So, the other day I finally did something that I’ve been meaning to do for a while… I popped into the new store located where the tourist-favorite Cinnamon Stick used to be—on the main street in Middlebury, also known as State Road 13, which runs from the tollway to the north, through downtown Middlebury, and on south to State Road 20 and beyond.
Fabric is always a mainstay of any store that caters to the Amish, and this one is no different. This photo also shows some of the architectural features of this old, historic building, including the original creaky wood floors.
Lots of ready-made clothes are also to be had here. Notice the darkness of the outwear in the first picture below, compared to the brightness of the men's shirts and the little dresses! As always with the Old Order Amish, printed fabrics are not used for clothing.

Hats are always needed, both straw for everyday and black felt for Sundays. The Sunday hats are handled carefully and taken care of, since a new one like this costs about $125. (They look gray in the photo, but that was just the light; they're actually black.)
Pants are usually made at home, but suspenders are not. A common type are worn by the men in this Amish settlement; suspenders differ from place to place.
For the women, "koppa" (prayer caps or coverings) are worn in public--usually white, but on occasion, black. The second photo below shows the bonnets which are worn over the caps, which are made to fit over the koppa perfectly. Sometimes in more informal settings, a woven scarf is worn instead of the bonnet. And at home, doing chores, a white kerchief is worn over the hair, instead of the koppa.
There are lots and lots of other things to be had here... A wonderful display of birdwatching books (the Amish love birds), baby things and dolls (the Amish love their kids); a selection of songbooks and other books (the Amish love to sing); and lots of sewing notions for the necessary sewing that falls to an Amish wife.

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