Customer Reviews

Rural Pennsylvania Clothing

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This book has become a standard work among re-enactors and docents at historical sites around the country. While the title mentions a specific location, the patterns and info contained therein also hold true for most of the rest of early America. I have used the patterns in the book to make historically authentic clothing, and find Gehret's directions clear and easy to follow. If your looking for a source of authentic patterns of early American clothing, look no further. This is it!

This book is a classic, and thankfully it has now been reprinted. It includes detailed studies on a variety of basic rural clothing which is valid up through the 1830s at least. Some specific info on German clothing in Pennsylvania is included. Fascinating and indispensable for any rural impression in 18th to early 19th century America.

RPC contains easy-to-make basic patterns for all kinds of 18th-century clothing. There's a shirt and overshirt pattern that I used to make an overshirt for one of my first RevWar reenactments, and it was a great experience. It's a fun way to start learning hand-sewing, as the pattern is mostly squares & rectangles.

As with all sources, the information should not be taken as infallible -- do more research on your own if you have a particular period/location in mind. RPC is a good place to start.

The book was all that I expected and more. The photos of actual garments were great help in showing details. I could construct period garments from some of the diagrams and feel confident that they would be true to the period. Would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a resource for their own library.