The Armour Archive

I'm getting ready to try and sew some eyelets into my gambeson. Before I do I want to make sure I'm doing it right. First, should I have two eyelets or one? If two, should they be aligned vertically or horizontally? If one, how do you attach the point to it?

I'm attaching elbows to the gambeson, I got from one of the big Westland orders. It's the Charles de Blois style, with the relatively tight arms and the elbows that bulge out when you hold your arm straight. I'm not sure if I should mark where to put the points when I have my elbows bent, or straight, or halfway in between. Any insight or pics would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Brendan

Two points, horizontal to the hang of the piece is the general practice. Placing the holes one over the other would put the weight on just one hole, rather than diving the weight between the two.

Personally, I'd mark the points while your arm is halfway. Then, whatever shifting it might do while moving would be divided equally in whichever direction you swung your arm...just like the fashioned elbow of the de Blois.

That would be two eyelets per point. The point is the lace. The lace-ends thread outward, one through each eyelet, from the inside of the garment, so the ends hang down, with the middle of the lace held by the eyelets.

When hanging armour from points, use at least two points per vambrace or cuisse, three is better. One is simply not enough for the weight. Always put them higher than you think they should be, the garment will sag or stretch.

Ack, yes, I should have typed more clearly. Two eyelets per point.

Ok, so two eyelets per point, and two points per side. So, 4 eyelids per arm and 8 total. Any tips on how to pick the best place to sew the eyelets? I tried safety pinning the points to the outside of the fabric, but the weight of the armor would pull the safety pin open.

Place the cops on the elbow bulges, the eyelets 1" up the arm from the cops' edges. Lower points, below the elbow, similarly elevated. And if you have to relocate the eyelets, just insert more eyelets. Including a leather washer with a couple of holes in it of the same spread between them as the eyelets in the sleeve spreads a lot of load all over the inside of the arming-coat. Thread this onto the midst of the point, then both ends through the eyelets from inside the coat and through the cop's holes, and tie off. Adjust tighter or looser as required.