Pattern References

There also are many references for garb on the web. I'll try to list a few in the future,
for now try looking up costume and renaissance in a search engine. There are also a few
good patterns in Simplicity's line. These patterns are available at any fabric store,
as well as Wal-Mart.
 

I owe a GREAT debt of gratitude to my friend and fellow Wench, Lady AElffaed.
I'm not a seamstress in any sense of the word, and her suggestions and insight into these
patterns were of great help in my revisions of this page.

A note to anyone making these dresses: most people who work faire or go often will recognize
these patterns.  The hints offered here and elsewhere on the web will help you make them in
such a way as to avoid the common pitfalls of modern construction that experienced garb crafters recognize. The biggest pet peeves involve darts and material choice.  Bright, shiny satins were not available in the Renaissance, they are a purely synthetic material of today.  Likewise, avoid
anything neon, many pastels (soft colors could be gotten from "under dying" the material, but,
like fabrics, synthetic dyes were not yet available), and obviously synthetic material should be
avoided  Sumptuary laws also "protected" the rights of nobility to wear certain colors and materials according to their rank.

Please choose:
Women's Dresses
Men's Clothing
Kid's Garb

                                              Women's Dresses
If you liked the movie "Ever After" try # 8735 - the dress is similar to the one she wore
to the ball.  This dress is actually from the Italian Renaissance, which is a bit before period
for most Renaissance Festivals.  It runs about 2 sizes too large for proper fit, so if you do use
it, measure carefully!  As with most patterns, avoid the darts - you can gather the bottom edge
of the bodice to make up for it.  Also, the skirt should be pleated and not gathered.

For Renaissance styles (like in the movie "Elizabeth") try #8881. Great pattern.  The only major suggestions are to make the point of the bodice less rounded (more pointed) and not so long.
Also, the bodice fabric should match the overskirt, not the forepart.  This one includes patterns
for the dress as well as the farthingales, or hoop skirt and bum roll. It also recommends that
you hand sew on about 400 seed pearls  - if you have the time, fine, but that is NOT necessary,
especially since you don't want to go as royalty to a Faire, especially not at first; that is without
knowing a lot about the period, having a proper character, and probably knowing people who
work at the faire! But tone this dress down and it will work well.  It also requires quite a bit of
sewing knowledge, and isn't for beginners in that area either.

Pattern #8725, especially the underdress, is actually quite period for Medieval Faires.  Just don't
use colors that are quite so bright as what they show.  As I said before, muted colors are best
unless you are nobility.  Once again, change the darts to princess seams. To make the overdress
more period, I would suggest getting a good book on historical dress (check the library, there are
plenty for what you'd need for this) and look at the pictures.  For the most part, you'd just want
to make the armholes a bit more squared off.

The patterns in #7756 are not quite period - especially the "noblewoman's" dress.  To make
either better, don't use darts (they are not period), square off the neckline (rounded ones were
not period at all for these styles), and make the sleeves more triangular, rather than curved.
Don't use metallic material shown in the photos, PLEASE. Golden thread was used by the
middle to upper nobility for embroidery, maybe, but material - that's all synthetic stuff and
was certainly not available in the 17th century! There was SOME gold and silver fabric but no
one below the rank of Duke could wear it if I remember correctly.  The Irish dress (the striped one)
is decent, but the headpiece is medieval, not renaissance, again no darts and watch the neckline.

More to come soon
                                                             Men's Clothing
                                          This area is under construction

                                                                 Kid's Garb
                                          This is also under construction

Overall these patterns are really good, and I recommend them, but go to a faire or so first in
"civvies" or VERY simple stuff (my first time I wore a long (ankle length) skirt and poet's
blouse) to get the feel of what's appropriate and what you would be comfortable in.  Also
realize that, as patrons, you do not need to be totally period, and can make allowances.
Then again, to get the full experience, it's nice to try to follow at least some guidelines
Take lots of pictures to refer to!

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