Bodices - Work handmade buttonholes over the machine made ones.
                   Finish seams and/or line bodices.
                   Add tucks or darts.
                   Add trims if needed.
Skirts - Add seams to skirts to resemble 18-24 inch panels of fabric.
                Adjust length to one "handbreadth" from floor.
                Attach hem facing to inside bottom of skirts.
                Reduce the waistband if too large.
                Center the opening of the skirt at the front edge of the bodice
                and handsew bodice to the skirt.
                Sew a hook and bar to waistband.
                Add a hidden pocket to skirt waist opening.

    This has been a rapidly growing hobby for recreating history in a visual-plus way, changing from a "mens only" to an entire family envolvement.  Only within the last 7-10 years have we ladies been on a torrent of frenzied research, so that we can join the men in the fun of reenacting.
    The following is some of the reasons that compelled me to create the line of outfits that I sew, the information that I give from my research and why I have the Parlor the way it is at events:

• So many ladies through the years purchased hard to understand patterns, yards of fabric and trim and stuck them away in a drawer because they were too overwhelmed by it all.
• These ladies missed out on years of reenacting fun.
• You just don't get bit by the hobby until you start putting on the trappings.
• No one is expected to know everything as soon as they put on an outfit, however to the novice, anyone in period clothing looks like they are a part of it all.  Therefore many ladies are timid to get involved.
• Almost at every event, I have had one or more ladies collapse in a torrent of tears in the Parlor because someone made an unacceptable remark to them.  My standard advice is to take criticism as a research challenge and don't give up!!!
• Gentleman or soldier finially convinces his lady to come to an event and she ends up feeling like an outsider with nothing to do.
• Husbands drag their lady into a sutlery tent only to find out that she can't fit her 44" post pregnatic waistline into a 22" ball dress.
• The Parlor is neutral territory for Northern or Southern ladies to gather.  For years they never left camp and didn't get to meet each other.
• With several females in a family, a lot of my outfits never get altered because they are trading and sharing them.
• By not doing a lot of finishing on the outfits, I can keep the prices affordable to the new reenactress allowing her to get a taste of the hobby and then tackle sewing her own creations or start saving her money for the sutler's that do put all the finishing, time consuming, handwork into clothing.
• Having a husband take the time to stop by the Parlor  and thank me for dressing his wife and getting her involved.
• Having the same wife call me on the phone a month later and telling me that I saved their marriage by getting her involved.
• Having a soldier call to me from atop his horse and confide to me that his wife came back to camp all pumped up, saying she had learned more in two hours at the Parlor than she had in two years of reenacting.  His grin was a mile wide from the pleasure of seeing her excitement.
• And most of all, because I love to see ladies treated with the "old fashioned" courtesies and formalities!!