Jessamyn's Regency Costume Companion: Men's Patterns

~ Men's Shirt Patterns ~

A rundown of the patterns available for men's Regency shirts.


Shirt Patterns.


Kannik's Korner Man's Shirt, First Quarter of the 19th Century, English Style pattern. Mid-Regency shirt with or without "busom ruffles."

Price: About $10.

What You Get: Pattern for classic 18th- and early-19th-century shirt.
  • Pattern for shirt based on original 1808 cutting directions.
  • Construction techniques from original extant shirts.
  • Directions for "bosom ruffles" included.
  • Multisized XS-S-M-L-XL-XXL-XXXL.

What's Good
  • Heavily researched, authentic pattern.
  • Ruffles vital for dress wear.
  • Should be easy to make.

Caveats
  • I haven't made this myself. But the historical accuracy seems very good.

Bottom Line: Recommended. Seems highly authentic.



Eagle's View Early Drop Sleeve Shirt pattern. Typical shirt with three neck treatments.

Price: about $8.

Bottom Line:This is a perfectly acceptable shirt pattern at a good price. There are late-18th/early-19th-century shirts by a number of companies, and they're all pretty similar and all should work fine. However, I'd stick with the Kannik's Korner pattern for greatest historical accuracy.



Olde Country Costumes' Men's Combo. Old Country Costumes specializes in traditional Nordic costumes, which appear to have fossilized right around the Regency--especially for men's dress. This pattern is discussed in more detail on the breeches page.

Bottom Line: This shirt is fine if you're buying the pattern for the breeches (skip the neck fastenings), but if you just want a shirt pattern, I'd go with Kannik's.


Patterns for Accessories.


Kannik's Korner's Stockings, Pockets & Mitts. A multi-size pattern for constructed stockings for men or women.

Price: About $8.

What You Get: Pattern for stockings, pockets, and mitts (the latter items for women only).
  • Pattern for stockings of knitted cloth or bias-cut linen (good for 17th, 18th, and early 19th century).
  • Instructions for custom-fitting the stockings.
  • Patterns for five women's pocket styles.
  • Pattern for women's mitts.
  • Multisized S-M-L-XL-2X-3X.

What's Good
  • If you're determined to make your own incredibly authentic stockings, this is the way to go.
  • Best period-accuracy for middle and lower classes.
  • Bonus mitts and pocket for your good lady.

Caveats
  • I haven't made these myself.

Bottom Line: Recommended for middle- and lower-class men bent on authenticity.



Slipper pattern. This pattern doesn't seem to have a real name, but it's available from Amazon Drygoods.

Price: About $5.

What You Get: Pattern for ballet-type flats, appropriate for men's Regency dancing slippers.
  • Choose women's sizes 5-6-7 or 8-9-10.

Bottom Line: Tentatively recommended. Since a woman's size 10 is more like a man's 9, this isn't for men with large feet (unless you're good at sizing up). Also, would be more accurate for men's Regency if the throat were cut a little higher on the foot in front.


Glove pattern.

This is not a commercial pattern, but instructions for making gloves. The instructions are posted at the site of a woman named Franchesca Vecchio Havas, who is very interested in Elizabethan costuming.

Bottom Line: Worth a try, since it's free!


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