Studying about American Frontiersman Daniel Boone is fascinating and if your child is wondering what did Daniel Boone wear, you’ll love todays activity. And grab my unit study and on my page Daniel Boone – North American Explorer.
I will share a super easy tutorial with you to make Daniel Boone’s famous fringed shirt that is perfect for a costume to use for a history project, co-op or fieldtrip.
Also, Daniel Boone was a skilled hunter, a trapper, and a trailblazer.
He is often shown in illustrations wearing a coon skin cap, but the truth is that he did not wear one.
He instead preferred a felt or beaver hat with a wide brim similar to what the Quakers of his home in Pennsylvania would have worn.
About Frontier Clothing
For traveling he would have worn buckskin leggings and a loose-fitting shirt made of animal skin.
Buckskins were made from deerskin clothing worn by Native Americans. They became popular with mountain men and frontiersmen due to their warmth and durability.
Fur was of course a very popular material because every part of the animals that were hunted were used, and it also helped keep them warm.
He would also have worn a leather belt with a hunting knife, a hatchet, a powder horn, and a bullet pouch attached to it.
He probably wore moccasins or moccasin boots while traveling through the wilderness.
Additionally, homespun clothing on the frontier was mostly wool or linen.
Rough cotton was mixed with wool to create a blend known as linsey-woolsey.
Homespun dyes were natural and made from items such as berries, nut shells, tree bark, and flowers.
Look at this post Pioneer Living and Cloth Dyeing (Hands-on History).
Clothing from the American frontier was completely hand woven and hand stitched.
Unfortunately, we do not have many clothing artifacts from this period because life was generally rough on fabrics.
And what was still usable was recycled into quilts and other things.
Then, look at some of these books and resources below.
Books About Daniel Boone & His Life
10 Resources for A Daniel Boone Unit Study
Whether you want to add a hands-on unit study or are looking for a few resources, you'll love one of these.
Struggle against the Shawnee defenders of Kentucky. Drawing from popular narrative, public record, documentation from Boone's own hand, and recollection gathered by 19th-century antiquarians, the author employs the methods of the new social history to produce a portrait that defines Daniel Boone and the times he helped shape.
Called the "Great Pathfinder", Daniel Boone is most famous for opening up the West to settlers through Kentucky. A symbol of America's pioneering spirit Boone was a skilled outdoorsman and an avid reader although he never attended school. Sydelle Kramer skillfully recounts Boone's many adventures such as the day he rescued his own daughter from kidnappers.
The bestselling book—more than 1.5 million copies sold—for every boy from eight to eighty, covering essential boyhood skills such as building tree houses, learning how to fish, finding true north, and even answering the age old question of what the big deal with girls is—now a Prime Original Series created by Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Greg Mottola (Superbad).
In this digital age, there is still a place for knots, skimming stones and stories of incredible courage. This book recaptures Sunday afternoons, stimulates curiosity, and makes for great father-son activities. The brothers Conn and Hal have put together a wonderful collection of all things that make being young or young at heart fun—building go-carts and electromagnets, identifying insects and spiders, and flying the world's best paper airplanes.
From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.All ages
Written for readers age 10 and up -- enjoyed by adults!In search of open spaces and land to call his own, Daniel Boone fearlessly led a band of brave settlers into the bountiful Kentucky wilderness. Daniel's expert hunting ability, incredible outdoor survival skills, and courage under fire helped his companions stay alive in a dangerous and unknown land despite threatening encounters with soldiers, Indians, and even other settlers.
The book includes the following pockets:
- Introduction to Explorers of North America
- Christopher Columbus
- John Cabot
- Hernando Cortes
- Jacques Cartier
- Sir Francis Drake
- Henry Hudson
- Daniel Boone
- James Cook
- Lewis and Clark
- John Wesley Powell
Born in Pennsylvania in 1734, Daniel Boone cut a path west, carving his name into trees. Although he endured repeated property losses, he became a household name and was greatly admired for his surveying skills and the many claims he laid, opening the west for further settlement.
Gear up for outdoor adventure, learn to stay alive, and help yourself thrive – feeling confident that you can handle whatever comes your way!
Accidents happen and nature can be unpredictable, which is why this ultra-portable survival kit is a must-have for casual nature explorers and slightly more adventurous campers in need of essential outdoor guidance that they can carry along with them.
Titles In This Set:The Blizzard ChallengeThe Desert ChallengeThe Jungle ChallengeThe Sea ChallengeThe River ChallengeThe Earthquake ChallengeThe Volcano ChallengeThe Safari ChallengeThe Cave ChallengeThe Mountain ChallengeThe Arctic ChallengeThe Sailing Challenge
A general account of the life of the prominent American frontiersman who is especially remembered for helping to settle Kentucky
Next, add in some fun hands-on activities.
More Daniel Boone North American Explorer Activities
- 30 Fun Resources for Learning About Daniel Boone
- Daniel Boone Explorer Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop
- Daniel Boone Activities Cooking Easy and Delicious Johnny Cakes on the Trail
- Daniel Boone – North American Explorer
- Amazing Daniel Boone Explorer Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study
- Daniel Boone American Frontiersman History Lesson.
- Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas.
Finally, make an easy no sew fringed Shirt
How to Make a No Sew Fringed Shirt
You will need:
- A cream colored, oatmeal colored, or white long sleeve t shirt
- 1 square of cream 9×12” colored felt
- Twine or string or leather shoe lace
- Hot glue gun/glue sticks
- Fabric scissors
- strongly prepared coffee or tea
If you need to dye a white shirt you will also need – a large bowl, hot water, strongly prepared coffee, or tea.
When I was ready to create this project, I could not find a simple cream or oatmeal colored shirt to mimic the buckskin color of what Daniel Boone would have worn.
So, I simply dyed my own.
To do this I poured about 6-8 cups of hot water into a large bowl and then added about a half a pot of strong coffee and stirred well.
Dunk your shirt and flip it several times to be sure it is entirely saturated. Allow it to sit in the coffee for 20 minutes.
Rinse and squeeze out excess water.
Toss into the dryer on high for about 20 minutes to set the stain.
Wash and dry as needed after that prior to wearing.
Obviously if you found one you can skip these steps for dyeing it.
Fold over a 9×12” piece of felt lengthwise.
Measure ⅓” to ¼” of an inch down from the fold and mark lightly with a pencil.
Cut ¼” strips up from the bottom through both pieces of fabric right up to your marked line.
Continue all the way across.
Cut felt on the folded line and then cut one of the strips in half.
Spread the shirt out flat and find the center.
Apply hot glue to the back of your longer piece of fringe and press down in the center approximately 4” down from the collar.
Fasten your shorter pieces on either side of the long piece and across the arms with hot glue.
Allow hot glue to dry and harden.
Cut a 2” slit in the neck with 2-3 small holes on either side.
Lace string or twine through the holes to finish it off.
