John Janney
Clothing
Flax
The Janney family grew a patch of flax but John fails to mention how large. When the flax was harvested and processed into tow ( refer to manual for the steps in flax processing) the women and young girls would spin the tow into linen thread during the winter months. The thread was taken to the local weaver but the Janney family owned a small loom. Janneys bought bleached (25-30 cents per yard) or un-bleached (18 cents a yard) linen fabric. To bleach the unbleached cloth (brown in color) the cloth needs to be laid out in the sun.
Wool
In the spring, as Janney states, the sheep were driven to the creek and washed. They were brought back to the barn and placed up on a table to be sheared. Eight to ten sheep were sheared a day and Janney writes this was the most tiresome job he did on the farm. Wool would be carded and spun into thread (refer to manual for wool processing.)
Cotton and Silk
Cotton was purchased and spun into thread at home and taken to local weaver to make cloth.
Men's Dress
Janney writes that all the clothing, except for great coats, were cut out and made at home. Great coats were cut out by a local tailor and then made at home. Leather shoes came up to the ankle and most men also owned calf skin shoes or boots. Shoes were made by the local shoemaker who was John Janney's uncle. Socks came up to the knees and were held up with a eel-skin garter.
Trousers was the common word for pants. They were made out of cotton and wool. Underclothes were not used and shirts came down below the waist. Frock coat or jacket could be worn over the shirt. Buttons were made of horn or wood. All gloves were made of wool of buckskin.
Women's Dress
Women's summer dresses were made of calico. In the winter the dresses were made of linsey (linen and wool) or cotton and wool. Women wore no underclothes but had linen or wool petticoats to wear under their dresses. Shoes were low cut and made of buckskin. Dress shoes were made of morocco. Corsets were made at home, and Janney writes that he was so good at it that other women from neighboring farms ordered from him. The corset was made of wool or cotton with bark or whalebones used as the splints.
Both young and older women wore sunbonnets. The front half was made of pasteboard that fit around the face to protect it from the sun. The board was covered and attached to calico cloth that covered the back of the head. Elderly Quaker women wore a "plan bonnet" made out of black silk or satin. Women also wore veils made of cotton and wool.
Hair was worn twisted in a knot at the back of the head. Rings or any type of jewelry were rarely or never worn by males and females.
Children's Clothing
Boys
John writes that children were plainly dressed but not sufficiently enough to protect them from the elements. Boys wore pantaloons, a long shirt that went below the waist, and no underclothing. A jacket (warm jacket) went over the shirt and down to the waist. Another jacket went over the top of the warm jacket. Nothing was worn around the neck except the shirt collar. John did not get his first great jacket (long overcoat) until he was 17.
Girls
John gives very few details on girls' clothing. Girls wore petticoats made of wool or linen with no underclothing. The arms and chest were left unprotected. John mentions that during the winter many girls had trouble reciting their lessons because of bad colds.
