Make that Dollar Stretch and Make it Yourself

One of the best traits we have working for our battlefield, is the fact that we can make the dollar go a long way, since we work off a small yearly budget for programs. Interpretive tools can be very expensive. We do not sacrifice authenticity and just go out and buy the cheapest item we find. So rather than spend $150.00 for a pair of trousers, we make our own. In fact, a lot of our clothing we made using patterns such as Charlie Childs from Country Cloth. 

Some of the clothing we use in our programs are 100% hand stitched and the quality of that shows. Verses buying some cheaply made garment that is not incorrect. Believe of not, we have had questions asked about our clothing and since we do make about 80% of our own, this process allows us to answer those questions thoroughly. Not to mention, it does give you the pride of knowing what went into making that garment and the appreciation of the work that went into it. 

Our township historian wanted to make a pair of wild check trousers for a more upper-middle class civilian impression, such as a Chambersburg male, aged late 30's. Since he had the material on hand, in which he had found on the ground during one of his park checks, that was a freebie. The pattern itself cost about $15.00 and just add on a few dollars for thread. For less than $20.00 and a complete weekend, he had his new trousers. The savings? Well, he saved about $130.00. That extra money can now go into something else that will help to interpret or for educational tools at Monterey Pass Battlefield Park.

Lay out the fabric and trace the pattern pieces. This is the most tedious part of the operation.

Look over the instructions and stack the pieces.

Since these are civilian trousers that came from a tailor, we decided to machine stitch most of the trousers. However, there are limitations to that which you will have to bring out the needle and do some top stitching by hand. This is one of the pockets.

This is the button fly. You can use a machine, but it's easier to actually do this part by hand. Remember, hand stitch those buttons holes. 

The hand stitched mule ear pocket. 

After 18 instructional steps, the trousers are finished.