Children's Items

[amazingkenneth]

Hello All,
Here is my question for you all. My daughter is 8 years old and with a few events left but in the colder weather. So my question is I have a cape for her but what shall I put under it to keep her warm? She has a standard child's short sleeve dress, cape, and a bonnett. I would guess some good mittens and what ever you all think.

Thanks,
K.J. Reihl

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: Children's Items

I am quite sure that Elizabeth will be along shortly which will be more informative than my post, but here goes my two cents just the same.

I have personally seen more little girls in CW era images wearing coats that were mini-versions of what adult females were wearing. They frequently had bonnets that were also mini-versions of what adult women wore and muffs. Obviously this illustrates families of some means.

Also, I have seen young girls wearing dresses with long sleeves, one that I saved to hard drive from eBay shows two young girls with full balloon sleeves, neck is high and the youngest one has growth tucks that slightly show her petticoat. More images of girls in long sleeves and high necklines can be viewed at: http://www.originals-by-kay.com/sour.../children.shtm

[AbbyWalker]

Re: Children's Items

I am quite sure that Elizabeth will be along shortly which will be more informative than my post, but here goes my two cents just the same.

I have personally seen more little girls in CW era images wearing coats that were mini-versions of what adult females were wearing. They frequently had bonnets that were also mini-versions of what adult women wore and muffs. Obviously this illustrates families of some means.

Also, I have seen young girls wearing dresses with long sleeves, one that I saved to hard drive from eBay shows two young girls with full balloon sleeves, neck is high and the youngest one has growth tucks that slightly show her petticoat. More images of girls in long sleeves and high necklines can be viewed at: http://www.originals-by-kay.com/sour.../children.shtm

Both women and children would wear sontags to help keep warm as well. These could be worn inside the house for added warmth, as they weren't bulky, and could easily fit under a coat or paletot when one went outside.

Anna Krause, in another thread, has put up an illustration of one in a Peterson's from 1864. http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...ead.php?t=6110
and the AGSAS website has a sontag (or bosom buddy) pattern adapted by
Laurie Watson. http://agsas.org/howto/patterns/bosombud.shtml
I would highly recommend a sontag to help your daughter keep warm.

Another item that would be helpful in keeping her warm would be a quilted or knitted hood. AGSAS also has on it's website a picture of a "sortie cap" that
is fairly simple, even for the "crafts challenged" such as myself, lol.

http://www.uvm.edu/~hag/godey/images/s5804355.jpg

Debbie Sheads of S&S Sutlery in Gettysburg makes knitted hoods, and many sutlers have bosom buddies. Just make sure they're 100% wool of some sort- mine is combination merino sheep wool and alpaca. Natural wool has the
qualities that your daughter will need to keep her warm and dry.

A wool flannel petticoat under her dress would also help keep her lower body warm. Here's a link to Hank Trent's website where he has pictures of a red flannel petticoat he made. http://hanktrent.com/
Kay Gnagey offers children's clothing, and I believe I've seen children sized wool flannel petticoats in her Mercantile, but don't quote me on it.

With a wool hood or sortie cap on her head, a sontag around her middle, a wool petticoat and wool stockings, and wool mittens on her hands, she should be quite toasty! And I agree with Emmanuel in that I've seen more images of women and children wearing coats than capes.

Regards,
Abigail Walker

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Children's Items

Dittos on more coats than capes, and sontags are great for mid-body warmth, but don't do squat for bare arms under a cape.

If making a second dress with long sleeves is out, then you'll want to look at a wool jumper. They're most common on boys in images, though I've seen a few urban "vignette" images of girls wearing them. Think, knit wool over-the-head sweater, with non-ribbed ends to the waist and sleeves.

It's a common misconception in the reenacting world that short sleeves and open necklines are IT for girls... when I had seen about 100 images, this sure seemed true. At around 3000, it became quite obvious that there's a fairly even split between short and long sleeve variations, and low/high bodice variations.

One challenge when viewing photos is to know what time of year they were taken, and in what climate. It helps to also view fashion illustrations: summer months show a large number of low necks and short sleeves, while winter styles show high necks and long sleeves of all kinds (and coats).

Adding wool stockings instead of cotton will be helpful; she'l still small, though, so you may be looking to Hannah Anderson for such things, or some place like Vermont Country Store, looking for a women's "tube" sort of wool stocking; knee high on a grown up will be thigh-high (and quite warm) for an 8yo girl. Even a footed style will work... she'll just end up with a heel on her upper ankle.

Definitely add a wool hood with a nice deep curtain!! Wool batting in it, and a polished cotton or silk lining, and she'll be toasty, if cherry-cheeked.

More later if needed.