Making Clothes

saturnine138 · Nov 28, 2006

I know clothes arent really as fun to show off as knives and pointy sticks and things, but they are still quite important. Lately I've been wanting to make my own clothes, pants in particular. It doesnt seem too difficult, and I could make exactly what I want. I was thinking of making a pair of wool pants with a flannel lining. My plan was to try it first on an old bedsheet and see how it comes out, and then go buy some fabric. Does anyone have any idea how to begin making clothes? Primitive clothes making could be interesting as well, anyone have any ideas on how'd they'd do it?

siguy · Nov 28, 2006

for clothes making, and finding patterns, you should start at the fabrics department of the local walmart, or the local fabric store. they have a number of patterns (all reusable). in the event that they don't have any pants patterns, just look for a costume pattern that has pants as part of the operation.

Codger_64 · Nov 28, 2006

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/produc...13667&osCsid=96a69556cafe1bddec84258019e0ef1c

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/produc...=9932&osCsid=96a69556cafe1bddec84258019e0ef1c

Last century, sometime in the nineteen hundred and seventies, I got involved with a period muzzleloading group. Clothing was early to mid 1800's, and I made my own calico drop sleeve shirts with bone buttons, and a pair of broadfall pants from unbleached muslin, walnut dyed. Start with a shirt first using a pattern like those from Dixie Gun Works in Union City, Tennessee.

I went to a junk store and found a jar of old buttons for five dollars, talked the owner into letting me pick nine from the jar for a dollar. For the shirt, three for each sleeve, three for the front. I picked out some really old bone buttons that matched the time period of my portrayal. For another dollar, I found cast pewter buttons for the pants.

Good luck! I'll try to find one of my shirts and post a picture.

Codger

2dogs · Nov 28, 2006

I made one pair of camo pants back in the 80s. My gf gave me so much grief I threw them out. I can sew enough for repairs and I actually like doing that. But, beyond repairs I suck.

Codger_64 · Nov 28, 2006

That is where these 1800's patterns shine. The construction is super simple, the seams straight and easy to sew. Nothing complicated about them. Also, they are comfortable to wear out in the woods.

Codger

DOC-CANADA · Nov 28, 2006

Traditional Clothing Of The Native Americans, Evard H. Gibby, Eagles View, 2001, ISBN # 0-943604-61-3

This is a how to with the primary focus on buckskin.

Doc

mewolf1 · Nov 28, 2006

I cheat! Tear apart an old pair of your pants to make patterns for the woolies.
I do this to make winter mitts too, only I add on large gauntlets then back them with muskrat or beaver fur.:thumbup:

RokJok · Nov 29, 2006

saturnine138 said:
I was thinking of making a pair of wool pants with a flannel lining.

If the flannel is made of cotton or a cotton blend, rethink your plan. Avoid cotton as a cold weather against-your-skin fabric. Cotton can kill you in cold weather if it gets wet.

Cotton flannel lining against your skin for a cold-weather active-person garment is bad. Cotton retains sweat/water next to your skin, tapping heat from your skin to dry the water from the fabric, which takes a long time and lots of heat.

I once had my BDU pants (50/50 cotton/poly blend) get drenched and take over an hour to reach the mildly damp stage while I wore them in a 70-degree house. In spite of the warm house providing additional heat toward the drying process and my upper torso being plenty warm, my legs were aching from the heat they'd lost trying to dry those pants.

A better lining for you pants IMHO would be one of the lightweight polar fleece fabrics (or expedition weight polypro-type cloth) which wick water away from your skin.

runningboar · Nov 29, 2006

Man!!! Talk about the best of both worlds wool pants with fleece or polypro liners would be the bees knees.

saturnine138 · Nov 29, 2006

I didnt realize flannel was made from cotton. I just remember all my flannel stuff being pretty warm and not as itchy as wool. I'll definitely switch to something better, maybe fleece.

GibsonFan · Nov 29, 2006

runningboar said:
Man!!! Talk about the best of both worlds wool pants with fleece or polypro liners would be the bees knees.

No kidding, are they available anywhere? I got too many projects going already. Then again, my woman did say she wants a sewing machine... :thumbup:

In any case this is a cool thread!

mwelch8404 · Dec 4, 2006

There is such a thing as wool flannel.

Look for good Merino wool. Not nearly as "itchy" as coarser wool, and MUCH better than the re-processed wool in less expensive garments and blankets.

As far as mixing wool and cotton, the word shoddy was originally what the mix was called...