Part 3 of Getting Started In Historical Trekking.

Part 3. Getting Started In 18th Century Historical Trekking.



If you can’t afford to furnish yourself with all the correct period clothing to start with, I think it is a good idea to cover up your modern clothing. The 18th century work frock does this very well, as it was designed to protect ones underclothes. The frock is made on the same pattern as the 18th century shirt, only in a larger size. If you can’t make your own, or can’t afford one at first, I suggest you purchase one of those kaki all cotton work shirts which only have buttoning at the top. Get one in a large or extra large depending on your size. Take off the pockets and trim the tails. Remove all the buttons and make wooden or bone ones for the cuffs or leave as is. This should do until you can get the real thing.

This is an 18th century shirt style work frock. As you can see it covers everything except the weskit at the neck and the leggings below.


You could probably get away with modern trousers and dessert boots, ugboots, or black or brown shoes. Or you could wear a breechclout with wool leggings made from second hand blanket material and the aforementioned footwear or make yourself some woodland centre seam moccasins.

My breechclout; I also made the trade silver brooches out of second hand spoons. For the breechclout you will need a piece of material as long as you are tall, or a little longer. This one is wool with a hand woven linen centre piece and silk ribbon edging.

These are my woodland Indian style leggings made from a second hand leather coat from an op-shop. The garters I finger wove from wool yarn; the fringes are beaded with French glass #7 beads. Note the leather thong tie up the outside of the leg securing the legging to a leather waste thong.

My finger woven legging garters.

My woodland centre seam moccasins.

Our resident bowyer, knife maker and close personal friend Mark Jones, wearing modern trousers, wool leggings and ugboots. This image was taken at the beginning of last winter. Mark has since dyed the leggings green, made himself some woodland moccasins and a knapsack. Mark made the shirt he is wearing here and the haversack. A very good effort and Mark’s gear is slowly coming together.

Please note that the equipment and clothing shown in this series of posts is exactly the same for woods women as it is for woodsmen. See the older post on Mad Anne Bailey.