Since my son wanted an 18th century hunting frock, I leaped at the opportunity for a historic sewing class last winter!
Neil Hurst, one of the leading experts on hunting shirts, was offering a class in Winchester, Virginia (not too far from me).
To my dismay the class was canceled because there were not enough people enrolled.
RESEARCH
When the class canceled, I studied hunting frocks and hunting shirts on my own.
Since there is a hunting frock in the CW collection, I studied its details in What Clothes Reveal by CW’s Linda Baumgarten.
Then I analyzed all the hunting frocks I’ve seen in the historic area, sewn by the Costume Design Center.
NO PATTERN
So that is about all I knew going in to making a hunting frock for my son without a pattern and without directions!
Happily, my son is quite pleased!
Since he is my shadow when sewing his costumes, constantly looking over my shoulder, ensuring I got every detail right and redirecting me if needed, this hunting frock passes his inspection.
Whew!
SEWING PROCESS
This took me over a month to sew completely by hand.
The fringing, though simple, took forever, while I had many other tasks to accomplish on the home front, for homeschool, and for college.
Yet in bits and pieces of time, it is finished!
FABRIC
My son chose this creamy 100% linen.
Because the fabric was off grain, I decided to cut the fabric for the body of the coat and the fringe by the 18th century method known as “cutting by thread” which is detailed in The Lady’s Guide to Plain Sewing, Book II, from Burnley and Trowbridge.
This is extremely time consuming, at least for me, but so well worth the final product!
BONE BUTTON
He was elated to see the bone button I purchased from Burnley and Trowbridge!
With my 18th century buttonhole chisel, I cut straight buttonholes!
He is wearing the hunting frock over his 18th century colonial shirt with his black military stock and buff waistcoat and breeches.
Now all we need is an opportunity for him to wear this.
