How to Make a Revolutionary War Costume

Look like this, with or without the horse.

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, a proper uniform was scarce. Men gathered from all parts of the country. They came in what they had at home. By the end of the war, however, a red, white and blue uniform was pretty standard in most states. You can get most of what you need for this from the thrift store. The coat may be hard to find; men may have to go to the ladies department. It should be about knee length in the back and can be a bit small, since it is not meant to be buttoned.

Things You'll Need

• Long blue knee-length coat
• White button-up shirt
• Pair of white leggings
• Pair of white leg warmers
• Pair of black shoes or boots
• Tricorn hat or wide-brim felt hat
• 2 ½ yards of 1 ½-inch-wide red ribbon
• Fabric glue
• 5 feet of 1/2-inch-wide gold ribbon
• 40 metal buttons
• Two white canvas belts
• White scarf
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Ironing board

Instructions

Altering the Coat

1. Remove the buttons from the knee-length coat you acquired.

2. Iron the lapel out flat and the collar up.

3. Fold the lapel to the inside of the coat. Tack it down with a needle and thread and iron the folded edge. You want a straight line from the bottom of the collar down.

4. Sew red ribbon from the waist up one side, around the collar and down the other side to the waist. Trim the cuffs in red ribbon.

Hat

1. If you are making your hat from a wide-brim felt hat, fold the back third of the brim up and pin it to the crown. Fold the remaining brim into a point at the front and pin it to the crown. Your hat will now be in a tricornered shape.

2. Tack it down with needle and thread.

3. Glue gold ribbon around the brim of the hat.

Rest of costume

1. Put on leggings, shirt, vest and leg warmers. If you are wearing boots, fold the top of the leg warmers over the top of the boot to form a cuff.

2. Put on your coat. Wear one belt from the right shoulder to the left hip and the other from the left shoulder to the right hip.

3. Wrap the scarf around your neck from front to back and back to front. Tie it in the front.

4. Put on your hat, grab your gun and go fight for independence.

References

• Action Figure World: Revolutionary War Continental Soldier