The Armour Archive

Gwyneth

You should have no trouble using a running stitch on four layers of linen. I've quilted up to 16 layers without much trouble (but I've quilted a LOT). A quilting thimble will make your life much easier - it has a small rim at the top that you can use to catch the eye of the needle and push it throug...

Gwyneth

I ALWAYS prewash all fabrics (regardless of fibre content) on the hottest setting my washer has, wash it until the dye no longer bleeds out of it and then dry on hot. All clothes in our house get machine washed in cold and machine dried on medium heat. The only time I have ever had a problem with ga...

Gwyneth

Just got an update from Dan Carlsson yesterday in my inbox - see below! There's a new artifact to figure out. Dear Viking friends, First of all, the planning for next summer's field course is well on its way. The excavation is planned to go on for about 2 months, divided into courses from 2 to 4 wee...

Gwyneth

:) Wow - it's interesting to read everyone's thought processes on washing wool. Me, I'm pretty casual with the washing. I just throw it in - throw in some Tide and let it go. Usually on warm - and dry on High. :) I don't really think about it much. The wool comes out the way I like - so I guess it ...

Gwyneth

Will there be shirts in kids' sizes? Gotta start 'em on the One True Way early, ya know!

Gwyneth

Gwyneth

Commentary on the last image and "stick out" shoulders: Getting the shoulders to stick out isn't that hard, it's getting them NOT to stick out that can be a little tricky. If you want the sticking out look, leave the shoulder seam straight or add a stiffer fabric interlining to the shoulder/upper bo...

Gwyneth

... Which has swayed me away from adding gores, because, frankly, he looks a little bit silly. (Sorry.) The reason it looks silly is (a) the surcot is made out of fabric that is too heavy/stiff and (b) the hem is wonky. The hem of a surcot with gores should be slightly rounded, just as the hem of a...

Gwyneth

Nick - Do you have a copy of Fashion in the Age of the Black Prince? If not, go get a copy. Good overview of the fashion changes in England during the early 14th c., as well as some background on what various social classes would have worn. Actually, after a quick refresher run through FitAotBP, I w...

Gwyneth

So far, I have gone with a straight sleeve (if that makes any sense), as it is my understanding that the two part jointed sleeve is discrete to the grand assiette sleeve. The artwork of the general period seems to lend itself to this interpretation. I don't know how you would go about making a sleev...

Gwyneth

Ah - the quest for the perfect early 14th c. sleeve! I can SOOOO relate.... First - what Tasha said. :) The top of a shallow S-curve sleeve cap will appear to be a "mushroom cap" sleeve when you set it in the armhole correctly. The main seam will simply be rotated to the back, rather than at the bot...

Gwyneth

I've found Hobbs Heirloom Organic quilt batting locally at Hobby Lobby (100% cotton - no poly content) - I think some of the local quilting stores also carry it. You might check and see if you have any local specialty sewing/quilting stores. I've found that they more reliably have things such as sil...

Gwyneth

Brandr -

I've got a copy of Dress Accessories that you are welcome to borrow. I'll bring it over this weekend and you can take a look.

Gwyneth

Gwyneth

The discussions on this thread: http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=47214 got me thinking about bezants. I've always wanted to try making some bezants, but I don't have a setup to do casting. I seem to recall reading that some bezants were stamped out of flat, thin sheets of metal...

Gwyneth

I apologize to all of you that were waiting on me to send this to you - I ran into some problems with putting the paper into .pdf format, then whole project got put on the back burner (finals, job, kids, summer school, etc.). I'll be happy to send ya'll a copy of the paper in Word, but it will have ...

Gwyneth

You both flatter me. Seriously. I truly believe that you could find a much, much better resource in the Museum of London Textiles and Clothing book in combination with Fashion in the Age of the Black Prince. However, I will be happy to share. :) Unfortunately, I don't have a webpage on which to post...

Gwyneth

I promised to let you guys know the results of my researches into the cotton trade in early 14th century England and France in this thread: http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=56242 I ended up with too much research, and yet not enough on my specific topic from which to write a pa...

Gwyneth

Erik - Yes, I am afraid of non-translated sources. But as long as they are in modern French I should be OK - I used to be fluent in French at one time, and still can get the sense of most modern French. Thanks enormously for the bibliography! I'll keep ya'll updated on how the research goes. So far,...

Gwyneth

I'm in Little Rock, Arkansas, attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Hey - it's where my house, job and family are). Thanks for the suggestion about JSTOR - I'll ask. Did I mention that I am having to relearn how to use a library? Although it should have been *obvious* to me that I nee...

Gwyneth

Hey folks. A little background for my question: I've gone back to college (after a 15 year hiatus) and am taking a History class. We have been assigned a paper on any topic we wish, as long as it is pre-1550. So, I thought: what better time to research my interest in the cotton trade in the early 14...

Gwyneth

Layering clothing is another option, depending on your sensitivity - if you wear a linen undershirt, your exposure to your wool outer clothing will be minimal. I know a couple of folks who are allergic to wool but are able to get away with wearing a linen underlayer. However, you would still have th...

Gwyneth

Tim - I missed the part where you said you have some kids that won't stay under covers. My daughter is the same way (very restless sleeper). When she was little, we put her in the blanket sleeper type footie pajamas - I think they make them up to a size 5T. Once she grew out of that, we put her in l...

Gwyneth

Re: Camping with children in cold weather I have two children, currently 9 and 11. We have camped with them under all sorts of conditions, including cold, without a tent heater or any other fancy equipment. Lots of layers and everyone snuggled into one bed/tent - works just fine. The only problem we...

Gwyneth

This weekend, I became the proud owner of two wool hats, similar in design to the Historic Enterprises felt hats, although they do appear slightly smaller in height and with a slightly larger brim. I would like to attempt to reblock them into a more periodesque shape (they were a whole dollar apiece...

Gwyneth

I was just making a cloak for my daughter. My favorite cloak pattern is no pattern at all - I measure the person from the neck to the floor, then measure down the selvedge of the fabric that measurement, and cut triangles. The triangles are then sewn together - it usually takes six triangles for a n...

Gwyneth

Maybe you didn't allow enough seam allowance on your sole pieces? When constructed, all the pieces should add up to a piece that is the shape of your foot plus a seam allowance around the outside. Or, perhaps the vamp is too large? You might try making up a single leg with a one-piece sole, and see ...

Gwyneth

Stab stitch is just like running stitch, except you don't run several stitches together. You stab the needle from front to back, pull it through, then stab it from back to front, pull it through, repeat until the seam is done. Make sense?

Gwyneth

Gwyneth

That is really lovely fabric. Maybe a fancy long tunic? I'm thinking something out of the Manesse Codex - a pre-cotehardie, mid-calf length outer tunic would be gorgeous. Don't know how documentable it would be, but it would show off the drape of the fabric nicely.

Gwyneth

Gwyneth

Couple of tips: On dark fabrics - rather than draw in chalk, try drawing in soap. A sliver of Ivory soap makes a nice line, and you can wash it right out. I've had some BAD experiences with tailor's chalk staining things. Light fabrics can be marked with a colored soap - green works best for me. The...

Gwyneth

Tasha - can I get a full title and ISBN for that book? I'd like to check it out.

Gwyneth

Gwyneth

And remember that kids generally grow upwards before they grow outwards. Put more excess material in the hem than you do in the body seams. I always have trouble with sizing up clothes for my kids. Fleur de Lyse has a great kids clothing pattern - albeit for an earlier time period than you are looki...

Gwyneth

That is so scarily close to the chair I want, it isn't funny! Please give more details - measurements, plans, cost, how easy it was to make, tools needed, etc. Unfortunately, I don't have any shelf boards to scavenge, but I *do* have a handy local Home Depot. I also have no power tools - do you thin...

Gwyneth

Just as an aside -

Our local drugstore chain (Drug Emporium) carries cod liver oil in an odorless, tasteless variety.

Gwyneth

Gwyneth

Another consideration on the sandwich quilting side of the argument: It is easier to tailor a garment that is layered and quilted - the inner layers act as an interlining, so, you don't have to change your pattern measurements when making your pattern. Heck - they *are* an interlining - just a thick...

Gwyneth

I like Tire silk thread from Clover Needlecraft. It is the thickness of regular sewing thread and will work just as well in your sewing machine as by hand. Up until recently it was available at my local Hancock's, but they have now discontinued it. However, it is available from the Clover Needlecraf...

Gwyneth

I haven't worked specifically with this pattern, but my previous experience with Period Patterns would lead me to say no. I bought both the men's cotehardie pattern and the women's cotehardie pattern from the same company years ago and I don't use either of them any more, preferring to draft my own ...

Bezants

the research paper - she is done.......

EARLY 14th century fabric trade.....

Hat help