Medieval festival costumes. Festival day pics pg 7

[clothmama]

In the summer there is a big medieval festival in the village and we need to dress up for it, J and the boys seem to know what they want to do but I'm not sure for Rémy and I and I realise I may have a fair bit of sewing to do (although I've spotted some pretty cool things preloved on ebay UK so that may work out cheaper). Any thoughts / ideas? @JabberJabber I know you did your costume last year, have you ever done a medieval one?

EDIT: and months later this was the result for my dress - a 12th century bliaut

I've not done a medieval one, but there are some good patterns around. Would you like me to if nd you some links?

[clothmama]

I've not done a medieval one, but there are some good patterns around. Would you like me to if nd you some links?

If you have time Kate that would be really great @JabberJabber I want to go in a pretty dress rather than a peasant

Morning Tory!

The 'great' source that is wiki says

The basic female clothing for all classes over the period was a simple sleeved tunic dress, with a vertical slit, usually laced, at the bodice, at least for women of an age to breast-feed. The borders and hems might be decorated with embroidery, very richly so for the upper classes. Hose were apparently often worn underneath, their length presumably depending on the weather, as the dress came near to the ankle throughout the period. An under-tunic might also be worn, and cloaks and mantles for winter or outside wear. With the coming of Christianity, married women were expected to cover their hair, at least in public, with a loose shoulder cape, mantle or kerchief. It appears that fur was mostly worn out of sight, as a lining, or perhaps like the fur waistcoats (probably worn lining outermost) known from the later Middle Ages.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_m ... pean_dress

This would be a good starting point to work on a basic pattern, so something like these dresses, it's not a peasant costume but still not the highest ranking! You could use quite plain-ish fabric but if you could source sew on edging for curtains you could add that to the hems.

http://patternkingdom.com/McCalls8826.html
http://patternkingdom.com/McCalls4041.html

If you wanted something a little more pretty, you could try to put in some sleeves like in this pattern

http://www.johnlewis.com/simplicity-cos ... 0/p1173503

[clothmama]

They look fab Kate - thank you! I'm looking at the premade ones on ebay and they all look so hot! It will be June so could be roasting and I dont' want to be uncomfortable all day so really think I'm going to need to make my own so I can use light, natural fabrics!

I used this (roughly) to make a dress for Esme).

http://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/2013/10/09/easy-diy-princess-dress-for-halloween.html

[clothmama]

I used this (roughly) to make a dress for Esme).

http://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/2013/10/09/easy-diy-princess-dress-for-halloween.html

That is a fabulous pattern! Did it take you the 2 hours she reakons she did it in Maybe I'm just the slowest sewer in the world

I can't remember if I'm honest. It certainly didn't take a long time; I get fed up too quickly! I think it probably was about that.

IT was this dress, originally without the ribbon. That was added to change it from great fire of London to rapunzel...reincarnated here as Susan!