In Timely Fashion: Reenacting

Is there anything quite as appealing to our old-fashioned romanticism as the sight of a young lady garbed in the fashions of bygone days? As we see her sweep by, elegantly clothed in historical garb from the toe of her boot to the top of her bonnet, her very presence transports us to a time long gone: the world as it has been.

It is no small privilege to represent the past to men and women of our own time. Living historians stand as a doorway to those who have gone before. With such a privilege comes the responsibility: to properly represent the people of the times gone by to those around us and to do our best in recreating some of the aspects of their lives.

With these thoughts in mind, we welcome you to In Timely Fashion's Reenacting section! In these pages we desire to encourage you in the wonderful hobby of reenacting by providing some tools for research, articles relating to specific areas of living history, links and tips for making your experience more pleasurable. We hope that you will find these offerings helpful and that you will enjoy the marvelous world of reenacting!

~Rachel Franklin, editor

About the Author

Rachel Franklin (21) has been sewing since she was 8 years old, beginning with doll dress repairs and progressing to gradually more complex and difficult projects. At 14, she began sewing for her family's new hobby, Civil War era reenacting, and discovered a passion! She has spent the last 7 years studying and researching authentic 1860's styles and techniques, and always has an idea for a new gown.

In October of 2002, Rachel spent a month apprenticing with Mrs. Jennie Chancey (www.sensibility.com) learning pattern drafting, and the next February she won first prize in the Young Designer's Contest sponsored by Sense and Sensibility patterns. Currently Rachel is working on getting her winning design ready for publication and testing two new Civil War-era patterns she's drafted.

Rachel lives with her parents, Gene and Tina, her nine siblings (of which she is the eldest) and her grandmother on a small, 5-acre farm on the Texas prairie. Her father is the pastor of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church (www.gcpchurch.org) and her mother a homemaker who homeschools 7 of the younger children. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys running a home-based sewing business (specializing in Civil War-era clothing), knitting, spinning, playing the piano and doing laundry for thirteen people! Contact her at: hcsewing@yahoo.com.

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