The Great British Redcoat Project

Through March and April I made three British coats for my brother and two friends, all members of our Living History group. Here are some pictures and statistics:

Pattern: Pegee of Williamsburg's 1770's Coat Pattern (same one I used for Andrew's coat)

Fabric: red melton wool and off-white wool flannel from B. Black and Sons; black melton wool from Denver Fabrics; off-white linen, unknown source (probably Denver Fabrics)

Buttons: pewter (gold-plated, in the case of the Joe's officers' coat) 64th Regiment of Foot buttons from Najecki

Trim: assorted appropriate trim from either G. G. Godwin or Najecki

40 buttonholes, 40 buttons, 7 or 8 hooks and eyes, 1 or 2 hidden pockets, and 42 button lacings per coat. Rebecca patiently sewed on Michael's and William's lacings by hand and did an incredible job. I spent about 30 hours on Joe's coat, 15-16 hours apiece for the others (because Rebecca did the lacings).

Photo credits for this photo to Holly Patterson, April 2010

Joe as Captain Ratclyffe, William as Sergeant C (we can't remember his name), Michael as Private MacKay

Assorted notes from the process:

Finishing off multiple spools of thread is a most satisfactory feeling. It gives one such a sense of accomplishment.

The way you think something will be easiest isn't always the way it is easiest.

Working on challenging things late at night may not be the best way to keep your spirits up. Things look better (both literally and figuratively) in the morning.

Red and black wool fuzz does get all over. Really. It's like dust in the sewing room, and it infests the ironing board... Fortunately it's not very visible, so nobody noticed that I had it on my white concert shirt...we hope. :)

Listening to Mary Poppins when the going gets tough is a great way to keep up morale.

Finishing is a Very Good Thing. Even if it's at 1:30 AM of the day the coats are to be worn.

And I'd very likely do it again. After all, I'm getting better at it. :D It might tamper with my loyalties, though. It must have been all the work I put into them...this Patriot girl almost caught herself cheering for the wrong side in the battle. :D

You can see a little more detail here... Lieutenant (pronounced Lef-tenant) Fox (his drama character is different than his persona) and Captain Ratclyffe. When I see "lieutenant" in print now, I think "lef-tenant". Just a random side note.

Sort of a side view, showing the hearts on the turnbacks. They're made of black wool, ironed on with that sticky stuff--oh yes, fusible web--and satin stitched by machine.

From the back--four button lacings and two buttons, just for the sheer fun of it, apparently. :) They don't serve any practical purpose that I know of , but they sure look cool!

In the field--Private, Captain, and Sergeant.

Photo credits for bottom four photos to Sarah