Volunteer Workshops 2022-2023

Captain David Uhl Knapsack Workshop, February 2022

NPS

The 2022 and winter 2023 schedule is here! Check out the details below!

Minute Man National Historical Park, in partnership with the living history community, Revolution 250 and the Friends of Minute Man National Park, as well as other local organizations offer a robust schedule of workshops to help both veteran reenactors and new folks to create or improve their desired period impressions.

 

Coat Workshops with Master Tailor Henry Cooke

(offered twice)
January 14-15, 2023 & January 28-29, 2023
10am-4pm
FULL

Constructing a coat can seem like a daunting challenge but is actually very achievable. Battle Road Standards require men to wear a wool coat or jacket of drab, brown, green, red, blue, gray or black wool. For warmer weather, a linen coat in natural, blue or brown is also acceptable.

Materials needed: Pins, sewing needles, beeswax, scissors for thread and cloth trimming, a pair of shears/bent trimmers for cutting cloth if needed, tailor's chalk, sewing machine optional, as most of the instruction is for hand sewing.

A kit may vary in price depending on whether you want a civilian coat, jacket or British military coat. Contact Henry Cooke for details. [e-mail]

To register email Jim Hollister [e-mail]

 

 

Breeches Workshop with Master Tailor Henry Cooke

January 21-22, 2023
10am-4pm
FULL

Few garments in the hobby will serve you better than a sturdy, well-fitting pair of breeches. Battle Road Standards require them to be made of wood broadcloth in black, brown, drab (most common colors), gray, green, blue or red. For warmer weather linen or hemp canvas breeches in natural, blue or brown are also acceptable. Other types of acceptable fabrics include wool kersey, linsey-woolsey, wool serge, cotton velvet, fine wale cotton corduroy, or wool plush. Battle Road Standard also require Crown Forces to have breeches of white or buff wool as appropriate to your regiment.

Materials needed: Pins, sewing needles, beeswax, scissors for thread and cloth trimming, a pair of shears/bent trimmers for cutting cloth if needed, tailor's chalk, sewing machine optional, as most of the instruction is for hand sewing.

Pre-cut breeches kits are $130. Contact Henry Cooke for details. [e-mail]

To register email Jim Hollister [e-mail]

 

Captain David Uhl Knapsack Workshop with Master Tailor Henry Cooke

February 4, 2023
10am-4pm
SPACES AVAILABLE

Battle Road Standards now require linen knapsacks made in the style of the Captain David Uhl knapsack that resides in the collection of Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh, NY. In this workshop, master tailor Henry Cooke will walk you through the steps to construct this very simple knapsack.

Materials needed: The knapsack can be constructed of about 1 yard of medium coarseness linen or linen canvas or tabby weave hemp sheeting (see the notes for the thread count of the original - I think anything in the range of 36 - 40 ends per inch warp and weft will work). It will also require a spool of unbleached 35/2 linen thread, and three 1- 1 1/8" diameter buttons. These can be buttons for covering with scrap fabric or pewter or brass buttons.

Pre-cut kits available, $40: If you would like to purchase a kit from Henry Cooke, please email him directly at [e-mail]

 

Waistcoat Workshop with Master Tailor Henry Cooke

February 11-12, 2023
10am-4pm
FULL

Waistcoats were a foundational men’s garment of the 18th century and a very achievable project for new sewers! Battle Road Standards now require these to be made of wool in drab, brown, green, red, blue, gray or black. For Crown Forces, the Battle Road Standards now require a white or buff (as appropriate to your regiment) wool broadcloth waistcoat closed with small regimental buttons.

Materials needed: Pins, sewing needles, beeswax, scissors for thread and cloth trimming, a pair of shears/bent trimmers for cutting cloth if needed, tailor's chalk, sewing machine optional, as most of the instruction is for hand sewing.

Pre-cut wool waistcoat kits are $130. Contact Henry Cooke for details. [e-mail]

To register email Jim Hollister [e-mail]