authentic pattern questions.

[7tharkinf]

I am needing help find a good source or sources for good uniform and equipment patterns any help would be greatly appreciated.

[rbruno]

Re: authentic pattern questions.

Are you looking for US or CS? I think Charlie Childs makes both and are very good for uniforms. Equipment? not sure on that one. I know original ordnance manuals I believe have patterns and dimensions for things.

[7tharkinf]

Re: authentic pattern questions.

I was looking for both us and cs and by equipment I mean mostly cloth equipage as in
haversacks ,shelter halves etc.

[coastaltrash]

Re: authentic pattern questions.

You're going to need to track down some source materials like The Columbia Rifles Research Compendium for stuff like the haversack and shelter half information. Or Fred Gaude's book on the US shelter halves.

[Canton Zouave]

Re: authentic pattern questions.

You can't beat looking at originals and making your patterns. All my dimensions for shelter halves and haversacks come from originals that I have examined as does all of my clothing patterns. Contact museums and starting making some appointments to examine originals. They will explaining their terms and conditions for your visit.

[7tharkinf]

Re: authentic pattern questions.

Well patterns for simple stuff I can make such as tents and haversacks as for making clothing patterns just by looking at the and measuring the probably a little out my skill range. I have made my haversack from the drawings in the Confederate sketchbook but those are pretty straight forward and square.

[floridawar]

Re: authentic pattern questions.

Hi Ross,

for clothing patterns, check out this link to Mr. Devere's 1856 system:

http://hearth.library.cornell.edu/h/hearth/browse/title/4399907.html

try printing it out and sorting the plates with the accompanying text for clarity. You might ignore the "graduated" measures (unless you procure a set of Devere graduated rulers), and just follow instructions for drafting by the common inch tape (p.20 and 31), direct from your own measures. The chapters on alterations of various kinds to improve fit are awesome.

Devere's 1866 edition reprinted by R.L. Shep has the more 1860s cut in the diagrams, but the above can be modified to match 1860s garments, (wider elbows, etc.) If you have the Confederate Sketchbook, you could apply the assembly notes from it to the patterns in Devere's works.
THere is a great deal on period pattern drafting with Devere on the Sewing Academy web page.

cheers,

J. Marshall
Tampa Bay, Fla.