Lovina has been working on some new Sunday clothes for sons Benjamin and Joseph. A lot of hours goes into making them. These are the clothes that they'll wear to church on Sundays or perhaps to a funeral. Problem with having growing boys is that these nice Sunday clothes will last a year or two and then Lovina will have to do it all over again and again and again until they are finally done growing 10 years from now. But aren't these some sharp threads? By the way, you may note that these clothes are navy in color. Often Sunday clothes are black, but not always. In Lovina's settlement navy is perfectly appropriate and acceptable.
Nancy LaLiberte
I see labels in the shirts. Are shirts usually purchased, and the pants and vest or coat homesewn? I have seen men and boys in IN wearing shirts that looked ready-made to me, much more finished than the average home seamstress could manage. My mother used to make a lot of my clothes, and I made a lot of my daughter's, so I am familiar with the look of homesewn things.
Kevin
The shirts are bought shirts. I should clarify for anyone else who wonders..it's not an issue of whether the Amish are "allowed" to buy shirts in stores...the issue is whether the clothes are "plain", if they could find "off the rack" plain clothes that met their church requirements at Wal-Mart, I'm sure many busy Amish moms would buy clothes...theses shirts are plain, white and sold in stores, so good to go...so the issue is less about who makes them and more about whether they are plain or not. The pants and vest are home-sewn...
Mary
Are shirts with buttons allowed in Lovina's settlement? Years ago I thought buttons weren't allowed among the Amish...but maybe things have changed.
Kevin
The "no buttons" perception that people have about the Amish is not always correct...like almost everything about the Amish:), customs vary from community to community...many allow buttons, many do not...some go with a compromise and allow for metal snaps...I don't think any settlements allow flashy buttons, but function is okay in Lovina's area...
Barb W.
Are there tags on the white shirts? Is she allowed to purchase store bought for the boys and Joe.?
Linda Bolt
Is that decorative stitching around the neckline and the arm holes? Can't quite see for sure on my computer.
Does Lovina use a treadle-powered machine, or does she sew all by hand, or ?
Genieva Wright`
The Amish in Arthur allows store bought shirts. But they can't have a shirt pocket on them.I've bought several shirts for my adopted Amish son and took the pockets off.
Marilyn from NY
I am not a sewer-I wish I could and I admire Lovina's work. She must make her and her daughter's clothes, too, correct?
Marilyn
Diane Adelstone
Lovina is very talented and it seems a good seamstress. For those of us who don't know how, do you think she may one day be interested in doing a step by step video, "just only her voice and hands" to teach people the basics of sewing? I would enjoy that! I like her very much.