How to Make Irish Frontiersmen Clothing
Irish frontiersmen were men from the Scottish Lowlands who relocated to Ulster, Northern Ireland. Between 1715 and 1775 nearly 250,000 emigrated to America, setting in the North and South Carolina back country. Known as the Scots-Irish, they were rugged, independent men who valued their freedom. They became Whigs during the Revolution and helped to win the battle against the British at Cowpens in 1781. You can recreate their outfit using modern substitutes for the leather and buckskin frontiersmen typically wore. Note that this outfit is reenactor quality and requires skill at sewing. The website listed includes patterns for clothing.
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Things You'll Need
- Suede-like or leather material
- Suede fringe
- Suede boots
- Elastic
- Needle and thread
Instructions
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Make the frontiersman's shirt from suede-type material that can pass for deerskin. Cut the body of the shirt in two halves and the back in one solid piece, sizing it so the fit will be long and loose on the wearer. Cut long sleeves in two long pieces. Stitch the sleeves together first. Sew the sleeves to the back of the shirt, then attach the two front halves of the shirt to the back and sleeves. Add material around the neck to make a collar that folds back. Wear a leather belt outside the shirt. These shirts had no cuffs or buttons.
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Purchase matching suede fringe in a fabric store to add detail to the shirt. Pinning it first, sew the fringe across the chest in a V-shape. Pin fringe down the outside arms of the shirt to ensure it's even. Sew on the fringe.
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Make matching leggings of the same suede-like fabric. Cut the legs with in two halves each for front and back, with flared legs reaching almost to the ground. Stitch together the two front halves followed by the back halves, then sew the front to the back. Sew buttons to the front, even if you choose to sew a hidden zipper underneath. Tie the seams together from the knee down rather than sew them, or add a row of fringe down the outside of each leg by pinning it first, then stitching it.
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Make a breechcloth of the same soft but firm material. Cut it so it hangs knee-length. Hem the edges. Run a piece of elastic through the waistband fitted to your waist size. Make the front and back meet on the sides at the waist with loose ties.
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Complete the look with a pair of store-bought suede boots, moccasins, or leather boots. Carry a tall flintlock rifle as an accessory.
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Tips & Warnings
In later decades men's shirts were also made of muslin, wool, or linen. When you picture a frontiersman's outfit, imagine clothing similar to what an Indian or fur trapper would have worn.
