 |
| General Information |
|
Who We Are Contacting Us Printable Mail Order Forms Main Site Index How We Make Our 'Skins How We Make Our Wampum Exchange Links With Us |
| Choose A Product Index |
|
Buckskins Buckskin Bags Men's Buckskin Clothing Women's Buckskin Clothing Buckskin Rifle Cases Traditional Wampum Wampum Arm Bands Wampum Bracelets Wampum Chokers Wampum Let Ties Wampum Treaty & Story Belts |
| Other Important Information |
|
Frequently Asked Questions About Us & Our Business What Our Clients Say About Original Buckskin Clothing About Original Wampum Ordering & Shipping Info |
| Other Valued Sites & Resources |
|
Non-Profit Colonial & Fur Trade Groups Government Related Museum & Historical Sites Native American Resources Other Needs Outdoors & Athletics Health & Fitness |
 |
Sewing Original Buckskin Clothing
Sewing Today"Authentic" sewing of fur or buckskin clothing today is most often done with a glover's needle using either artificial sinew or a waxed natural fiber, like linen. Though the tools and thread have changed, the types and sizes of "authentic" stitches have not. [Top of Page]
Original SewingOriginal sewing was done with smaller, more time-consuming stitches than most people today are willing to imitate. Running stitches (drawing 1 below) should be 1/8" to 3/16" (4.8mm) long, and Whip stitches (drawing 2) about 1/8" (3.2mm) apart. We have seen a few originals, but very few, with running stitches up to 5/16" long. Many originals, especially fur items, were made with even smaller stitches. Patching tears or holes was also done with small stitches. Exceptions to these were rifle cases, and neck flaps added to shirts. On these the Running stitches were up to 3/8" (8 - 9.5mm) long, and Whip stitches about 1/4" (6.4mm) apart. [Top of Page]
ThongingWhen we say "thonging" many people think of "lacing". Thonging (drawing 3 above) is like "spot" stitching, except a thin 6" long (15cm) strip of buckskin is used instead of thread. Thonging was used to make buckskin clothing of western native men until the mid-to late-1800's (depending on the nation). [Top of Page]
LacingLacing (drawing 4 above) is also a thin strip of leather, but about 1/3 longer than the length of the seam. Matching holes are punched about 1/2" apart (12.7mm) in both pieces of buckskin the entire length of the seam. Many today first glue the seam to hold the buckskin pieces in place while working. The lace is then inserted up and down through the holes in both pieces of buckskin the entire seam. With a couple rare exceptions lacing was NOT used to make original buckskin clothing. Even on those rare exceptions lacing was only used for a small portion of the garment, with the majority of the garment being sewn. Lacing is used by most makers of buckskin clothing today, because it significantly decreases the time needed to make an item. Lacing also decreases the quality and eliminates authenticity. Machine sewing reduces manufacturing time even more. If someone is charging low or very low prices compared to authentically made products, you can be sure they are lacing or machine sewing. [Top of Page]
|
