colonial chores

CHORESIN COLONIAL TIMES

Candle MakingIn colonial times candles had to be made by hand. Candles were made out of wax and tallow (melted fat). When you make a candle you need to dip the wicks in the wax many times, adding layers to make it thick.

Rag Rugs

The first rugs used by settlers were furs thrown over dirt floors. In later times the settlers braided rugs from old clothing. If you owned a loom, you could weave rugs the way wove clothing.

Soap Making

Soap making was done by the women of the house. It was a very dangerous job so children had to stay away while it was being made.Soap making was done once or twice a year because it was a messy, smelly, difficult and dangerous job.

Crafting

Crafting is making things by hand. It is a job that requires skill.

People made furniture brooms, houses, beds and more.

Leather And Animal Hides

Animal hides were turned into leather.

The leather was used for clothing, shoes, rugs and many other things.

Leather was also used for keeping people warm and for storage.

Making leather was a chore done by adults.

Keeping The Fire Lit

Colonial homes always had a big log burning in the fireplace for warmth and cooking.

Sitting near the light of the fire was good for reading and sewing.

They used flint and tinder to make a fire.

Cooking Over The FireCooking over the fire was done in heavy iron pots.

The pot hung on a pole connected to a clock jack.

A clock jack is a small gadget with a hook at the bottom which rotated the food so that it didn't burn.

Clothing MakingIn colonial times clothing was made with sheepskin.

One piece of clothing could take about a week to make.

Preserving Food

Preserving FoodThey dried out fruit to preserve it.

Ice houses kept vegetables from spoiling .

They pickled cucumbers so they lasted longer