The Sioux believed that the art of quilling was bought to a woman in a dream. She in turn taught others how to work with the quills. Each woman used personal and original designs which she received through her own dreams. When European beads became available the traditional designs were carried over into beadwork.

This book is the classic work on these important Plains Indian arts, applying to the Cheyennes and Arapahoes as well as to the Sioux. There are 20 pages in the back of the book of patterns. In the book there are a lot of photographs describing what they mean.