L to R: Carol Jutte, Martha Koletar and Kathy Miller
Carol Jutte is wearing a Revolutionary dress that she made herself from a pattern. Butterick Pattern #3071, Simplicity #3723 and McCall's #9423. (Just as a side note the patterns if purchasing are $16.95 each
so ladies may want to barrow mine) They are expensive. Carol also has already made and free to anyone 1 apron and 2
mop hats. They just have to have a long skirt and a blouse to wear with it.
Martha Koletar purchased her Betsy Ross with flag from website; Amazon. It came in only one
size, but she noticed that there is one for sale at www.costumecraze.com
that comes in different sizes. It is Item #TRAD746. As for the dress that Martha is wearing in the photo, it had no bust seams
and lacked about 4 inches meeting in the back. It also was too long so she had it
hemmed. Martha would advise anyone to get the largest size because these costumes
tend to run small.
Kathy Miller made part of her outfit and purchased other items from website: http://jas-townsend.com/womens-clothing-c-72_2.html They do have a reenactment catalog and are located in Indiana.
She also made her jacket and apron. Kathy's costume consisted of a chemise, pockets, drawstring skirt, a fitted bodice or short gown, and a straw hat. Dressed in that order all items are historically correct for colonial America and Revolutionary War era. All are 100% cotton, as the only material they had at the time were cotton, wool and silk. No blended fabrics. Also, for that period there were no buttons, or zippersl They used brass pins, hook and eye fasteners, or laces to hold the garments together on women's clothing or as in the skirt twill tape was used. The apron Kathy made had no pattern, but an apron should cover most all of the skirt. All items are handmade in Indiana using authentic fabrics selected from Mr. Townsend himself. Kathy's outfit represents the "common woman". An outfit worn everyday by most women in Colonial times. Missing items from Kathy's outfit would be the stays and authentic stockings and shoes.
Pat Tucker purchased her exquisite ball gown from a website:
She also purchased many other items to make this outfit
a real eye catcher. This is a ball gown depicting the style that was prevalent in the colonial period. You will see similar design features in dresses from these times with the contrasting fabric inset in the front and a variation of the bodice facings. The bodice of the dresses were designed to be tight fitting with the skirts attached at the waistline. The fabrics and the more intricate deigns designated where the clothing was to be worn. This dress is a combination of taffeta and velveteen fabric with the gold tulle accents. Hoops were sewn into the petticoats and corsets and pantaloons of some type were worn underneath. The hair was styled high on top of the head, bushed upward off the forehead and some types of curls dangling along the neckline. The hair was adorned with dressings of ribbon, jewels, pearls, feathers and tulle fabrics. Wigs for women were also popular.
Phyllis Wilson saw the child's version of her dress on line. She ordered it from: https://www.etsy.com/listing/45591339/wehavecostumes-handmade-historical-civil?ref=related-4. She needed to have measurements for her chest, waist and the length from her shoulder to the floor. She can provide you with additional information about her experience with Kelly the owner who lives in Arkansas and is the mother of 9 children.
http://ww1.kellyscostumes.com/ This site offers a lot of additional sites to visit for costumes.
Pat Tucker, Martha Koletar and Phyllis Wilson posing for a photo at the District VII Meeting in Southport, August 2015
