Drafting a pattern for an arming doublet using rope.

Jake Stallion · Post by **Jake Stallion** » Sun Mar 25, 2001 5:51 pm

I'm (drumrole, please...) drafting a pettern for an arming doublet using rope.
I've heard rope was period for padding one, and I've also heard it protects pretty well.
(If anyone can contradict that rope was period, please do... It seems feasable, but I've not really tracked down documentation. If anyone can refute it, let me know, because I want this to be a somewhat period piece.)

Anyway, how can I draft the pattern? I'd imagine scrunching the fabric over the rope would modify the measurements I'd need to take quite a bit. I'll probably have to mae the doublet larger than it has to be... But how large? Is there a good way to guage this besides "guess and check"?

Thanks in advance!

Hammered Wombat · Post by **Hammered Wombat** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 8:39 am

Huh...huh...(grasping for a coherent thought at 5am)

I'm having a hard time visualizing what on earth you're talking about. Do you mean rope as padding? Or rope as the fabric of the doublet? Hmmm...

------------------
Steve Belden
The Hammered Wombat
armourer@hammeredwombat.com

Jake Stallion · Post by **Jake Stallion** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 11:48 am

Maybe that post didn't make any sense...
I meant rope as the padding. Like, sew the rope into the quilting.
I'm jsut wondering how I can make a pattern that accounts for the "scrunching up" (I know nothing of sewing terminology) that will occur around the rope.

FrauHirsch · Post by **FrauHirsch** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 12:38 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Jake Stallion:
Maybe that post didn't make any sense...
I meant rope as the padding. Like, sew the rope into the quilting.
I'm jsut wondering how I can make a pattern that accounts for the "scrunching up" (I know nothing of sewing terminology) that will occur around the rope.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jake,

I would recommend making a test piece to see how much scrunch you get... Measure a 12"x12" square of cloth, quilt it solid, fill each row with rope. Then remeasure.Prequilt and put the rope in the fabric before you cut it. Add some extra anyway, then fit it on you.

From my experience with cording and piping and other sewing, hemp rope could be awefully heavy. What kind of rope are you planning to use? I'd use the light cotton cord - no more than 1/4" thick. Don't pick one that is too thick or bristly or it will eventually poke though the layers to irritate you.

My personal favorite for padding is layers of cotton terry cloth...

Juliana

Robert Clark Carruth · Mon Mar 26, 2001 1:18 pm

Recently, a retail chain known as the HomePlace went out of business. Every item in the store was 80 or 90 percent off. I was able to pick up several 100% cotton tufted bathmats for a little over $10. These will become the quilting in my gambeson over the next week.

Robert

Aidan Cambel · Post by **Aidan Cambel** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 1:29 pm

This post may make no sense, but then it might... just thought I'd give that warning!

The rope is in essence, round. So - half of the rope will be covered by the front piece of fabric, half by the back piece. Find the circumference of the rope. Half of that will be the amount of fabric per "channel". Once you know 1/2 circumference, you gotta build a measurement key -for lack of a better word. You have the measurement of the area to cover. You know the amount of fabric it takes to make 1 channel 1/2 circumference for each side of the fabric). Find the Diameter of the rope. This will translate to the flat distance covered by the rope per channel. now you can apply that measurement to the area to cover.

for example - the rope is 3/8" diameter. (.375), pi *r(sq)=1.77 (circumference) / 1/2 = .88

for every .375 inch of coverage space, it will take .88 inch of fabric. (PER SIDE)

if you need to cover 2 feet, then dived 24 inches by .375, then multiply times .88, and you get 56.32 inches.

Theoretically, if my math is correct, for every 24" of coverage, it will take 56.32 inches of fabric.

The next part is knowing where to sew the channels. That is actually easy. You already determined the front fabric covers half, and the back covers half(of the rope). The fabric will make a semi-circle on either side of the rope, which equates to 1/2 of the circumference. You have that measurement already. start with your outside seam, and make each channel seam that distance apart.

To me, this makes sense. But it is not tried. Any ideas if I am right or not?

Drake Orion · Post by **Drake Orion** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 1:55 pm

I was thinking the same thing...what is he talking about!? Rope would suck for padding!

pdepamiers · Post by **pdepamiers** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 3:33 pm

If the arming doublet is meant for SCA Heavy combat, it would really be painful. The impact of a sword would drive the rope right into your flesh, just my thoughts. If you make another cotton padded gambeson to wear under it?

Not sure on the historical accuracy of rope as padding.

------------------
Phillipe de Pamiers
Midrealm

Guy Dawkins · Post by **Guy Dawkins** » Mon Mar 26, 2001 4:37 pm

There is a type of batting that is used to weight the bottom of dapery. Its' really cotton batting rolled and tied. It looks like rope.
That might work.