Buckskin Clothing

I had never sewed anything in my life but buttonscompany that I buy Indian articles from. The
on a shirt. That was even an experience that I didpattern was not in my size. I could not find any
not relish. Doing research on my family tree Ipatterns in my size. I took one of my shirts and
became aware of the fact that my great grandtraced around it, adding a few inches extra for
parents were listed on the American Indian rolls.the hem. I had bought a thread that was too
The rolls were instituted during the infamous timelarge for the machine and continually experienced
of the trail of tears. I had always felt that I hadbobbin problems. The thread was even too large
indian lineage because my mother looked the part.to go through the needle of the machine easily. I
All of her brothers and sisters had Indian features.went down to a smaller thread and began to
The Indian aspect of our heritage was rarelymake progress. Buckskin is not an easy material
discussed by family members. My mother neverto work with. It is very pliable and has almost a
discussed her heritage even though she was darkspongy texture to it. Use heavy needles that are
skinned with black hair and high cheek bones. Mymeant for sewing leather to do the hand work.
sister looked Indian. I was dark complected. MySome type of lubricant is needed on the needles
dad was Irish. He was fair skinned with light hair. Ito make them go through the leather easier. I
have always felt a kinship to the Indian race.Iused a heavy piece of leather to protect my
became very interested in anything Indian. I wenthands while hand stitching. I also used a pair of
to Indian art shows and inspected indian ware onpliers to push and pull the needle through the
e-bay. I had purchased a head dress which endedleather. To my amazement I got all of the parts
up being too small for my head. I read books andto match. I had even got huge compliments for
articles on Indian history. I purchased manymy sewing ability. It looked as good as any thing
articles which somehow seemed to quench mythat I could have purchased. I next looked at
thirst for a feeling for the past. I am a large manways to decorate my shirt besides the usual
with a large torso and feet. I had been buying myfringe. I decided on horsehair, beadwork and
clothes from a big mans store for years. I hadmedallions. I now had an expensive war shirt at a
ogled the war and buckskin shirts on e-bay andprice that I could afford and in a size that would
other sites for months. I had trouble finding indianfit me.I needed pants to go with the shirt. I sent
war shirts in my size. When I came close tooff and ordered a pattern for leggings and a
finding the right shirt the price tag was out of mybreechclout. The pattern worked. The leggings and
price range.The next step? With my poor sewingbreechclout were relatively easy to put together.
knowledge I decided to try to make a war shirtI now have buckskins that will compare to almost
by myself. I bought the buckskin and then aany other. I saved money. I learned a new skill
sewing machine from Wal- Mart. The sewingand got a feel for what it must have been like for
machine was not big enough and did not have thethe indians of old to produce their clothing. I am
power to sew through leather.. I went to e-baystill searching for ways of recreating the Indian of
and purchased a sewing machine which wasthe past. Yesterday I walked in the living room
advertised to sew leather. In fact this new sewingwith a full drape red fox hat on my head. My wife
machine was cheaper than the used machinesdoes understand.Stephen Graham-Avid hunter and
that I had been outbid on by more aggressivefisherman, enjoys many hobbie that he likes to
bidders. I purchased a war shirt pattern from ashare with others.