Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly. ~Epictetus

As I mentioned in the HSM ‘Out of Your Comfort Zone’ post, my challenge for this challenge is medieval: specifically a gown (kirtle) from the last quarter of the 14th century. I’ve never made a medieval gown before, and my only dabble in medieval has been a shift (and really, a medieval shift is hardly different from an 18th c shift). So this is a totally new period for me, and definitely out of my comfort zone. To help, I’ve been relying on the following books: Crowfoot, E., Pritchard, F…

För denna beskrivning på Svenska; klicka här! Some words before we start A lot of people find setting sleeves to be the hardest part about sewing. That is why have made this small troubleshooting m…

För denna beskrivning på Svenska; klicka här! Some words before we start A lot of people find setting sleeves to be the hardest part about sewing. That is why have made this small troubleshooting m…

För denna beskrivning på Svenska; klicka här! Some words before we start A lot of people find setting sleeves to be the hardest part about sewing. That is why have made this small troubleshooting m…

I had grand plans to offer this all graded out in different sizes this week, but that is just not going to happen. I’m too busy to grade it by hand and I haven’t learned enough to grad…

As I mentioned in the HSM ‘Out of Your Comfort Zone’ post, my challenge for this challenge is medieval: specifically a gown (kirtle) from the last quarter of the 14th century. I’ve never made a medieval gown before, and my only dabble in medieval has been a shift (and really, a medieval shift is hardly different from an 18th c shift). So this is a totally new period for me, and definitely out of my comfort zone. To help, I’ve been relying on the following books: Crowfoot, E., Pritchard, F…

As I mentioned in the HSM ‘Out of Your Comfort Zone’ post, my challenge for this challenge is medieval: specifically a gown (kirtle) from the last quarter of the 14th century. I’ve never made a medieval gown before, and my only dabble in medieval has been a shift (and really, a medieval shift is hardly different from an 18th c shift). So this is a totally new period for me, and definitely out of my comfort zone. To help, I’ve been relying on the following books: Crowfoot, E., Pritchard, F…

As I mentioned in the HSM ‘Out of Your Comfort Zone’ post, my challenge for this challenge is medieval: specifically a gown (kirtle) from the last quarter of the 14th century. I’ve never made a medieval gown before, and my only dabble in medieval has been a shift (and really, a medieval shift is hardly different from an 18th c shift). So this is a totally new period for me, and definitely out of my comfort zone. To help, I’ve been relying on the following books: Crowfoot, E., Pritchard, F…

As I mentioned in the HSM ‘Out of Your Comfort Zone’ post, my challenge for this challenge is medieval: specifically a gown (kirtle) from the last quarter of the 14th century. I’ve never made a medieval gown before, and my only dabble in medieval has been a shift (and really, a medieval shift is hardly different from an 18th c shift). So this is a totally new period for me, and definitely out of my comfort zone. To help, I’ve been relying on the following books: Crowfoot, E., Pritchard, F…

So that red linen kirtle... I decided to go a bit more hardcore with the historical accuracy. I had done the buttonholes and eyelets by machine, thinking no one would see them on an underdress, but clearly this is going to be worn alone sometimes, so I have been ripping out all the machine stitches and re-doing them by hand. Also, I learned finger loop braiding! I taught myself from some basic internet diagrams, and it's pretty simple. My first cord ended up being just barely long enough to…

How to fit yourself for a GFD

Having made the trip in lashing rain to get myself aiglets for my lace, I've been much more easily able to spiral lace this dress over its 71 hand-sewn eyelets. I must admit, I really like the look, and the huge amount of work it took to do the eyelets and the card-woven lace has paid off immensely. It's rather a change from my original design, but I think this is better than I could have hoped.

Flickriver - view images as a 'river of photos' and more...

Late Medieval Fashion Redressed. Learn about medieval tailoring techniques of the 14th and 15th centuries in Europe. Patterning, cutting, sewing, quilting, making buttons, buttonholes, and eyelets. From tunics to cotehardies, from shirts to pourpoints, from chemises to dresses.

Payday loans online are turning from fast emergency cash advances into a new global consumer trend with millions of people opting for direct lenders.

Payday loans online are turning from fast emergency cash advances into a new global consumer trend with millions of people opting for direct lenders.

Payday loans online are turning from fast emergency cash advances into a new global consumer trend with millions of people opting for direct lenders.

Payday loans online are turning from fast emergency cash advances into a new global consumer trend with millions of people opting for direct lenders.

I finally finished my 14th century belt and took some photos of it with my new grey kirtle. That means its time for the grey kirtle dress diary! =D Outfit description: The kirtle is made of 100% linen, and it is entirely hand-stitched. The self-fabric buttons on the sleeves were also handmade…

beautiful kirtle

Applying it to close-fitting sleeves on masculine and feminine garments The well-preserved pourpoint of Charles de Blois, found today in the Musée des Tissus in Lyon, France, has been remarkably under-studied by clothing historians. There exist many recopies of the original pattern diagram published by Adrien Harmand in his Jeanne d’Arc et ses costumes, son armure: Essai […]

This photo-essay is intended to give you an overview of one way to drape fabric on a body to achieve a tight fit. Meet Sheree. My patient model who also happens to get two finished cottes out of this experiment. For this fitting, I decided to try something new. Rather than starting with 4 separate […]

This photo-essay is intended to give you an overview of one way to drape fabric on a body to achieve a tight fit. Meet Sheree. She’s my willing victim who also happens to get two finished cottes out of this experiment. For this fitting, I decided to try something new. Rather than starting with 4 […]

Patterning Yourself for a Gothic Fitted Dress --- By My Measure (same author as MathildeGirlGenius.com)

Once you have a finalized bodice pattern for your front pieces and back pieces, you’ll need to decide on dress style. There are many subtleties that can go into such a decision, but for the sake of simplicity, I’ll assume you’re going to lace this dress up the front and have long, close-fitting sleeves, with […]

In 2013, my son and I were wandering about the Gumeracha Medieval Fair. He was swishing about a little wooden sword that he’d bought, and a heavily armoured and well-weathered knight walking …

In 2013, my son and I were wandering about the Gumeracha Medieval Fair. He was swishing about a little wooden sword that he’d bought, and a heavily armoured and well-weathered knight walking …

Lovely blue sideless surcote with fur trim (reproduction, of course)

This tumblr aspires to become a helpful resource for history (and mainly fashion history) research...

Silly me! Forgot to tally up last week’s votes on Pierre Balmain’s 50’s ostrich feather and diamantes frock. As it turns out, you either like ostrich feathers, or you don’t, so the votes were quite divided, balancing out at 7.5 out of 10, which was a rating that absolutely no-one gave the dress. Such is the Rate the Dress though! This fortnight’s theme in the Historical Sew Fortnightly is Under It All – making undergarments, and starting tomorrow I’ll be leading a Panier-Along as I teach how…

14th century wool cotehardie and sideless surcote with fur trim

Payday loans online are turning from fast emergency cash advances into a new global consumer trend with millions of people opting for direct lenders.

Payday loans online are turning from fast emergency cash advances into a new global consumer trend with millions of people opting for direct lenders.

Payday loans online are turning from fast emergency cash advances into a new global consumer trend with millions of people opting for direct lenders.

I'm full of plans for a new gown, based on a series of illuminations in the Taymouth Hours, a manuscript from early 14th century England. The illuminations that caught my eye feature a series of noblewomen hunting with everything from dogs to nets to bows to hawks. In the main manuscript, these illuminations start around page 68. In these four close ups, you can see the gist of the style. There's a long, tight sleeved gown, with a shorter, split sided, tippeted (if it's not a word, it should…

Medieval dress.

Slightly later... more early 16th century than late 15th century. We're getting into the Tudor silhouette territory! Images from Jenny Guyton's beautiful photos of East Kingdom coronation in Oct. 2009. Stunning location, stunning clothing, stunning photos.

Briseis -- Huntington Library Ms HM 60, f°11v "Les XXI Epistres des Dames illustres traduicttes d’Ovide par le Reverend Pere en Dieu Monseigneur l’Evesque de Angoulesme" -- Translated by Octavien de Saint Gelais, written in France at the turn of the fifteenth century

For quite a while, I’ve been contemplating “transition” gowns. They occupy a short period between the late 15th century Burgundian gowns with the deep V necks and wide belt, and…

For quite a while, I’ve been contemplating “transition” gowns. They occupy a short period between the late 15th century Burgundian gowns with the deep V necks and wide belt, and…

14th Century Braies cut on the bias for fit and stretch

- 01-004979 folio 1V

Dominiert in den ersten 3 Vierteln des 14ten Jahrhundert zunächst noch der Verschluss mit Kn&ou...

As long as I have been making ruffled veils, people have asked me about color. Interestingly enough, both extant frilled veil finds include color. Bravermanová (2011) describes veils decorated with…

Diu Minnezît - Surcot aus pflanzlich gef�rbter Wolle mit Seidenbestickung und Kanninchenpelzfutter

(Those sleeves!) Model Book 1390s Manuscript (Ms. VII. 14), 260 x 185 mm Biblioteca Civica, Bergamo. GRASSI, Giovannino de' Italian miniaturist, Lombard school (b. ca. 1350, Milano, d. 1398, Milano)

I took a week off Rate the Dress to rest after the excitement of launching the Amalia Jacket, and the rush of the holidays. But I'm back now, and to celebrate I've picked a seasonally appropriate sparkly dress in festive red.

How beautiful

historical antiquities and artifacts such as spurs, buckles, buttons an more. Also reproductions of Medieval and Viking jewelry and costume accessories. Plus a line of how-to books on armouring, shoemaking metalwork etc...

El brial fue una prenda similar a la saya pero era talar, con mangas estrechas o ligeramente anchas. Era muy lujoso, tanto por el tipo de tela usada como por los adornos que se ponían. Se usó desde el siglo XI hasta finales del XV (ojo con el término brial ya que hizo referencia también a un falda que las mujeres llevaban debajo de otras prendas de a cuerpo durante los siglo XIV y XV y a otra falda que llevaban los hombres de armas por las mismas fechas). A partir de los años 90 del siglo XV…

Windy Poplars Room

Payday loans online are turning from fast emergency cash advances into a new global consumer trend with millions of people opting for direct lenders.

As I mentioned in the HSM ‘Out of Your Comfort Zone’ post, my challenge for this challenge is medieval: specifically a gown (kirtle) from the last quarter of the 14th century. I’ve never made a medieval gown before, and my only dabble in medieval has been a shift (and really, a medieval shift is hardly different from an 18th c shift). So this is a totally new period for me, and definitely out of my comfort zone. To help, I’ve been relying on the following books: Crowfoot, E., Pritchard, F…

Late medieval fashion redressed

Payday loans online are turning from fast emergency cash advances into a new global consumer trend with millions of people opting for direct lenders.

Il meglio d'Italia