Cravat

[27thNCdrummer]

Gents,
I'm looking to make a cravat for a Ball that I'm going to this weekend. I know where I can get polished cotton but could anybody tell me of a pattern that I need to follow when making it?
Thanks,

[Kevin O'Beirne]

I can't offer you any advice or information to answer your question, but thought this might be a good time to trot out this old item:

When attending a dance or similar period-esque social function, do not wear ordinance stores such as leather gear. A lot of reenactors seem to think that a nice, shined up waist belt is a great accessory to look nice for the ladies at the dance, but a waist belt was part of a soldier's ordinance stores, which included the gun, belt, cap pouch, bayonet and scabbard, and cartridge box. These types of things are not necessary or appropirate at a social function.

Several vendors offer affordable cravats for reenactors--that may be an option for you.

[Marc]

Just to add to Kevin's remarks on attending a social function..leave the spurs and sabers/swords at home.......also one of the Sutlers would be a good choice for the cravat since they are not expensive and look good.

[Charles Heath]

Andrew,

Borrow one from one of your comrades.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Andrew,

A couple points to keep in mind; shape, size, length, material & construction can vary grately on period cravats. Some cravats are nothing more than a silk tape varying on width from 1/2 to 1-1/4 inches, while other may be sewn also in varying widths. Some cravats you will find, are shaped, and others are no more than simple rectangles (especially with the silk tape examples).

Length can vary depending on the period, style etc...but generally long enough to wrap 1-2 times about the neck and still have enough room to tie off.

I do not know of polished cotton used for a cravat, but suppose that it is possible. I also suppose linen may have been used at sometime or another...but haven't seen/examined this in period text.

If you plan to handsew this, it will be a very tedious task...If you have access to a machine, this would be a great use for it on doing the internal stiching. Pieces for construction may consist of 3 pieces, one full piece (to act as the front), with two pieces to be sewn on the rear. It's probably best to plan on sewing this item inside out, with a backstitch, chainstitch, or lockstitch, then reversing the cravat through a center opening and then whipping this opening closed.

Note 1: when stitching it inside out, you will want to leave approx. 1/8 inch seam allowance, when reversing the cravat be careful not to pull through your allowance.

Note 2: While this is not a perfect pattern, I hope it provides enough basis to encourage you to take what is provided and develope your own pattern based on original examples.

[27thNCdrummer]

Has anybody ever seen a cravat being worn in just a simple square knot?
Thanks,

[Greg Renault]

Square, and every other kind of knot. Take a look at period images, and pick a style of cravat and knot that suits your impression. Here's a fun sample from earlier in the 19th century:
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~awoodley/regency/tie.html

[BenjaminLDavis]

There once existed a thread that spoke to the way your cravat was tied and it's
relation to the relative age of the wearer, i.e., if it was tied in the accepted fashion
it was of the era, but if the ends hung down, the wearer was older, and still hanging
on to the fashion of his youth.
Does anyone know if this thread is still out there somewhere (I could not find it,)
or did it expire with so much other fine information in the dark days?

[YoungCampaigner]

Many period photographs show cravats being worn by common people as well as soldiers but I have also found several instances of "kercheifs" or things similar to that tied in the same fashion around the neck. Does anyone know about the degree to which these were common or what social group or class might have worn such an item? The photographs that I have seen them in appear to be of lower-class farmers or factory workers judging by the rest of their clothing.

Sincerely,
William Chapman
http://www.theyoungcampaigner.com

[sgt sidd]

If you would like a tie you have 3 or more types to pick, a bow tie, string type tie ( a ribbon), or a cravat It is simple to make the easiest is the bow or a ribbon type. find you a fabric you like from that time, cut the fabric to the length you want the bow tie type shorter than the other. fold it in half. Take the ends fold them in and the sides that are cut which meet when you fold the fabric. and hand stitch all around all the sides along the edges. the tie can be as wide or long as you want with in reason. It is not hard and you can make one in about a hour or so. I hope that helps Robert S Lanier

[ElizabethClark]

The one caution I'd give on using polished cotton is that it doesn't stay polished with washing, and has two distinct sides. It may also be less color stable than a basic silk for a cravat.

If you can, look at using a bit of silk instead of cotton, particularly if the cravat is dark in color.