MAYBE I CAN MAKE MY OWN MEDIEVAL OUTFIT????? If you have you ever asked yourself this question you may
just find this Blog helpful. With The Abbey Medieval Festival on the near horizon the subject
of “What do I wear?” is spoken by many. There are a few different ways this can
be addressed. HIRE ONE? Most of the time, Hire Costumes are just that, Costumes. Authentic
Medieval Garments are indeed a rarity at Costume Hire outlets. If you want to
hire, your best bet is to contact your local theatre companies. Some do hire
out stage costumes although it does come at a price which can sometimes be
high. If you want to spend your money and have something to show for it at the
end of the day then why not……. BUY ONE? Rarely will you get what you really want and many have been
stung by ordering ready to wear outfits online. The fabrics and designs are mostly too ‘Modern’
or ‘Hollywood’ and they never seem to fit right. If you’re not happy with this
option then you could try any one of the talented Seamstresses available and have one........ CUSTOM MADE? With the right Seamstress you WILL get what you want
regarding Fabric, Colour & Style authenticity. There are many ways to
construct a Garment. ‘Hand Sewing’. The
Garments you see Re enactors wear are all done in this method. If you are
serious about your Garments feeling authentic then look for a seamstress who
doesn’t use an overlocker. These garments are constructed with a standard
sewing machine using ‘French Seaming’ which is stronger and therefore more
durable. You will also gain a sense of authenticity that cannot be achieved using
an overlocker. Ask an Actor and they will answer that it’s not until they put
on authentic feeling Garments that they ‘become’ the Character. Some are of the
opinion that Custom Made Garments are overpriced but when you consider the hours
of Workmanship, Uniqueness and the fact that it’s ‘Made for YOU’ in your
specifications by a Professional whose work is their passion. They don’t sew
because they can, they sew because they ‘Love’ it. If you get a quote on Custom
Made and find it out of your budget we go back to the original question……… HOME MADE? There is a wonderful sense of achievement & pride in wearing
a garment you created yourself. It really is a lot easier than most
people think but it does require patience and precision. Don’t make the mistake
of trying to get it done quickly until you get more practice at the craft.
FABRICS?
Stick with natural fibre Fabrics like Cotton, Hemp, Linen,
Wool, Silk & Natural Fibre Velvets (not Pane or crushed velvet). There are so many variations to choose
from and with more people returning to these Fabrics the choices are ever
increasing. Whether it be a Standard Weave, Brocade or Jacquard Fabric try to
choose a Colour Pallette from the period. More natural earthy tones for lower
class and more highlight colours for middle class. The stronger colours and richer
fabrics were worn by the Upper Class, and Nobility, of course, wore the finest
of everything.
PATTERN? There are many online sources of Medieval Period Patterns.
Simply ‘Googling’ “Medieval Clothing Patterns”, gives you access to what seems
like an infinite amount of options. Check out the ‘Images’ instead of ‘Web’
results of your search. This will let you see the images which will link you to
the website it originated from. As you will have seen on the ‘Pattern Page’ of
this Website, there are many Patterns available at your local Fabric Store. Most
of these are easy to assemble designs that transform well into authentic
looking Garments with the correct choice of Colours and Fabrics. Remember when looking for a Pattern, that they
come in different sizes. If you do decide to make your own Outfit it’s always handy
to have someone you can turn to for advice. I am available to assist with any
issues you may be having regarding your Medieval Garments. If you need help
with anything you can email me via the ‘Contact Us’ page here or Private
Message me on Facebook. HAPPY CREATING
Lady Carberry |
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