A STITCH IN TIME

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Feb 04, 2002 | by Cahalan, Steve

VIROQUA, Wis. - The cowboy and Civil War apparel hanging in Terry's Sewing Shop hasn't been picked up dust or the smell of gunpowder yet. That will come later at the Civil War battle re-enactments and cowboy action shoots that many of Terry Heffner's customers participate in.

Heffner does custom sewing of all types at her shop on Hwy. 14 about four miles south of Viroqua. She specializes in making Civil War and Old West clothing for both men and women. She also sells antiques and crafts at the shop.

"I have sewed since I was in seventh grade," said Heffner, who is 42. "I've sewed for other people for about 15 years. I like the adventure of sewing, and I like fabric. If you bring me in a picture showing what you want, I'll make it."

Heffner, who was raised near Viroqua, originally sewed for others from her home in Viroqua. She did clothing alterations and repairs and made specialty outfits, such as bridesmaid dresses.

Then Heffner opened a shop in Viroqua. She moved it to its current location about 3 1/2 years ago. Her husband, Dean, works at Nelson Agri-Center in Viroqua and helps her with bookkeeping.

Heffner has been making Civil War clothing for about 10 years and cowboy clothing for about seven years.

She began by making a wedding gown for her cousin's Civil War-era wedding. "I made it for her from Civil War-period fabric that had been passed down through the family," Heffner said.

Then a Viroqua couple asked Heffner to make Civil War outfits for them. They and Heffner belong to Company D of the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, which participates in battle re-enactments and other Civil War-theme events.

Heffner also is on a committee that organizes Wild West Days in Viroqua. "We're having a fund-raiser March 16 at the Viroqua VFW to raise money for that event," she said.

She estimated she makes more than 200 pieces of Civil War and cowboy clothing each year for men and women. Her Civil War reenactor customers usually have both Union and Confederate outfits, to make sure that one side isn't shorthanded at events.

She sells Civil War and cowboy outfits mostly to customers from around the state, but also sells some to residents of Iowa and Illinois.

Heffner usually participates in four Civil War and five cowboy events each year in Wisconsin and Iowa - such as Wild West Days in Viroqua and the Mississippi Fandango cowboy action shoot in Holmen. Most of her Civil War and cowboy apparel sales are

to people who attend those events, and to members of Company D. She also makes flags for Company D.

She buys "period-correct" patterns and uses them to make her Civil War and cowboy apparel.

"I enjoy the thought of making clothing from a time period that seems to be much calmer and more docile," Heffner said. "And I enjoy sewing cotton and wool." Most actual Civil War and cowboy apparel was made from those materials, she said.

"I still do all types of custom sewing," Heffner said. "A guy the other day wanted to make a colonial-period vest," so she will.

Terry's Sewing Shop also sells buffalo hide vests and coats that were made by others.

Heffner is thinking about discontinuing antique sales in a few years and specializing even more in cowboy and Civil War apparel. "I'd add more clothes and more variety," she said.

Her current shop was an antique store when she bought it.