Im going to a mountan man rendezvous in january its going to be fun throwing hawks with the experts theres even a tomahawk trail to walk! Only problem is i need period costume to enter...The shirt i can make no problem but i need help with the pants. I have some leather and was thinking of makeing some leggings or something. If you can think of an alternitive ill make a leather jacket out of it.


thanks :)

sounds like fun! Get photos if you can, where is it?
I don't suppose that was very helpful, sorry....  ::)

what size waist?

what size waiste well lets see...45 inches..Im a big boy :)

Sorry, nothing that size.  :-[  I'll have a look around though.

Im looking for a pattern if you have one :)

I'll see what I can come up with.

...how are leggings a primitive weapon?

ever get drop kicked by an indean? yeah you dont live to tell about it

;D

You don't need leather for leggings. In fact if this is in winter, you don't want them. they will freeze and be cold.Trust me. I know.
 I would use a heavy wool. What the mountain men used to use were Hudson's bay blankets, or their equal. Making them is really no problem.
  Measure up to your inseam. This will be the "tube" of your leggings. From there, you need to make various  loops that will allow the leggings to hang from a belt. I usually also wear sashes at the knees, for further security of the leggings.
 If you want the fringes, just add one inch to where the seam will be. ( The seam will be on the outside of the leggings) Then sew up , leaving the excess. Cut them into fringes. I would also recommend that you blanket stitch any cut area of the leggings, to keep the wool from unraveling.
  When I klondike camp with my Boy Scou Troop, ( yes we tent camp in the winter) I wear my leggings, buckskins, and capote, and badger hat. let me tell you, I am warm!

haha thanks badger :) This is in the summer and im hopeing not to be too hot! I figure some baggy leather leggings and a  tan linnen shirt with my leather wide brimed hat will do me ok.

Same basic procedure for the leather as with the wool blankets. If you are going " Proper", as in no pants under the leggings, you will need a breechclout, for obvious reasons. :o
  That is the way to keep the coolest while wearing them , but it's up to you.

Breechclout and leggings is they way to go if you want to be period and comfortable. I wear them at powwows all the time, and they can't be beat for comfort.

I've seen some people use heavy cotton for leggings and breechclout too. Not really sure if that is exactly period, but they do look comfy.

To be period correct it really should be wool. Any old woolen blanket will do so you don't have to cut up an expensive Hudson Bay or Witney blanket. Just try to keep it to certain period colors. Navy blue was probably the most common but red was also worn, usually by chiefs. Hope that helps.                      

i am wearing a breechclout with it  :) I have them made and they look like chaps. I know i should not use the buck skin but oh well. I have seen more people decked out all in buck skin then i have seen anything else ::) Truth told im only going for the bow and tomahawk competetion. I like the long hunters and all but not my period.  :) I get some odd looks when i practice in the leggings and breechclout  :)

but as you know thats half the fun ;D

If you are going with the leather leggings, try painting some stripes on them. It was very common to wear painted leggings in the west. Use yellow blue or red for correct look. 8) .................Don't forget the moccasins!      

Chaps is what they are supposed to look like.
 The breechclout can be decorated, also. Our local tribes ( Seneca Iroqouis) used to paint or embroider floral designs on theirs. I used to have one with a badger on it, but there were too many uh... interesting comments on it.
 Look up a tribe you are interested in and see what kind of designs they had and how it was done.

All right thanks for the info.

You can also use pocupine quills for decoration if you want to really be authentic! :o

so how did they keep there arrows? Did they tuck them in there belt like european archers or did they have a quiver? if so was it hung on the back or belt?

A lot depended on the tribe. Most had some kind of quiver that was slung over the back.
      Some, ( like the Diggers) had small arrows that could be tucked into a convenient belt. However, these were generally not of the highest quality, and were used for very small game at short distances.
 When horses came along, the bow and quiver were hung from one side, convenient for the rider

a quiver for the back then :)