Civil War era civilian vest

Size: 50
Pit to pit: 26.5
Waist: 53
Length of back: 22

Note: It is important to have around 3-4 inches of ease (the difference
between the person's chest measurement and the vest chest measurement) to allow
room for movement with a shirt.

This vest is made from 100% cotton materials. The main fabric is a wonderfully
soft bushed twill. The back is a very fine dark brown shirting and it is lined
with brown plaid homespun. All of the fabrics are pre-washed in hot water. You
can machine wash it. There are 5 bronze colored metal buttons closing the front
and a gold two pronged buckle in the back.

There are four pockets. The vest is top stitched to keep it looking sharp.
There are darts in the chest to improve the look and fit. The collar goes the
full way around the neckline and is hand sewn at the back. The full collar is
the historically correct style. Hollywood gives the impression that the collar
should stop at the shoulder seams but that is not accurate.

The yoke or shawl collar vest was in use well before the Civil War began.
Early on the back adjusted with tabs that laced together through six holes
(three on each tab). Later ties with a buckle replaced the lacing tabs. As the
war was drawing to a close this notched collar style became more popular.

I personally hand crafted this and many of my other products. The last photo
shows me working at a living history event on a machine similar to the one I
used to make this vest. Only the button holes are stitched using a modern
machine.

Thank you for looking!