How to Make Your Civil War Uniform Shirt

Your own shirt designed and made by you for your own Civil War Uniform impression is easy and economical. Follow these simple instructions, and your Civil War uniform shirt that will be exactly what you want.

Taking all your girth measurements.

Using a tape measure, measure your chest, stomach and note the largest of the two measurements. Write all hanging. Do not suck in your stomach or chest. Be sure you are in a comfortable position, so your shirt will fit properly.

Next, measure from the top side between the thigh, so you can tell how long you want the shirt to be. Next, then measure from shoulder tip to wrist with arm in a 90 degree angle, so there will be enough space in the nose for you to move freely and comfortably.

Measure your bicep and wrist.

Measure your neck.

Start looking for material but did not buy anything until measurements are completed

View original files and decide which type of shirt you like and would be comfortable wearing in March. View and variations of the neck collars is made. Neck is an easy part of the shirt to change also. A standard placard ahead with a cut to the head of the desirable and is very accurate.

Purchase a shirt pattern. Follow the procedures of the assembly.

Now you are ready to choose your materials. 100% cotton or Osnaburg is recommended. The muted colors are more of what was worn during the Civil War. If I make a shirt just starting out, I will go with a red, white and / or homespun blue. I would stay away from really bright colors. Use the eye color fabrics. I think it looks much more accurate this way. The reason I said red, white and blue is that both armies were patriotic and color combinations were popular in the Civil War Era.

Hand pocket and topstitch around the neck. Your topstitching side should be about 6? 8 stitches per inch. If you do this by stitching, you have just doubled the value of your shirt and jacket.

You probably will not start the hobby as a seamstress. My first few handmade items were a joke, but eventually I got to where I can put together a good uniform. I would stay away from shirts that were real fancy. If you do not want to make people shirts, buying a shirt that is already in the car that made buttonholes and rework the buttonholes to make it appear more authentic. Get a seam ripper and get up and work with their buttonholes. I will hunt down and redo all exposed machine stitching. Someone can tell you how to do that in about 15 minutes. You have just doubled the value of your shirt and make it more authentic.