Pioneer garb for a girl

[finallyME]

I mentioned this in another thread. To restate it, in a little over a week, my daughter is going on a "re-enactment hike". Calling it a re-enactment hike is using the term very loosely. It is more for the experience of the journey than for period correctness. Some of you know my religious affiliation. Well, every few years, the local youth organization of my church does a historical hike and drags all the 14-17 year old kids out to Wyoming to hike on the historic trail. They divide the kids into "families" and give each "family" a handcart that they put all their stuff in and pull. Over three days they walk about 25 miles with one day being 13+ miles. The kids have to do some research and find a person that they hike for... generally an ancestor. Period clothing is encouraged but not mandatory. My wife mostly, with the help of my daughter, sewed a bonnet and skirt for her to use. I sewed a possibles bag for her. Other than that...she is bringing a gortex bivy and sleeping bag from the army MSS system, plus modern hiking boots, and other modern stuff. Most of her gear will be stored in a 5 gallon bucket that is placed in the handcart. Like I said...it is more for the experience of pulling a handcart than being period accurate.

Here are pictures of the bonnet and skirt and possibles bag. We used a pattern for the bonnet, but no pattern for the skirt or possibles bag. The only thing I bought for the possibles bag was the cotton strap. Everything else was scavenged from other stuff.

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[hunter63]

Looks like a good start.....she shpuld have fun
Might want to check these over for ideas.
http://jas-townsend.com/womens-clothing-c-72_2.html

I would suggest something in a long sleeves for sun and bugs.

[tundrabadger]

well...that seems like a great way for the kids to form a personal relationship with their history, period accurate or not.

Nice work on the stuff. It looks like it will really help put her in the spirit of the thing.

[finallyME]

We are taking her to the thrift store to pick out some long sleeve shirts. I also look at the Jas Townsend site all the time.

[natertot]

Sounds like a good experience and one that she will not soon forget. The bag looks good as does the clothing. I second a long sleeve shirt for sun and bugs, though.

Good looking kiddo, btw.

[1stimestar]

Awesome. Let us know how it goes.

[crashdive123]

Sounds like it will be a great experience. Well done on the sewing to Mom, Daughter and Dad.

[Rick]

Most excellent! Do you know where they acquired the carts?

[finallyME]

The carts are already there. I think they rent them out. My church owns a historical site at Martin's Cove (and some other places) and has handcarts there to use. In fact, I think anyone can go to the historical site and borrow a handcart for an hour or so to get a small taste.

[LowKey]

Those are some pretty heavy looking carts at the Martin's Cove site.
Sounds like they'll have some fun!

[hunter63]

The carts are already there. I think they rent them out. My church owns a historical site at Martin's Cove (and some other places) and has handcarts there to use. In fact, I think anyone can go to the historical site and borrow a handcart for an hour or so to get a small taste.

Pretty cool...and a heck of an education....thanks for posting.
Looked it up.....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin%27s_Cove

http://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/martins-cove

[kyratshooter]

My great grandmother was still alive until I was in my late teens.

She would not walk out of the house without one of those sun bonnets on! I still remember her daily wear was a skirt like that one, usually in calico, and a top that was called a "smock", made from light cotton fabric and decorated with tiny gathered stitching.

Tell your daughter to break with the historic and take a lot of pictures. She will talk about this trip for the rest of her life.

[finallyME]

Here is a picture from the trip. My daughter is on the far right. She can't stop talking about the trip and how much fun she had. Of course, a lot of the "fun" revolved around "boys"....but there was adult supervision...
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[Rick]

Holy carp. Some body moves those rocks!!! I'm glad she had a good time. Looks like a lot of folks attended.

[hunter63]

They had them pull the cart over those rocks?.......LOL...
Outstanding.....glad she had a good time.

"Twas hard back in my day....pulled a hand cart 100 miles to go to school...over the rocks...thru the snow...and came home for lunch."

[Rick]

uphill both ways.

[crashdive123]

Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[natertot]

Very nice! Glad she had a great time. She'll remember that forever.

[DSJohnson]

I think that is an amazing program. Really glad she had a good time. How long were they "on the trail"? The whole history of the hand cart story is pretty amazing to me.