Cowboy Clothing

What the Heck Are Wrist Cuffs?

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I had never heard the term wrist cuffs that cowboys wore until pretty recently. I’d seen pictures of them but didn’t know what they were called or why they wore them. Maybe you already did and are way ahead of me. That’s quite possible.

Definition: Wide soft leather bindings that cowboy wore on their wrists to protect them from barbed wire fencing, cattle kicking and causing injury and protecting shirt sleeves. They also protected against rope burns and branding irons. They are also called roping cuffs and sometimes gauntlets.

I’ve seen them on motorcycle riders quite a bit for protection on the road. These were very popular on cowboys until the turn of the century but you can still see them on some working cowboys today.

I admit, they’re pretty cool and make the wearer look tough.

When I started writing Creek, my sweet western romance, I wanted him to wear them but in his case it was partly to conceal an ink drawing on his wrist. My cover designer put them on him but they looked horrible so we took them off.

I have an eleven year old girl in my story. Willa July Calder was left orphaned when her mother dies but she was told to look for a man with a thunderbird drawing on his wrist. That would be her father. When she happens to see Creek’s, she’s convinced he’s her father and starts following him everywhere.

Thunderbirds were revered by Native Americans who believed the mythical birds carried magic and could protect the person.

I won’t give the plot away. The book is available for Preorder. This is Book 1 leading off a multi-author Gun For Hire series with two others of the books also available for preorder now. These are Sweet Western Romances and mine goes on sale March 15. Margaret’s will be available March 31 and Charlene’s April 15. There will be 10 altogether. Here’s the series link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTHVRM6K?tag=pettpist-20

Here are the rest of the series: Zane by Heather Blanton, Keith by Carra Copelin, Ash by our own Jo-Ann Roberts, Shad by Caroline Clemmons, Clint by Tracy Garrett, Landon by Cheryl Pierson, and Luke by another Filly Winnie Griggs.

We sure hope you’ll find these entertaining. Have you read a good western lately? If so, what is the title? Do you like westerns? Let’s talk. I don’t have any copies to give away yet but I will later on.

Bandanas – Simple Clothing Decoration or Multi-Functional Accessory?

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As a Harlequin author, I have to suggest cover ideas for the art department. If people are included in my ideas, I asked to describe what they’re wearing. If winter, they might have on heavy coats. If summer, they could be in shorts. Since my heroes are always cowboys, my list of clothing looks something like this: a Stetson, boots, belt, jeans, and a western cut shirt.

One article of clothing I always leave off my list but that my hero almost always carries or wears is a bandana. That recently got me to thinking about all the many uses for bandana, both in yesteryears and today. Me being me, I did a little research.

 

                             

Early Indian Block Painted Fabric                  George Washington on horseback 1780

It seems the bandana originated in late 1600s in Southern Aisa and the Middle East. They were made by pressing pre-carved blocks into pieces of woven fabric, infusing the fabric with dyes made from plants. These pieces of printed fabric began to reach Europe in the early 1700s, likely brought back by traders. Among Europeans, a repeating pattern of teardrop shapes gained popularity and came to be called “Paisley”.

From there, the bandana traveled with ship passengers to the colonies. Because of its natural versatility, no wonder it continued to gain even more popularity, head west with pioneers, and become standard issue for the American cowboy.

                     

Here are just a few uses for the versatile bandana:

Warmth in cold weather

Protection from sun exposure

Filter dust to make breathing easier during dust storms

Collect perspiration around neck

A handy wipe/rag for drying or cleaning

A napkin to wipe your face

Blowing your nose

A hairband

A scarf to warm ears

A mask for bank robbers

A gag for silencing hostages

Decorative accent when dressing up

Tourniquet to stop a wound from bleeding

A sling to support a broken arm

Wrap up a bundle of goods

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What about you? Do you have any uses for a bandana that I haven’t included here? Let me know in the comments below. We can have fun sharing ?