Sewing leather often requires that the needle be pulled or pushed with needle nose pliers. It’s a good idea to lock the thread so it doesn’t keep coming off. Here is a quick tutorial on thread locking. Lots of wax is helpful to keep the thread from fraying and breaking. Using a needle at each end […]
Read more "Lining The Shako"Progress is painfully slow. Emphasis on painful. The top has slowly flattened, and it looks as if the edges won’t match up. The shako should have a convex top to fit. A wet sponge and a perfectly-sized plate will fix the issue. The replica onion bottle full of water acts as a weight on the […]
Read more "Adjustments"Slaves to the latest European military fashion, New England’s volunteer militia wore the “bell crown cap” starting in 1820. Eastern European martial influence spread gradually west at the end of the 18th century. Harness and saddle makers added these to their lines of military accoutrements as they are entirely made of leather. Dyed black, they […]
Read more "Shako"The spirit of Andrew Jackson ran high in New England during the 1820s. Patriotism, coupled with new found wealth enabled the formation of “volunteer” militia companies in towns large and small. Reform-minded fellows sought to change the image of the drunken amateur soldier. The Oxford Light Infantry managed to complete their uniforms in time for […]
Read more "Invincibles"Here is the sleeve, inside-out, with the cuff pinned on. The sleeve is completely enclosed, and the decorative cuff comes to within an inch of the knuckles. The sleeves caps are a bit of a bother as they can’t be gathered, so they need to be reshaped to fit the body. Off the shoulder seams […]
Read more "Update"The poof! The buttons! The cat hair! With the buttonholes complete, it’s time to start tuning the seams. Chest padding gives this coat a unique silhouette. The top button might need to be moved, haven’t decide yet. Somehow the length in front matches the waistcoat exactly. Good news: there isn’t much in the way of […]
Read more "Swallowtail II"Look at this damned thing–just look at it. A rifle company of the Massachusetts militia wore these uniforms after the War of 1812. Where to start. Forget about the helmet for now. The padding is remarkable, also that wasp waist (complete with seam.) The collar meets at the center front. The stars and wings are […]
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