clothing-4-nc-msg - 11/28/10

Introductory comments for newcomers on SCA clothing.

NOTE: See also the files: Easy-T-Tunics-art, Fabric-Stores-art, KW-Handbook-msg, SCA-intro-art, belts-msg, headgear-msg, pouches-msg, SCA-Upcycling-art, merch-cloth-lst.

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I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.

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    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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From: Coblaith Mhuimhneach <Coblaith at sbcglobal.net>
Date: July 5, 2006 1:57:27 AM CDT
To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
Subject: Re: [Bryn-gwlad] Pattern Designs

Sean Sutton wrote:
> . . .am new to the SCA scene and am looking for web sites or
> suggestions for locating period patterns and material for costumes.

Tunics like the one described in Reconstructing History's "Your First
Garb" <http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/beginners/FirstGarb.html>
were worn all over Europe from the beginning of the SCA's core
millennium almost until the end (with variations in details like the
shapes of necklines and sleeves and the type and position of trims).
They're easy to sew (all straight lines) and very conservative of
fabric.  And the same general pattern applies to persons of both sexes
and all ages.  (Women and girls should wear them at least ankle-length;
men and boys are typically seen in shorter ones.)  If you're looking
for good "generic medieval" clothing, or just some things to wear to
your first few events while you're determining your persona that you'll
still be likely to use after you've made up your mind, I recommend them
highly.

Males who don't want to go bare-legged under their tunics can wear
either trousers or hose.  (Each is characteristic, as is skirt length,
of certain cultures and times, but either will do for the generic
look.)  Regia Anglorum has good basic designs for both on their website
<http://www.regia.org/members/basclot5d.htm>.  (They're not an SCA
group, so just disregard any reference to rules or requirements.)

Most women, for most of our period, in most European cultures, covered
their heads.  Men often did, as well.  You might therefore consider
adding a coif <http://www.virtue.to/articles/coif.html> or hood
<http://www.virtue.to/articles/hoodlum.html> or (for women) a veil
<http://www.virtue.to/articles/veils.html> to your ensemble.  A plain
leather belt with a simple buckle, some unobtrusive (or period
<http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/shoe/SHOEHOME.HTM>)
shoes, and a pouch <http://geocities.com/karen_larsdatter/pouches.htm>,
a satchel <http://geocities.com/karen_larsdatter/pilgrims.htm>, or both
to carry your "stuff" in will complete the look.

If (or when) you're interested in investigating a particular culture
and timespan, the Atlantian A&S Links site
<http://moas.atlantia.sca.org/wsnlinks/index.php?
action=displaycat&catid=10> is an excellent place to start.  Or, if
you're interested in doing an Irish Gaelic or Norse persona from the
Viking Age, let me know and I'll (further) bombard you with
information.

As far as materials go:

Linen and wool are the two fabrics most widely worn in Europe before
1600 (overwhelmingly so).  Linen is far and away the coolest option
when it's hot out (because of the structure of bast fibers).  Wool
breathes, so in light weights it works pretty well in the heat, too.
But it really shines when it's cold; it insulates even if wet.

Fabrics-Store.Com <http://fabrics-store.com/> has linen for about $6.00
per yard (less if you buy in bulk or buy remnants in their "doggie bag"
section).

B. Black and Sons <http://www.bblackandsons.com/store/store.html> has
wool for about US$10.00 per yard (less if you buy from their "specials"
section).

Denver Fabrics <http://www.denverfabrics.com>, Fabric.Com
<http://www.fabric.com/>, and other vendors will sometimes offer good
sales on both, and there are at times exquisite bargains to be had on
eBay (<http://crafts.listings.ebay.com>; just click "linen" or "wool"
under "fabric").

Any further questions?  Just ask!  And welcome to the Society.

Coblaith Mhuimhneach


Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:04:05 -0700
From: David Walddon <david at vastrepast.com>
To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>
Subject: [Sca-cooks] Sweat shirts and sweat pants are an important
	addition to your wardrobe

I always have a pair of sweats for each family member in the garb box. They
are critical (under long tunics or scholars robes) when the weather turns
cold and rainy up here in An Tir (and it can turn quickly).

Obviously not so you can tell we are wearing them but they do help keep
things warm in a pinch.

If we are going to an event that we know is going to be cold we bring the
appropriate garb but for those emergency situations I have found them to be
excellent (especially with a 4 and 6 year old).

Eduardo 

On Aug 25, 2009, at 8:45 AM, S CLEMENGER wrote:
<<< Everyone can afford garb.  My first attempts at SCA clothing came from some (really decent) white brocade curtains I salvaged from the back of the Salvation Army.  (I made ItalianRen).  Unless you're doing some extensive event like Pennsic, you actually only need a few outfits, depending on local weather.

Medievals (unless they were royals) hardly had a closet full of stuff....Good clothing (in any time period) is an investment, but there are ways to be canny and clever about getting good quality.... 

I'm as dedicated to researching, developing, and recreating textiles and their uses during various historical periods as most of the people on this list are about food and medieval recipes.  So I can talk at great length about what is and is not appropriate/possible/workable.  Blue jeans are right. out. even. if. you're. broke.

--Maire >>>

On 8/25/09 6:49 AM, "Judith Epstein" <judith at ipstenu.org> wrote:
<<< Oh, agreed. Jeans or sweatpants don't belong, unless it's your first
event, you can't sew, and you get there after Gold Key is closed, and
even then, someone ought to take pity and loan you proper trousers.

I can't sew, so I'm going to be buying my garb until I can learn how
to make my own. I hope it's correct, but if it's not, them's the
breaks -- again, until I can afford better and/or make my own. I did
buy a sewing machine, and I thread it over and over to make sure I
know how, but I've yet to try to sew anything on it. I did cut out a
pattern for a long tunic, but I had these old scissors that have been
cutting paper for about five years, so of course the  pattern was all
distorted and wrong. I gave it to a friend who can actually sew, and I
hope she makes something out of it. (Got the fabric for $2 at
Salvation Army.) I think I'm going to need someone to come over and
SHOW me what I'm doing wrong, and how to do something right, before
I'll feel confident to try again. >>>


Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:13:55 -0400
From: bronwynmgn at aol.com
To: sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Sweat shirts and sweat pants are an important
	addition to your wardrobe

From: David Walddon <david at vastrepast.com>
<< I always have a pair of sweats for each family member in the garb box. They
are critical (under long tunics or scholars robes) when the weather turns
cold and rainy up here in An Tir (and it can turn quickly).
Obviously not so you can tell we are wearing them but they do help keep
things warm in a pinch.
If we are going to an event that we know is going to be cold we bring the
appropriate garb but for those emergency situations I have found them to be
excellent (especially with a 4 and 6 year old).>>

I am not saying that your approach isn't valid.  It keeps you warm and that's the point.  But I used to work under the theory that adding mundane clothes under garb, or following mundane rules of adding warmer layers under garb, and I was often still cold.  Then I asked myself what a medieval person would have done - after all, they had to cope with weather on a daily basis, much more intimately than do we who live in climate-controlled buildings and leave them to travel in climate-controlled cars.

I started making wool overgowns to go over my lighter weight clothes.  Heavy wool repels water beautifully with no special treatment.  If it does get wet, it still keeps you warm.  Wool socks are a godsend when your feet are wet; you feel the initial rush of cold water but within a moment or two, it is hard to tell if your feet are still wet because they are warm again.  I have a coat weight gown and hood that I have worn in pouring rain for prolonged times with no other shelter.  When I took the wool gown and hood off, my linen clothes underneath were completely dry.  The only thing you must do is make sure never to leave those wool outer garments lying in a pile on the floor.  Then they will soak through.  If the wool is kept hanging when it is taken off, then the water will continue to do what it does when you are wearing it - run down the outer layers of the wool and drip off the bottom.

A lighter weight wool gown over your linen is also good when it's damp and cool but not raining; it prevents the linen from soaking up moisture from the air and feeling soggy.

Yes, wool is somewhat expensive.  You know what, so is a parka or heavy winter coat.  You buy one, once, and wear it for years in comfort.  I do find the gowns more useful than cloaks for anything other than short showers.  You can't really DO anything in a cloak; you just have to stay still and hold it closed.  In the gowns I can run around and do anything I'd do in my normal clothes.
They serve as extra warmth when events turn unexpectedly cold as well.  I haven't been cold at a wet or cold event since I started doing this.

Brangwayna Morgan

Shire of Silver Rylle, East Kingdom
Lancaster, PA

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