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Rating: 
Summary: Good for the war years as well as the Reconstruction
Review: I am a Civil War re-enactor (female) who bought Reconstruction Era Fashions because I don't believe in restricting my research to just the war years. However, I was happy to discover it also contains material useful for my Civil War impression. There is a substantial section of instructions for dressmaking and pattern alterations that is suitable for the Civil War and, judging from the (many) illustrations, was reprinted in the late 1860s from an earlier 1860s source. There are large sections with other appropriate instructions for fancy buttonholes and buttons, netting, and crocheted tatting. The patterns and instructions for corsets, underclothes, and many accessories and trimmings are also fine for the CW. Although the bonnet styles are different from the war years the section on millinery techniques is very illuminating. The book is profusely illustrated--techniques are illustrated as well as the finished garments--and the production is very high quality.
Rating:
Summary: Hugely useful book
Review: I bought this book about a year ago and use it at least one a week for reference as well as to make items even though my re-enactment period here in uk is 1879 (british campaign against Zulu nation).
This is a must have book for EVERYONE! And for those here in uk it is worth the wait.
Rating:
Summary: Worth buying even if you don't sew
Review: I do a little historic sewing (not a lot) but this is an amazingly beautiful book to look at. It has pictures of everything--clothes and hats and trims and sewing techniques and, well, just everything. The engravings are stunning and the production is superb. If you're at all interested in Victorian fashions, this book is worth having.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive selection of patterns, beautiful illustrations
Review: Reconstruction Era Fashions contains a comprehensive selection of patterns from rare issues of the first 14 months of the Victorian fashion magazine Harper's Bazar. It provides sewing patterns with instructions for most garments in an 1860s woman's wardrobe, from corsets to wedding dresses to riding habits. Instructions for enlarging, fitting, and using the patterns are included. Needlework patterns for trimmings and accessories use a wide variety of techniques, including embroidery, crocheting, knitting, tatting, and ribbon work. Patterns are also given for every type of millinery. The patterns are illustrated by exquisite engraved plates. They are supplemented by fashion columns with practical advice on wardrobe planning, and by articles that focus on specific techniques, including dressmaking and corset making.This book will be useful to theatrical costumers, historic reenactors, needleworkers, doll artists, pattern collectors, costume historians, and vintage clothing collectors. At 13 cents per pattern, it's well worth the price.
Rating:
Summary: A super deal
Review: This book is a super bargain compared to original _Harper's Bazar_ magazines with pattern sheets. It's easier to use too--all the patterns have been disentangled and presented separately. Patterns are included for just about every woman's garment or accessory you'd ever want to make. The articles on sewing techniques are different from other 1860s ones I've seen reprinted, and better illustrated.
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