Fabric Ideas
Besides looking at clothing from the period, you can look at quilts from the period.  You can also find reproduction fabrics which should also give you some good ideas.

Here is a collection of 1880 to 1890 reproduction fabric by Barbara Brackman and Terry 
Clothier Thompson for Moda Fabrics.
 
This web page will give you a very good idea of the fabrics that  would work.
http://www.quiltknit.com/fabrics/fabpaks9.htm

These are common shirting fabrics.  Note cream background with green, red, blue, or black  one or two color print.

Here is some 1845 fabric, but that means they would still have it around.

1850


 
 
Here is another fabric supplier with stripes.
On page with plaids.

This page shows some nice ginghams, stripes, and plaids used in clothes from the period.
More.
 

If you're not sure, bring it to a rehearsal.

EASY Theatre's Home Page
 
Home page of john daniels, jr.

 

Page by Engela Edwards