Colonial families made many household items by hand as chores, including candles by repeatedly dipping wicks in melted wax and fat, rag rugs by braiding old clothing, and soap by a dangerous process done once or twice a year. Other chores were crafting furniture and goods, tanning animal hides into leather for clothing and other uses, keeping a fire lit in the fireplace for warmth and cooking over hanging pots rotated by a clock jack, and making clothing that took about a week per piece. Food was also preserved through drying, pickling, and storage in ice houses.

1. CHORES
IN COLONIAL TIMES

2. Candle Making
In 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Crafting
Crafting is making
things by hand. It is a
job that requires skill.
People made furniture
brooms, houses, beds
and more.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Cooking Over The Fire
Cooking 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.

9. Clothing Making
In colonial times
clothing was made
with sheepskin.
One piece of clothing
could take about a
week to make.

10. Preserving Food

11. Preserving Food
They dried out fruit to preserve
it.
Ice houses kept vegetables
from spoiling .
They pickled cucumbers so
they lasted longer