Nothing perks you up better than thinking about clothes

I’m going to change how I post about ongoing projects. As I tend to let things rest, a project can take very long time to complete and posts about progress are irregular, and also, I think a bit boring to try to follow. I’m going to make them filtered posts at my Livejournal- I don’t seem to be able to do that here. If you want to read them, then you need to friend me there, sorry. Then, when I’m done, I will put my previous posts together (with appropriate editing) as I did on my 12th Night outfit. I imagine that will make for much more interesting posts about my clothes. Those posts will be public, of course, as will my general costume bleating. And if I need advice, of course.

I can as well mention, that if you want to read entries on my life apart from sewing, then those are at Livejournal as well. My personal life isn’t that exiting, anyway. Anyway, my LJ-profile can be found here:

http://isiswardrobe.livejournal.com/profile

My immediate costume plans at the moment are underwear. My stays are now a little bit loose when laced shut, so new 18th century stays are needed before I make anything 18th century. I also need new shifts, both 18th century and medieval. And, lucky me, when I went through a box of fabric fro weeding, I found 5 metres of white linen, perfect for shifts. I had no idea I had it!

I have a card-system for my fabrics. I put a sample on a card, notes how much it is and in which box a put it. I find it very useful! Well, this linen slipped through the system- probably because I felt that I couldn’t possibly forget about all that fabric… Obviously I could, which made for a very nice surprise. I’m glad I found it before I bought new linen, though!

Several of you suggested making a very fitted medieval shift for support. I think that’s a good idea. I need something instead of a bra, or there won’t be any medieval clothes for me, and a fitted shift sounds like it could fit the bill.

As for a medieval gown… At first I though about going as simple as possible, “just to have something” and as I quite like the 12th century, a gown from that period seemed like a good and rather speedy solution. However, then bookwyrm linked to pictures of the Moy bog gown and I kind of fell in love.

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/cloth/moy3.html

https://www.reconstructinghistory.com/irish.php?s=&c=8&d=100&e=&f=&g=&a=200&w=2

http://matildalazouche.livejournal.com/3658.html

It’s something about all those buttons that speaks to me. So at the moment, that is what I planned to do. I’m NOT going to buy fabric for it until the shift is done, but I can dream. Wool definitely and probably blue. I like blue, especially the blue you get from woad.

A few questions about medieval clothes

The fashion of the Middle Ages have never held more than a general interest for me, but I’ve come to realize that I need a medieval gown. I know a lot of people who are into it and I would like to be able to attend to some parties and events. As I don’t have any particular period I fancy more than others, I’ve no idea what to sew, though. I would like to use a pattern that is period correct, as well as correct fabrics and colours. I’m not much concerned about sewing something fancy or upper class, but I seem to know better sources for inexpensive silk than I do wool.

I hope you won’t mind. I’m not after anyone doing research for me, but the Net is vast and I’m not sure where to start. I would very much appreciate is someone could point me to a good starting point. I can goggle myself, of course, but I don’t know enough about the fashion of the time to be able to say if the hits I get are trustworthy. What I need to find out about is good patterns and proper material. Well, I assume linen for underwear and wool and silk for outer layers, but I’ve no clue about appropriate weights and textures and only hazy knowledge about colours. Any nudges in the right direction will be much appreciated!

I have a more specific question for my Swedish friends. I’ve been given this sewing description of a 12th century gown:

I like the look and will have no trouble following the description, but I would like to know if this really is a 12th century gown or just a sort-of-12th century.

Even if I won’t start a big collection of medieval clothes, I want the ones I have to be correct.