Since my daughter is graduating homeschool this year, and my son has two years left to go, our visits to Colonial Williamsburg are already becoming limited due to pressures of the outside world for youth who are growing up.
SEWING 18TH CENTURY GALORE
Meeting my kids’ goal for me to join them so we could be an 18th century family in the historic area, I sewed one jacket/petticoat combination, a floral vining chintz gown, and a yellow and white striped gown for myself last year, that I wore in the historic area.
Since I missed out on a few opportunities to wear my proper attire on recent trips, I endeavored to use my available time to sew a winter cloak for myself.
Thus, I was glad that I had sewed my son’s latest regimental last year a bit on the large side, so he’d have room to grow.
As it is he’s kept me quite busy with sewing numerous breeches for him that he either outgrows or wears out.
However, for Christmas, I gifted a special item for my son to add to his Lafayette regimental, which will be a quick and easy project.
LAFAYETTE REGIMENTAL ADVENTURE FOR MY SON
Although my son desired historically accurate buttons from the beginning of our Lafayette regimental adventure, I didn’t even know how to secure them.
Then when I sewed regimental #2, I still only meant it to be a costume that I knew he’d quickly outgrew, but the Costume Design Center manager encouraged me to purchase historically accurate fabric…and my son’s eyes beamed!
As I sewed regimental #3 with proper fabric, my son again asked for brass buttons, but I hesitated to get them due to expense.
TAILOR ENCOURAGES BRASS BUTTONS
When the Colonial Williamsburg tailor saw the look-alike modern buttons, he told me that brass buttons would look great!
My son, who was standing nearby, beamed!
Nor would they be that expensive, the tailor assured me.
My son beamed even more!
Well, I put it off and put it off and put it off as winter turned to warmer weather and the regimental awaited another winter season.
Busily sewing summer garments, autumn arrived when my mind turned to winter, and Christmas.
BRASS BUTTONS FOR CHRISTMAS
Wondering what to buy for my son, I felt a beam of light flash through my mind…it was those buttons from Burnley and Trowbridge just begging to be purchased.
I shopped. The buttons arrived. I happily wrapped them!
They cheerfully sat under the tree, trying to refrain from allowing their gleam to shine outside of the packaging.
As my son opened the package on Christmas morning, his eyes became HUGE!
Look at that!
34 BRASS BUTTONS FOR THE LAFAYETTE REGIMENTAL
It takes 34 buttons, according to my research, to complete a Lafayette regimental!
As I sewed them on last night, my son happened by and when he noticed what I was doing, he got a huge smile on his face.
He’s now in bed, the buttons are done, and I must say, his regimental looks quite snazzy in a historically accurate way!
This regimental is 100% wool with 100% linen/cotton lining, sewn according to specifications from General Washington that I discovered after a lot of research.
Although it’s not perfect, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked by and out of the corner of my eye, I thought the real Lafayette was sitting in the chair.
