quakers society of friends spirituality plain dress simplicity limiting your palette quaker meeting peace witness George Fox quakerism

Quaker Jane's Recommended Reading

Suggestions by Topic

  • Books on Old Order and Conservative Amish/Mennonite Life
  • Books on Plain Dress
  • Books About Quakers and Quakerism
  • Books to Aid the Home Sewer


Books on Old Order and
Conservative Amish/Mennonite Life

I am not Amish or Mennonite, but I can suggest the books below for more information on these groups.

Why Do They Dress That Way?        Living Without Electricity title=        Quilts Among the Plain People

An Introduction to Conservative and Old Order Mennonite Groups        Plain Buggies        Amish Houses and Barns

A Quiet and Peaceable Life        The Amish School        Amish Women

A Pocket Guide to Amish Life        Our People: The Amish and Mennonites in Ohio        The Amish Way

Amish Peace by Suzanne Woods Fisher        Amish Grace        Amish Proverbs by Suzanne Woods Fisher


Books Including Information
on Plain Dress


The Quaker: A Study in Costume     The Quaker: A Study in Costume
Amelia Gummere's classic study of the history of Quaker plain dress, first published around 1900. Not entirely up to our modern scholarly standards, but the single best source of information about the development of the Quaker costume (male and female) over the centuries.


Quaker Aesthetics
Anthology of scholarly works on a wide range of topics historical Quaker design, including plain dress and architecture. Nice images of example Quaker garments.


Why Do They Dress That Way?
An indispenisble guide to the practice of plain dress in the United States among a wide variety of religious groups, including Amish, Mennonite, Quaker, Hutterite, Brethren and others.


About Quakers
and Quakerism


Strength in Weakness, edited by Gil Skidmore
British Friend Gil Skidmore has collected and edited the writings of a number of 18th Century Quaker women, including Grace Hall Chamber, Lydia Rawlinson Lancaster, Ruth Alcock Follows, Catherine Payton Phillips, Sarah Tuke Grubb, Priscilla Hannah Gurney, Mary Alexander and Ann Crowley. She also offers biographical information and information about the Religious Society of Friends at that time.


Imaginary Friends: Representing Quakers in American Culture, 1650-1950
People often have all sorts of interesting ideas and assumptions about what it means for me to be a Quaker, and this book talks about where some of those ideas came from.


Books to Aid
the Home Sewer


Reader's Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing
I have the 1976 edition of this sewing reference book and have used it since I was in high school. It is almost like a glossary or dictionary. It is easy to look up specific techniques and see extensive illustrations explaining how to implement them. I hope thee finds the newly available one is just as useful.


The Complete Book of Sewing - Dressmaking and Sewing for the Home Made Easy, by Constance Talbot
The classic sewing reference book The Complete Book of Sewing - Dressmaking and Sewing for the Home Made Easy, by Constance Talbot circa 1940s, available as a reprint.


Preparing a Cape Dress Pattern
Christian Light Publications offers a Home Economics course on preparing and sewing a Cape Dress. I own and have used these books to aid in sewing a cape dress. This is the book on preparing.


Sewing a Cape Dress
Christian Light Publications offers a Home Economics course on preparing and sewing a Cape Dress. I own and have used these books to aid in sewing a cape dress. This is the book on actually sewing the dress.
quakers society of friends spirituality plain dress simplicity limiting your palette quaker meeting peace witness George Fox quakerism
quakers society of friends spirituality plain dress simplicity limiting your palette quaker meeting peace witness George Fox quakerism
quakers society of friends spirituality plain dress simplicity limiting your palette quaker meeting peace witness George Fox quakerism
Quaker spirituality Spiritual mentor Plain dress
daily george fox quote

Epistle 264
1669

"Weighty, Seasoned and Substantial Friends"

NOW concerning them that do go to the Quarterly Meeting, they must be substantial Friends, that can give a Testimony of your Sufferings, and how things are amongst you in every particular Meeting. So that none that are raw or weak, that are not able to give a Testimony of the Affairs of the Church and Truth, may go on behalf of the particular Meetings to the Quarterly Meetings, but may be nursed up in your Monthly Meetings, and there fitted for the Lord's Service . . . for the ...

... view full quote