Leather dress weight and footage?

[Dalton Masterson]

My mom is wanting to make a indian style leather dress, and I need to know what the approximate square footage needed is, and what weight. I found buffalo hides for a little over 100.00 a hide, so am planning on that.
DM

[Dr. Bob]

Howdy DM,

Hope that yer Mom is real strong!   Buffy weighs a bunch.  You would probably be better off with elk hide.  How much you will need depends on the style of dress that she wants.  I would suggest that you find a copy of Jim Hanson's book on women's clothing that is part of the sketch book series. It is Feminine Fur Trade Fashions and you may have to get it from ABE Books.

                  http://www.abebooks.com/

You might also find patterns on the Crazy Crow web site.

                   http://www.crazycrow.com/

They carry elk hide.  Eidnes Furs in St. Maries, ID also has elk.  To look PC it should be suede side out.  The most authentic would be brain tanned, but that will cost you a real pretty penny!   I think that Moscow Hide and Fur would be another source for elk.  Most will have what is called "commercial' brain tan hides which are pretty good looking for quite a bit less.

Good researching!

[ChuckBurrows]

For the money I would suggest the German Tan hides (a true oil/chamois tan) from Crazy Crow - although a different process the end product is the closest thing to hand made brain tan there is on the market and at about half-the price.
Most modern garment leathers, including buckskin and elk hide, are chrome tanned and are hot in the summer and cold in the winter. In contrast brain/German tan breathes and is lighter in weight. Plus the German Tan will LOOK right......you can get in natural, white, or even smoked - really smoked too.
The most common hides for women's dresses in the old days were buckskin, elk hide, antelope, and mountain sheep which at that time lived at much lower elevations.
Crazy Crow also has an excellent book on the subject of women's hide dresses.......any other advice I can offer please feel free......such things as pre-stretching, sewing tips, etc.......

[Dalton Masterson]

Thanks guys! I think I am gonna get me a hide for sure at that price for chaps, bags, etc, but will probably pass on the buff for mom. They have elk and the german tanned deer as well, and they were our other options.
Thanks again!
DM