Demonstrations        Research        Gallery        About

Galleries
- Workshop May 2007 - France Photos
May 12, 2007 Workshop and Class - Dragon's Laire

"A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron. "
~ Horace Mann

Thanks to some very energtic and wonderful students who took pictures I can show some of the class that I give, 14th Century Women's Clothing: The Luttrell Psalter.

I have included the pictures here with commentary on each of the garments that the picture discusses. I'm a little embarrassed at how goofy I look, but figure that it is more important to show you all what you can do than to be prideful.

This class begins with my getting dressed from the shift out to better illustrate how clothing is worn and how it works together. There is more to the class but this is the part that is picture worthy.

Me in my shift

My other skivvies. These are not something I can document but they are ever so much more comfortable than bike shorts. 100% linen, these are made from a modern pants pattern. Instead of a gathered waist I pleated it to a waist band that is adjustable. I only finished the raw edges of the crotch seams, they are open for ease of use with a long skirt. I hardly know I'm wearing them, they are so comfortable. One of the most useful and necessary items I made for myself, bar none.

I will say that there are three pairs of skivvies with a waist band, pleats, an open crotch, and lovely embroidery. They are Italian and they are from the 16th century. I know if they needed them then, they needed them in the 14th century. We just can't prove a darned thing.

I wear these skivvies with nothing on underneath. To wear otherwise would defeat the purpose of making it easier to use a SCA biffy.
Linen stockings with a fulled wool garter
Spiral lacing into my linen kirtle. I use a lace that is about 7 feet long. I always leave the lacing in the eyelets. I start tightening from the top down. Moving from the top down ensures that I get a snug fit on top that won't loosen. Not sure why but the physics of it seem to make a big difference.
Buttons and tightly laced
And more buttons
Sideless Surcote. I am illustrating that while in France I discovered a little statue that shows a woman wearing her belt on the OUTSIDE of her surcote. Something you don't see much, in fact for me, that I have NEVER seen any where else. You can wear your belt over or under. I find that over the surcote assists by keeping my skirt out of the way while doing chores.
More Surcote - There are many illustrations in the Luttrell Psalter of women with slit surcotes. They are workers of some kind. I have not seen this detail for upper class ladies. A slit or lack of one could be an artistic decision. That said, it sure gives a nice flash color as you walk.
And more...
This is my sleeved surcote. Because I had to be very conservative with my cut/patterning due to damaged fabric, I only have 3 gores. I've only seen even numbers to date. But I wanted as a full a skirt as I could get and used it all. So this is a 6-gore gown.
This illustrates the fitchets that allow one to gain access to the belt and pouch underneath.
From the side back. You can see the fitchet just behind my thumb.
Now. This is NOT period. At least not in this manner. While we know that they did indeed wear false hair to supplement what God gave them, they did not attach it to a lycra/cotton headband. But I did. And it's very comfortable.
You can see the whimple pinned behind the headband.
Veil pinned into hair buns and to headband
With tablet woven circlet
A friend in a little linen hood. There are a couple sources for this style. It is nice to wear in the heat, especially wet under a straw hat.
My wool hood. This is the hood in the hood demo.
My newest lovely fine wool hood with a nice long liripipe.
Front view. You can see the stitching for the front gore.
Me in the brown wool kirtle, front
Me in the brown wool kirtle, back
The sleeve buttons
The lacing placket illustrating spiral lacing and detail of the eyelets
Detail of sleeve sewn to body of kirtle and finished seam
Side seams