Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Locate either real buckskin dresses or excellent close up pictures of several different styles to see how they are made and what they are supposed to look like. Choose the style you prefer.
2

Select the skins. Decide whether you want to use deer, elk or dyed and treated sheepskin. To be as traditional as possible, use the hide of a deer or elk that is tanned naturally. Measure the skins to determine whether you will need two or three for the dress. Avoid skins with lots of holes.
3

Make the pattern using brown paper, cotton or patterned fabric. Measure the person and make the pattern as close to fit as possible. When sewn and fitted correctly, the buckskin dress will rarely stretch. Model the pattern after the style of dress that you have chosen. If you can, trace the pattern of a real leather Native American dress that fits and allow an inch and a half for seams if they are sewn.
4

Choose between sewing the buckskin dress and lacing the seams. Sewing produces a very finished product that fits well. Use the awl for all holes that you may need. The pliers are used to pull the buckskin needles through multiple layers of buckskin if you have difficulty pulling the needle through. Use either sinew, from the animal gut, or strong cotton thread coated in beeswax for sewing.
5

Cut the fringe in straight lines and stretch it before sewing to the buckskin dress. This keeps the dress from becoming misshapen. Make the fringe as long as possible but not so long as to be stepped on. Make sure the scissors are sharp and cut the fringe at least a quarter of an inch wide.
6

Ornament the leather Native American dress with colored beads, sea shells and silver or steel cones (they were tied onto the fringe to look and sound pretty). Decorated fringe was also placed on different parts of the dress, across the bodice and around the skirt. Use naturally dyed quills and glass beads to make patterns across the shoulders and on the bodice.