it/him) for s.o.; s/he buttons (it/him) for s.o.; s/he fastens (it/him) for s.o. |
| sâpostaham | s/he pierces s.t. through with a needle |
| cîstahêw | s/he pierces s.o.; s/he gives s.o. an injection, needle; s/he pricks s.o. with an awl or pin |
| sâpostahwêw | s/he pierces s.o. through with a needle |
| wâskânam | s/he makes s.t. go around, s/he turns s.t. (e.g. treadle), s/he cranks s.t. |
| miyohtâw | s/he makes s.t. fit well |
| kaskikwâsohêw | s/he makes s.o. sew |
| kaskikwâsohiwêw | s/he makes people sew |
| maskisinihkêw | s/he makes moccasins |
| nahisin | s/he lies properly, comfortably; s/he fits well in something |
| nahisimêw | s/he lays s.o. to fit properly, s/he lays s.o. down comfortably |
| nahisimiwêw | s/he lays people to fit properly, s/he lays people down comfortably |
| nôtisin | s/he is too big (to enter an opening); s/he fails to fit in |
| sîhcisiw | s/he is tightly packed, s/he fits tightly (as in a box) |
| masinisin | s/he is pictured, s/he is represented in embroidery |
| nihtâwiminakinikêw | s/he is good at sewing on beads |
| âyîtawisin | s/he is firmly in place on both sides, s/he fits in on both sides |
| tipikwâtam | s/he hems s.t. |
| tipikwâtêw | s/he hems s.o. |
| wanakwâw | s/he has sleeves |
| nahiskam | s/he has s.t. fit well, s/he fits s.t. well; s/he looks nice in s.t.; s/he looks nicely dressed; s/he wears s.t. becomingly |
| nahiskawêw | s/he has s.o. fit well, s/he fits s.o. well; s/he looks nice in s.o. (e.g. pants); s/he looks nicely dressed; s/he wears s.o. becomingly (e.g. pants); s/he looks good with s.o. |
| osâponikaniw | s/he has a needle |
| miyoskam | s/he has a good fit of s.t., s/he fits s.t. well |
| sîhtiskam | s/he fits s.t. tightly; s/he wears s.t. tight fitting; s/he wears s.t. too small |
| sîhtwamohtâw | s/he fits s.t. on tightly |
| pîhtamohtâw | s/he fits s.t. inside another part |
| tâpihtitâw | s/he fits s.t. in; s/he puts a handle on s.t. |
| têpiskam | s/he fits s.t. (e.g. coat) |
| tâpisimêw | s/he fits s.o. in |
| sîhtiskawêw | s/he fits s.o. (e.g. pants) tightly; s/he wears s.o. tight fitting |
| têpiskawêw | s/he fits s.o. (e.g. pants) |
| miyoskawêw | s/he fits s.o. (e.g. clothing) nicely; s/he is wellsuited to s.o. |
| kîsikwâtam | s/he finishes sewing s.t. |
| kîsikwâtêw | s/he finishes sewing s.o. |
| kîsikwâsow | s/he finishes his/her own sewing |
| sakwâskwaham | s/he fastens s.t.; s/he zippers s.t. up |
| kikamohêw | s/he fastens s.o. on, s/he attaches s.o.; s/he puts s.o. (e.g. yarn, ribbon) on something |
| nôtiskam | s/he fails to fit s.t. as it is too small |
| nôtiskawêw | s/he fails to fit s.o. (e.g. pants) as it is too small |
| pîmikitam | s/he embroiders s.t. with quill-work |
| tihtipawêkaham | s/he embroiders s.t. around |
| masinistaham | s/he embroiders s.t. |
| tihtipawêkahwêw | s/he embroiders s.o. around |
| masinistahwêw | s/he embroiders s.o. |
| masinistahamawêw | s/he embroiders (it) for s.o. |
| masinistahamâkêw | s/he embroiders (it) for people |
| masinistahowêw | s/he embroiders (animate) things |
| masinistahikêw | s/he embroiders |
| postayiwinisahiwêw | s/he dresses people, s/he puts clothes on people, s/he makes people put clothes on; s/he clothes people, s/he makes clothes for people, s/he fits people out with clothing |
| wiyisam | s/he cuts s.t. out, s/he cuts s.t. to a pattern |
| wiyiswêw | s/he cuts s.o. out (e.g. a figure in a picture book), s/he cuts s.o. to a pattern |
| wiyisamawêw | s/he cuts a pattern for s.o. |
| wiyisamâsow | s/he cuts a pattern for him/herself, s/he cuts his/her own pattern |
| manisowêw | s/he cuts (animate) things (e.g. with scissors or knife) |
| cîstahâskwatêw | s/he crucifies s.o.; s/he nails or pins s.o. down |
| masinihkocikêw | s/he carves things, s/he carves patterns |
| âniskamâcikêw | s/he buttons things up |
| sakipâtam | s/he buttons s.t. |
| sakâskwahwêw | s/he buttons s.o. up; s/he pins s.o.; s/he fastens s.o. |
| âniskamâtêw | s/he buttons s.o. up |
| sakipâtêw | s/he buttons s.o. (e.g. pants) |
| âniskamâsiwêw | s/he buttons people up |
| sakâpâtam | s/he attaches s.t. by sewing, s/he sews s.t. on |
| miyomohcikêw | s/he adjusts things properly, s/he makes things fit well |
| miyomohtâw | s/he adjusts s.t. properly, s/he makes s.t. fit well |
| miyomohêw | s/he adjusts s.o. properly, s/he makes it fit well |
| sênipân | ribbon |
| wâposwayân (na) | rabbit fur |
| âhi asapâp sâponikanihk | put your thread on/through your needle |
| sîpâ ohci astâ kisâponikan | put your needle under your hide |
| sâpostaha pâhkêkin | put your needle through your hide |
| asona (vti) | put the good sides together |
| tahkohc astâ kipâhkêkanimihk | put on your hide |
| asiwacikan | pouch, pocket; purse, suitcase; storage container, receptacle; can, jar, vessel |
| otinik kimîkisimak sâponikan ohci | pick up your beads with your needle |
| tâpasah (vta) | pick up beads (with a needle) |
| pîwâpiskos | penny, cent; coin; wire; needle |
| aspisâwâcikan | pattern, thing used as a pattern for cutting; a print model |
| masinisâwân | pattern |
| môswâkan | pair of scissors |
| omîkiwahpihkêw | one who sews tipis, one who makes tipis |
| omîkiwâhpihkêw | one who sews tipis, one who makes tipis |
| sâpônikana | needles |
| sâponikan (ni) | needle |
| sênipânis | narrow ribbon, piece of silk |
| astisak (na) | mitts |
| ka-âpacihtâhk | material |
| moccasins (ni) | maskisina |
| maskisinihkê | make moccasins (vai) |
| astisihkê | make mitts (vai) |
| misi-sâponikan | large needle |
| asikanihkâkan | knitting needle |
| kikihtin | it mixes into something, it fits well |
| tâpisin | it lies fit in or strung |
| têpastêw | it is placed within reach; it has enough room to fit in place |
| tihtipawêkahikâtêw | it is embroidered round the top (e.g. moccasin) |
| miyoskâkow | it goes through s.o.’s body with good affect, it does s.o. good (e.g. animate food as actor); it fits s.o. well (e.g. pants) |
| nahipayiw | it fits well (e.g. a door on a frame) |
| miyomon | it fits well (as a window in a frame) |
| nahihtin | it fits well |
| sîhtwamow | it fits very tightly |
| sîhtwamon | it fits tightly, it is on tight |
| sîhcihtin | it fits tightly (as in a box) |
| âyîtawihtin | it fits on both sides |
| têpihtin | it fits inside, it has room to fit in |
| pîhcihtin | it fits inside |
| tâpiskopayiw | it fits in, s/he falls into place |
| tâpipayiw | it fits all around |
| pîhtawêkwâcikan | inside pocket |
| sakâskwahonis | hook and eye; small button, small clasp |
| âniskamân | hitch, clasp; button |
| pâhkêkan | hide (i.e., leather) |
| pahkêkin (ni) | hide |
| cîstaha (vti) | go down (through the material beside the bead) |
| ahtay (na) | fur |
| miyohowin | fine apparel |
| nihtâwikwâsowin | fancy sewing |
| masinistahikêwin | embroidery, embroidered work |
| pîmikitêwayiwinisa | embroidered clothing |
| masinistahikan | embroidered article |
| tapasinaha masinisâwin tahkohc masinahikanihk | draw the pattern on paper |
| tapasinahikê | draw |
| kaskikwâsowin | doing one’s sewing, the art of sewing |
| masinisâwâcikan | cut-out pattern |
| kîskis ana asapâp | cut the thread |
| manis (vta) | cut s.o. |
| manisâwâs (vta) | cut rabbit (or beaver) fur |
| manisa (vti-1) | cut fur |
| kispison | cuff; wristband |
| pê-sâpona (vti) | come up (through the material beside the bead with the needle) |
| papêyâhtak | careful |
| sakipâson | button |
| sakwâskwahon | button |
| nahiskamowin | befitting, fitting well; being adaptable |
| amiskwayân (na) | beaver fur |
| mîkisak (na) | beads |
| mîkisihkahkcikêwin | beading |
| mîkisihkahkcikêwin (ni) | beading |
| mîkisihkahcikê | bead |
| mîkisihkahcikê (vai) | bead |
| mîkisihkahkcikê (vai) | bead |
| sîpêyihta | be patient |
| mâyikwâsowin | bad sewing, poorly done sewing |
| wayiwin | article of clothing; [plural:] clothing, apparel |
| kêkâc | almost |
| wawêsîhowin | adornment with ribbon and flowers (fine apparel; elegant adornment. MD) |
