Federal Uniform Kit makers

[CaptainUCSB]

Please help me out everybody. A friend of mine purchased a sack coat and trouser kit from Charlie Childs thinking that he could make them. Upon receiving them, he realized he was way over his head.

I would put it together for him, but it would take me forever and/or I would have to charge my own friend. Does anybody know of somebody who could put together these kits?

Please let me know so I can pass it along to my friend. Thanks.

[paulcalloway]

Glengary might be close to you in California:
http://mysite.verizon.net/ndownie/

I can't say I know them well but they seem to know what they are talking about via email and have a pretty decent website. They are a recent addition to our Approved Vendor list.

[RyanBWeddle]

This is a problem many novices run into with kits from County Cloth, while they material and patterns for the kit are the best in the world, that alone doesn't guarantee a proper period garment. Construction is just as important!

Many have stumbled down this path before - -

I would suggest though one easy and possible quick turn around is with:

Eileen Herr
CWSeamstrs@aol.com

Quality work from what I have seen. Better than most.

And I'll echo Bob's comments below, Randy Pierson does a great job. He learned from one of the 'masters' in the hobby and is very good.



Good luck!

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Pat

Contact Randy Pierson, RPierson@yahoo.com . He he is as good as you can get.

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

I agree with Ryan on this one. Eileen Herr does great work and she has many years of experience putting together Chas. Childs kits.

[paulcalloway]

Yes, Eileen Herr does excellent work - can't go wrong with sending kits her way.

[roundman]

Please help me out everybody. A friend of mine purchased a sack coat and trouser kit from Charlie Childs thinking that he could make them. Upon receiving them, he realized he was way over his head.

I would put it together for him, but it would take me forever and/or I would have to charge my own friend. Does anybody know of somebody who could put together these kits?

Please let me know so I can pass it along to my friend. Thanks.

Contact Childs, there are a number of folks that assemble his kits. I can't remember the full name of the lady (first name Libby). She was to assemble a Childs frock coat kit for $125. this was a couple of years ago but might be worth a shot. I assume she has done quite a few of his kits as Libby instructed me to tell Charley to send it directly to her.
Robert Myers
ms39inf@aol.com

[CaptainUCSB]

Thanks, guys.

I tried to tell the kid...get it from a vendor unless you know what you are doing. I guess he had to learn the hard way. Thanks again.

[GDownie]

Patrick,

For my $.02 worth, any of the previously referenced sources would be excellent choices for assembling these kits. Folks who are familiar with these specific kits would be obvious choices due to familiarity. Paul tossed out my firm earlier and I would be happy to put these together for you, having had experience with C.C. kits, patterns, material, etc., etc. My focus presently in on uniforms of the southern armies, but I have done northern garments as well.
Another option - and this is not to take anything away from the vendors/seamstress’s/tailor's/tinker's out there, for I am one - would be for your mentee (see: purchaser of kits against advice) to bite the bullet and sew these himself, with leadership & guidance. If the individual in question lives in the Santa Barbara County area I would be happy to assist. If he has zero experience with sewing technique, patterns and fitting he picked a challenging first effort (hence 'over my head', no doubt). But, if this guy wants to learn I would be glad to work with him to assemble an authentically constructed garment.
If interested send me a note and we'll discuss. Whatever direction you choose there are plenty of qualified, reasonable and truly good people out there who will do you right.