Last March, I took a sewing class from the Costume Design Center in Colonial Williamsburg, where I learned all about market wallets.
First, I learned how they are basically long pockets worn across the shoulders, to easily carry items.
After they were described and pictures were shown, I recalled seeing some of the historical interpreters using them, especially during the reenactments of Under the Redcoat and Prelude to Victory.
Then we started sewing our first market wallet, sewing long seams to create the bag, then turning under edges with hand stitching to prevent fraying.
Running out of time, I set that project aside to learn about two other types of bags: pockets and work bags.
In June, I finished sewing the market wallet for my son to use at Under the Redcoat.
Unfortunately, I lost the pictures of the special stitching I sewed at the edges to reinforce the opening.
Anyway, my son has been using it all summer, except I forgot to take pictures until September.
CRITICISM
One of the CW employees pointed out my son should not be using a market wallet because he’s dressed as a gentry boy.
Only the middling were known to use these.
That’s where we are caught in a time warp, wanting to have fun with becoming 18th century, while practically acting very modern by driving down in a van to spend a quick day or weekend, needing to carry water bottles, cameras, cell phones, car keys, and cash…none of which was part of 18th century life.
At least in my son’s market wallet, and in my daughter’s basket (and someday my basket when I will start dressing up) these modern items are hidden.
On the outside of our historical clothing, we always were our guest passes, so we can come and go throughout the day into all the buildings.
Thus, we will never look completely historically accurate, mainly because we are paying guests, with the only access to modern necessities is through our own means.
We have no lockers like the employees do, to enable them to be properly historical.
So, those are the areas in which we fudge a bit.
Now, if we could live in the historic area, our interpretations would be much more accurate.
Thus, we try to make the most of what we have.
