Mid-19th Century

Mid-19th Century

I went to my first Civil War living history/reenactment when I was 12 years old and was hooked from the beginning. Due to my young age and lack of um. . .funds. . .it took me two years to make my first complete Civil War outfit. Thankfully, I spent those two years usefully and my first gown was not too terribly bad, due in large part to the excellent advice from Mrs. Clark and the (fortunately) fairly good pattern I bought for my first dress, Homespuns Visiting Dress.

Since then, I have been reenacting each year and have made, collectively, over thirty adult style dresses and more childrens style dresses than I can remember. In my late teens, I spent a few years recreating the transitional teen style clothing of the time. When I married, I spent time researching mens uniforms and civilian wear and baby clothing. Since then, I have made more baby dresses than I care to count and five uniforms for my husband. Whew!

Despite this era probably being the one I know the most about and have sewn from the most, I really do not like 1860's era fashion for women. The styles are terribly unflattering and the hoops are rather cumbersome. Still, it is exciting to don an outfit from this time, to pull one's hair back into the rather severe styles popular then and to pose with a somber expression for a camera.

Starting with the dresses I currently have as of now; Dec. 2009, I will hopefully get my whole wardrobe posted soon. I have four more gowns in various stages of completion and I'm sure I'll be adding to this page a LOT, since reenacting is my husbands favorite hobby and something we do a lot of in the summer and fall. And a girl cannot have too many gowns, can she? :)

Love,

Sarah

Green Cotton Print Day Dress

Blue Cotton Print Day Dress

Brown Plaid Silk Dress

Black Wool Dress

Sheer Cotton Organdy Sunbonnet

Blue Cotton Quilted Sunbonnet

Plaid Wool Mantle

Plaid Wool/Silk Winter Hood