What Kind of Clothing Did the Pioneers Wear?

Life in the pioneer times was difficult. There were few materials and tools available, and most of the daily life revolved around working the land or preparing basic things for the home. The clothes the pioneer wore were practical and suitable for hard work. Since it was as difficult as it was expensive to make new clothes, extreme care was put into preserving the ones already in existence.

Significance

All the clothing the pioneers wore was made by hand by the woman in the family. Because buying raw material was difficult and expensive, most homes own a spinning wheel and a dye pot so women could process the materials before they sew or knitted the clothing itself. It was also the work of the women to cut the wool off the sheep, carden it (meaning cleaning and straighten it) and spin it. Spinning clothes was so time-consuming that women often did it in groups, turning the chore into a chance to socialize.

Types

Depending on the region and the climate of the area, most clothes the pioneers wore were made of wool, linen or cotton. Families grew flax in their own properties, from which linen was eventually made. Preparing the flax required breaking the bark of the plants, a job reserved for men because of the strength required. Cotton was more rare because it only grew in specific areas. Leather was used occasionally to make some items of clothing or shoes, but it wasn't a preferred choice because pioneers didn't have the proper materials to preserve it, which meant clothing made of leather rotted quickly.

Identification

Most families owned very few changes of clothes. In most cases, this consisted of two complete sets of working or everyday clothing plus one or two dressed-up items, which were used to attend church or meet socially. Because washing clothes was such a difficult task, most families preferred to air them frequently to eliminate food and smoke odors. Soap used to wash clothes was made at home using ashes and old fat boiled together. It was effective but didn't smell particularly attractive.

Features

The basic work clothing wore by men consisted of a a pair of overalls topped with a snug-fitting, short jacket. Earlier pioneers wore clothing made of deerskin. Women wore long dresses or skirts and blouses, as well as bonnets and shawls (which serve both to protect from the cold and as signs of modesty). Knitting was difficult and time-consuming, so most women just made the basics out of wool--socks, mittens and shawls. Crocheting was popular as a way to add lace and small decorations to dresses and blouses.

Considerations

Because there was little chance to wear jewelry or to sport fancy accessories, the pioneer often dyed their clothes (especially the ones used for socializing) in order to provide themselves with some wardrobe variety. Natural materials used for dying included walnuts (brown color), flowers (for yellow or blue) and madder root (red).