Hunting frock pattern from Track...

[Peter LeRay]

Hey fellas. I will be sewing up a hunting frock via a pattern from Track. I've never used a pattern before, especially this one. Any tips that would be useful??

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Any particular location or time period?

The Eagle View brand pattern will "work". I don't like the cuffs nor the elbow fringe. Here is a link to a website with information on Hunting Shirts. I'd simply make an oversized, 18th century shirt, then split it up the middle, and use the cape portion of the EV pattern if I wanted a cape. In Southern Colonies the "hunting shirt" was often called a "split shirt"...hence my reason for splitting the oversized shirt up the front.

Anyway the site when you scroll down shows a leather coat with fringe on the edge of the cuffs, but my first attempt at such decoration using cloth, simply showed that they were prone to catch fire when shooting the flinter or reaching down toward the fire to grab a pot bale. :shocked2: Which might be why in many of the period pieces of artwork, the cuff edges are not fringed, but the fringe (if there) is where the cuff meets the sleeve.

The German woodcut on the same site is a farcical rendition, and probably was intentionally over-fringed. On this LINK if you scroll down you will find information on making a hunting shirt, AND... a historic watercolor including one of a rifleman in such a shirt. You may click on this and it may be enlarged to give you some detail...note the fringe is on the cape and the bottom of the shirt, nowhere else.

LD

 

[Luke MacGillie]

The absolute best pattern for a hunting shirt is actually in Sketchbook 76. One thing that you see in 3 out of the 4 surviving hunting shirts from the 18th Century is the sleeves are pleated. This is not seen on any of the commercial patterns as far as I know.

This pleating takes the sleeve up very tight to the arm from elbow to wrist, and keeps it from catching on fire, or drug thru deer guts ect.

Before starting on actual sewing, I would suggest reading this thesis which is the most recent work on the subject. It also has photos of all the surviving shirts,and line drawings showing how they were constructed. One very interesting design feature on many is that they are not "Split" down the front, but rather purpose made, haveing the cloth selvages running down the front opening.
https://www.academia.edu/3336557/_...eculiar_to_America_The_American_Hunting_Shirt

 

[Coot]

Excellent advice. Neal has done a great job of research & there is nothing like examining originals.

 

[nwtradegun]

buy the kit. save a lot of AGGRVATION AND TIME.

 

[tenngun]

Good points Luke, I think any time the people moved in to the woods they would let practical considerations work. Play with stuff and try it in the real world.If it works for you it worked back then. If the puffed sleave was in the way now so to back then.

 

[SgtSchutzen]

I sewed up a frock awhile back using the Eagle View pattern and am happy with the results. I`ve used other patterns from them as well and they are easy to use and come with decent "constructions" for people like me who don`t always know exactly how to do whatever it is we`re doing.
Their frock pattern comes with two different sleeve versions. You can use it to make "puffy" type sleeves with fringe at the wrists, or a tapered sleeve with regular cuffs. I wanted the puffy type sleeve but didn`t like the look of the fringed wrists, so I combined the two and made puffy sleeves with regular cuffs on them.
You don`t have to use the pattern to make the exact Item they picture. The pattern also shows a double cape but can be made with just a single if that way is more appealing to you. Same as the fringe you can use as much or as little as you want.

 

[Pete G]

Most of the "kits" I have seen are nothing more than a pattern, any required buttons, etc. and some cloth.