14th century supportive kirtle eyelets question

[Jan van Nyenrode]

Hi All,

What is a good distance between eyelets for a supportive 14th century kirtle? Don't want to sew to few but not too many either. Interested to hear what works for you.

Thanks,

Jan

[Charlotte J]

I usually space them the width of my thumb apart (center of eyelet to center of eyelet). I also have them about a half inch from the edge. When it laces, the lace should be oriented more horizontally, than vertically, if that makes any sense.

[Jan van Nyenrode]

Hi Charlotte,

Thank you for the fast reply. Just to be sure, it's your thumbs width, co circa 2cm, between each eyelet on the same side? So effectively 1/2 thumbs width between echt eyelet when taking both sides into account?

Thanks!

Cheers,

Jan

[Tailoress]

Not Charlotte ( ), but I thought this link might be of use too:

The Zen of Spiral Lacing
The second picture down, on the left, entitled, "lacing closed edges", shows the pattern for placing the eyelets that many of us fitted-dress ladies use, including Charlotte and myself.

[Charlotte J]

Yep, that's what I mean. I know people who put them up to an inch apart with no trouble. I just like using a measurement I always have handy.

[azure d'or]

I'm one of those one inch apart people. But I put them closer together on bustier women I sew for.

[Jan van Nyenrode]

Hi all,

Thanks for the lightning replies. this helped a lot.

Thanks,

Jan

[BaronessV]

Thank you for the thumb-width suggestion, Charlotte. I don't know why it never occurred to me before, but it does seem to make for excellent placement.
This whole conversation has lit a fire under me to work on the three supportive dresses I cut out MONTHS ago, so thanks to everyone!

[Tailoress]

I usually space them the width of my thumb apart (center of eyelet to center of eyelet). I also have them about a half inch from the edge. When it laces, the lace should be oriented more horizontally, than vertically, if that makes any sense.

Note for those reading along, that if you place them thumb-width apart so that each eyelet's edge touches the edge of the thumb, you'll probably have almost exactly an inch between each eyelet, when measured center-of-hole to center-of-hole. So for either spacing choice, the thumb works great.

Another tip. I learned this from Muriel de Chimay. She takes a piece of white chalkboard chalk, breaks it in half, and places the jagged portion straight down on the fabric, rubbing it in a circle. It leaves a perfect chalk circle the size of a finished eyelet. She marks all her intended hole locations that way.

After you've done this a time or fifteen, however, you can eyeball it with no markings or pins.

[BaronessV]

My thumb is apparently 13/16" wide which works well for me, being one of those bustier gals.
Lots of eyelets (I'm doing them center-to-center) but it's giving me plenty of opportunity to refine my stitching technique.

[azure d'or]

Hmm, you know, I've never measured the space of my thumb, but I'll try that method with my next kirtle and see what I think.