Civilian Links

General Information

Dress Up - Civilian Men's Clothing from the 1860's
This is an interactive step-by-step of what a civilian male of the period would have worn along with descriptions of each item. Requires Flash to play.

An Orientation to Civilian Reenacting
A civilian guide brought by the 9th Pennsylvania Reserves

Homespun Living History Guild - 19th Century
A living history site. This portion of their site deals with the time period that includes the Civil War.

School of the Civilian
This site includes information on etiquette, clothing, and other social information, and asks do you want to be a "BOB - Better off bowling", or a "BIRD - Because It's Right, Darn-it!".

Reenactor Classifieds
The marketplace for living historians. Classified ads and more.

Victoriana Magazine
A free online magazine that covers the entire Victorian period. Includes crafts and articles, many of them for the Civil War era.

Original Publications

American Memory, Library of Congress - An American Ballroom Companion
Beadle's dime ball-room companion and guide to dancing. Comprising rules of etiquette, hints on private parties, toilettes for the ball-room, etc. Also, a synopsis of round and square dances, dictionary of French terms, etc.

University of Washington Libraries Digital Collection Fashion Plate Collection
A digital collection of fashion plates categorized by period.

Piper Publications
Piper Publishing publishes small but significant popular historical academic collections in print and electronic formats. Our main focus is on late 18th century to mid-19th century works which are of personal interest and use to modern historians and genealogists such as rare maps and books.

R.L. Shep Publications
They re-publish original tailoring and dressmaking manuals as well as books on etiquette, needlework and hatmaking. This is primary source material which means that text and patterns have been in no way altered and were actually used by people in these periods. The patterns do take some tailoring knowledge and an attempt has been made in the added notes and glossaries to make it easier for the modern reader to use these valuable primary sources.

Sewing Patterns and Instruction

Elizabeth Stewart Clark & Company
This site includes a Sewing Academy, a wonderful forum, and a collection of FREE patterns.

Harriets
Patterns and everything else for vintage dress up! This site includes mens, womens, and childrens patterns as well as measuring charts, corsets, and hoops.

Old Time Patterns
We carry a nice selection of period authentic sewing patterns for 19th century military and civilian impressions. Orders for in-stock items placed by 6:00 PM EST will be shipped next business day. We offer flat rate shipping of $4.05 for USPS Priority Mail.

The Sewing Bird
A compilation of diaries and guides to help in the quest for historical clothing.

Sewing Central
Historic patterns, fabrics, and corset parts

Tandy Leather Factory
Leather and leather tool supplier. Good source for materials and tools to create extras for your impression.

Stitches For Buttonholes
Appropriate buttonhole finishes for mid-century clothing

Apparel

Katie Mann Designs
Mid-century clothing for children and ladies. All shapes and sizes are welcome. Quality clothing at affordable prices.

Abraham's Lady
Nice selection of ready to wear and custom clothing for ladies. Their corsets come highly recommended.

Originals by Kay
Custom and ready to wear clothing for ladies and children. They also have a nice accessories section.

Fabric and Trims

The Dressmakers Shop
A very nice selection of reproduction fabric.

Fashion Fabrics Club
This is an on-line fabric store with excellent customer service. They offer an annual club, which includes frequent discounts for members, and a monthly mailer which includes fabric swatches.

Fine French Laces
A vast assortment of beautiful cotton laces imported from Europe. Prices are not shown on the website, so you need to email them to get the prices for those items you are interested in.

Period Fabric
PeriodFabric.com offers a wide variety of authentic, period fabrics. They currently have many fabric types available, including Cottons, Wools, Linens, Blends, Tent Canvas and Oil Cloth. Some of their fabrics are available in a variety of widths, colors, patterns and weights.

Accessories

19th Century Spectacles
Great site, with descriptions of the various styles of period eyewear. This is also a source for purchasing reproduction eyewear for reenactors.

The Ladies Parlor
This site offers ladies apparel, accessories, and tips for improving your impression. Patricia has a wealth of knowledge and if you have the opportunity to attend one of her seminars at a reenactment, be sure to attend.

Mrs. Parker's Millinery and Mercantile
Very nice custom bonnets that are designed and constructed based on original items, photos, and illustrations.

Timely Tresses
Period hats, bonnets, and patterns. Everything from patterns, to forms, to kits, to fully decorated hats and bonnets.

Needlework

Antique Pattern Library
Original pattern books. There is a very wide range of years covered here, so be sure that the pattern you are looking at is correct for your period. Because of it's graphic intensity, this site can be very slow to load. Be patient, it's worth it.

Bosom Friend or Sontag
Original Pattern Taken from the January 1860 Godey's with modern translation and directions for increasing the size.

Dakota Prairie Treasures
Vintage Patterns for all sorts of crafts including knitting, crocheting, and bead work.

Knit Heaven Vintage Patterns
Free vintage crafting patterns for knitting, crocheting, embroidery, lace, netting, tatting, and other crafts.

The Quilt Index
A central resource that catalogs quilts by location, date, and quiltmakers. Includes images and information. This is a great resource for finding quilting patterns that are correct to both your time period and region.

Robin Stokes
Knitting and crocheting kits, yarns, and supplies.