Hi! I am just getting into re-enacting. I plan to make my own uniform, as authentic repros are quite a bit outside my budget. I have the Galla Rock patterns for a Union sack coat, Federal-issue trousers, and men's shirt-on-the-square.
Now I know that lock-stitch sewing machines existed during the Civil War (Singer brought them out in the 1850's), but are there any existing specimens of Civil War Federal-issue uniforms that were sewn with a lockstitch machine? Folks on the Authentic Campaigner website keep harping on Wilcox and Gibbs chainstitch machines (when they're not telling me to "buy from one of our approved vendors" - which, as I said, is outside my budget), but originals tend to be expensive and chainstitching is much weaker than lockstitching - one broken thread and the whole seam comes undone. I COULD handstitch my uniform - I know how to sew by hand - but it seems like a rather daunting task...
. That's the most I could afford for something like that, and I think it will pay for itself (I can use it for more than just period clothing). I think it is a fair price, considering I've seen most of them go for well over $120, and Haversack Depot is selling them starting at $225. I will have to get the manual and some spare needles soon, though.
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