Do the Amish make their own clothing?
Yes, the lady of the house generally sews the clothes for herself and her family. A lot of sewing is done in August, getting clothes together for the children to go to school. She makes her coverings and bonnet, dresses and aprons to go over the dress as well as capes. She sews pants and shirts for her husband and boys. Men’s wool hats are bought and while most men’s straw hats are bought, some Amish make their own straw hats. Men’s Sunday suits are generally made by an Amish tailor who sews them to make a living. There are also some stores that sell “ready-made” Amish clothes for those who want to buy them. These items are usually made by Amish seamstresses and placed in the store to sell. Underclothing is generally bought although some more traditional families may make their own. Some gloves are purchased, usually heavy work gloves, while some a knitted. Both socks and Ladies hosiery are bought from stores.
