Children's Civil War Reproduction Clothing

Hello SilkBrocade watchers, this is Alexa here to quickly let you know about some Strawbery Banke sewing! For the past week I've been working on children's Civil War costumes, which will be used in the Discovery Center. With the Fitz John Porter exhibit in full swing, we want our young visitors to be able to try on these scaled versions of a Union enlisted man's uniform. The Collections Center has been buzzing with the sound of our seasoned 1975 sewing machine, which has served the museum in making everything from clothing to reproduction bed hangings! So far I have finished one complete outfit (shirt, sack coat, and trousers), but will continue to make more pieces in different sizes.

This has been a wonderful and fun way to connect the current exhibit to our work with historical clothing! Below are some pictures of my completed pieces, modeled on a child-sized dress form outside the Collections Center, Wednesday 29 June 2011.

.