buttons on a drop sleeve shirt

[medic83]

hello all,I ordered a pattern for a drop sleeve shirt and have gotten cotton muslin to make it from but is there certain buttons I should use ie wood,bone or metal or would any kind of buttons work. Thanks again for any input.

 

[Goldhunter]

You'd be safe with simple wood buttons with 2 holes or simple pewter buttons work well. I think there were cloth covered buttons as well, but I don't have my clothing book in front me (Tidings from the 18th Century is the name IIRC). It's pretty good.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

My outfit was made in 93, and the pweter buttons have rusted a tad, but are still working as well as they did when they were new.

I dont wear a shirt any more. Only a frock coat. I got tired of tearing out the armpits, or sleeves on the shirts.

I hope you bought a reinforced shirt. They last a wee longer.

 

[mrbortlein]

Medic,
I used a piece of horn for my buttons. I treated them just like antler or wood buttons, cut them to shape and size needed and drilled 2 holes.
mrbortlein

 

[mazo kid]

[quote

I got tired of tearing out the armpits, or sleeves on the shirts.

I hope you bought a reinforced shirt. They last a wee longer.[/quote]
The shirts with gussets under the arms help a lot in preventing tear-out.

 

[pichou]

Typical buttons are bought, just like the cloth. Rondyvooers like rustic buttons, but that does not make them historically correct or typical.

Most shirts used Dorset buttons. They are made of thread.
Next, MoP, white glass (I handled a c. 1800 original that had 2-hole white glass buttons) or bone..

For 1820's/30's 5 hole bone would be a good choice. The main thing is, though, size. Shirt buttons then were no bigger than shirt buttons now. 3/8" not 3/4"

Unless you wanna look like you are wearing Pajamas... :rotf:

 

[LRB]

Pewter does not rust! Your buttons must be plated over steel.

 

[pichou]

They could have a steel shank instead of a cast eye.