Blouse with the body of mostly solid medium red cotton cloth and square guessets at the underarms. There is no collar, but three is a large ruggled yoke surrounding the entire blouse, attached at the neck and running all the way around and down much of the length of the blouse. The cuffs and the yoke are decorated with maroon, pink, and light blue trim.

This style may have been introduced to the Seminole by the Gullah from West Africa. It appears more complex over time, and this allows us to date the clothing based on the way they are constructed. Patchwork is the same as ribbonwork, but silk is not used. Pieces of colored cloth are sewn together to create designs. Ribbonwork among Prairie tribes and patchwork among the Southeastern tribes may have similar origins. to be more common during the 20th century, although it was seen in the 19th century. The banded designs become more and more complex over time.

Tags: Seminole, patchwork, Alice Jim
People: Seminole
Places: Southeast, Florida, recently Oklahoma
Purpose: domestic use, personal activity

From interviews with Dr. Garrick Bailey, 2018-2020 University of Tulsa, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology