Pattern, Mountain Man Work Shirt

Missouri River Brand Patterns

Typical of the simple but practical Early American Frontier clothing style, this work shirt was popular from approxi-mately 1800 through 1860 and is quite similar to the shirts often shown by the noted early frontier painter George Caleb Bingham as well as other period artists. Popular mat-erials for the work shirt included red wool flannel, white linen and white or striped cotton fabric. Our pattern features a conventional collar, however, period paintings show that the standup style collar was also popular. Our pattern also features sleeves gathered at the cuff, and the loose fit allows complete freedom of movement and was everyday wear for the mountainmen, fur traders and explorers of the day.