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One of the fine things about the 2 1/2 year lead time we had in planning for the civilian portion of Banks Grand Retreat was the theoretical availability of time to upgrade clothing to accomodate a wide range of weather variables.
With a large number of growing children to clothe for a week in the wilderness, as well as menfolk, that time melted away as quickly as late snow in a warm rain.....but some things did get done.
One of the most useful to me was my raincoat--made by the capable hands of Beverly Simpson. On day two of our adventure, we got nearly 4 inches of rain. Day three was not appreciably dryer. While I was wringing water out of my wool petticoats, the bodice of my wool dress remained dry and comfortable under my period raincoat.
Using a "waterproof silk" with a slightly oily feel, obtained from Fashion Fabric Club, the garment was constructed from Period Impressions Sacque pattern # 408, with slight adaptations.
In keeping with our stated goal of depicting lower farming class, the lines of the garment were very conservative, with no trim or other embelllishment. A simple coat hook was used for closure.
The coat sleeves were cut generously in order to fit over my wool dress, and additional length was added to the arms, in order to extend to my fingers. Since we also figured that, as civilian coordinator, I'd have to be walking extended distances in rainy weather to check on remote camps, some length was also added to the sacque. The garment was lined in black cotton, which did stay dry despite driving rain.
For head covering, I had two options---a soft bonnet of the same silk, with a subdued plaid lining, or a Goodyear rubber headcover with a hard visor. While the latter kept water off my spectacles better, it was also excessively warm---I quickly changed to the soft bonnet and took to squinting.
The silk wrinkles easily and does need to be hung to maintain a neat appearance. Despite repeated soakings, it dried quickly and continued to repel water. I wore it again last weekend, in similar conditions and with equal sucess. Cleaning instructions with the fabric indicate that machine washing will decrease the water repellancy---I imagine that eventually it will need an application of Scotchguard, but as mud splatter brushed right off when dry, I don't anticipate that need anytime soon.
Our research indicated an additional option when looking at rain gear for this class--that of oiled canvas. I've used this product in earlier time periods--its cruder in appearance, and heavier in weight, and would have certainly been in keeping with the class we choose to protray. It is heavier in weight, and does not breathe as well as silk---had we been in February rather than mid-March, I would have considered it more strongly. As it was, I was glad that my shoulders did not have to carry that additional weight.
Beverly's next project (in this time period at least, for she now has caught the 18th century bug from Kimberlee, Diana and me) is a dressy version of this garment--this one in a nice taupe, with black bias trim, not unlike that pictured on the pattern used.
All in all, an excellent investment of time and energy for a very useful garment--and one that takes up a minimal amount of space. Folded neatly in a carpet bag with its soft bonnet, it requires no more room than a clean chemise.
With a large number of growing children to clothe for a week in the wilderness, as well as menfolk, that time melted away as quickly as late snow in a warm rain.....but some things did get done.
One of the most useful to me was my raincoat--made by the capable hands of Beverly Simpson. On day two of our adventure, we got nearly 4 inches of rain. Day three was not appreciably dryer. While I was wringing water out of my wool petticoats, the bodice of my wool dress remained dry and comfortable under my period raincoat.
Using a "waterproof silk" with a slightly oily feel, obtained from Fashion Fabric Club, the garment was constructed from Period Impressions Sacque pattern # 408, with slight adaptations.
In keeping with our stated goal of depicting lower farming class, the lines of the garment were very conservative, with no trim or other embelllishment. A simple coat hook was used for closure.
The coat sleeves were cut generously in order to fit over my wool dress, and additional length was added to the arms, in order to extend to my fingers. Since we also figured that, as civilian coordinator, I'd have to be walking extended distances in rainy weather to check on remote camps, some length was also added to the sacque. The garment was lined in black cotton, which did stay dry despite driving rain.
For head covering, I had two options---a soft bonnet of the same silk, with a subdued plaid lining, or a Goodyear rubber headcover with a hard visor. While the latter kept water off my spectacles better, it was also excessively warm---I quickly changed to the soft bonnet and took to squinting.
The silk wrinkles easily and does need to be hung to maintain a neat appearance. Despite repeated soakings, it dried quickly and continued to repel water. I wore it again last weekend, in similar conditions and with equal sucess. Cleaning instructions with the fabric indicate that machine washing will decrease the water repellancy---I imagine that eventually it will need an application of Scotchguard, but as mud splatter brushed right off when dry, I don't anticipate that need anytime soon.
Our research indicated an additional option when looking at rain gear for this class--that of oiled canvas. I've used this product in earlier time periods--its cruder in appearance, and heavier in weight, and would have certainly been in keeping with the class we choose to protray. It is heavier in weight, and does not breathe as well as silk---had we been in February rather than mid-March, I would have considered it more strongly. As it was, I was glad that my shoulders did not have to carry that additional weight.
Beverly's next project (in this time period at least, for she now has caught the 18th century bug from Kimberlee, Diana and me) is a dressy version of this garment--this one in a nice taupe, with black bias trim, not unlike that pictured on the pattern used.
All in all, an excellent investment of time and energy for a very useful garment--and one that takes up a minimal amount of space. Folded neatly in a carpet bag with its soft bonnet, it requires no more room than a clean chemise.
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