The Armour Archive

both of those documents are good. Charlotte posted the one I was thinking of. Thanks again. Got the book marked now.

Yes, I've been using "The Zen of Spiral Lacing" page on the Festive Attyre site as a visual reference for many years. Use the second picture on the page for 14thc lacing.

I recommend it a lot, which is probably why you associated it with me. I also have some info about this in my Charles de Blois pattern.

The effigy of Queen Philippa shows this arrangement on her lace-front dress.

ah, good to know.

It hat related news... going to meet up with a friend and make my first attempt at blocking on friday. May also end up doing a bunch of sewing of patches onto wrestling jackets and trying some new period clothing on

and part of me wants to make a 'simple' early 15th C wardrobe for my wife over the winter... I shouldn't be the only one 200 years out of date when we go to the local ren-faire

My home-made hat block (before the paper mache, clear coat and cutting into pieces so I can remove it from the formed hat):

Funny you should mention hat's

I'm working on 3 currently. One for my new squire sister, (Robin hood style) and 2 for me. One beanie and a wide brimmed hat.

I'll post pics when I'm don't if you want. Robin hood hat should be done tonight!

Brother Symon wrote:Funny you should mention hat's

I'm working on 3 currently. One for my new squire sister, (Robin hood style) and 2 for me. One beanie and a wide brimmed hat.

I'll post pics when I'm don't if you want. Robin hood hat should be done tonight!

cool!

I may be doing one of the hunting caps as well, though I probably won't bother to block it (the semi-formed 'hood' is pretty close with a couple of folds and a stitch or two). Admittedly, it will probably fit better if I block it.

I would love to see the robin hood hat. I hear they are a popular design.

d-farrell2 wrote:I shouldn't be the only one 200 years out of date when we go to the local ren-faire

When I was still relatively new to the whole SCA thing I was living out west and decided to attend the California Pleasure Faire or whatever it's called... I knew I could get in free (or discount?) if I wore historical clothes, so I put on a cotehardie and went with a friend... I was mortified to find out that EVERYTHING was Tudor/Elizabethan-esque. I was a bit of an oddity. Got a lot of amused glances.

I did the same thing. My sister was in the SCA, and some friends of hers were getting married at the Minnesota Ren Fest. I figured I'd make an outfit, and then join the SCA afterwards. I made an angel wing tunic and wore it with a veil. I was too oblivious to know the difference even when I was there. The funny part was when I walked into a shop, and somebody said, "It's not everyday that we get somebody in from 400 years in the past!" Turns out she was in the SCA and we became friends later.

d-farrell2 wrote:and part of me wants to make a 'simple' early 15th C wardrobe for my wife over the winter... I shouldn't be the only one 200 years out of date when we go to the local ren-faire

Dave, it's better the the ones who had no basis in reality for their costumes.

I'm making a wool coat loosely based on Herjofsnes G63.

Also made up three hoods for my wife an myself using up some remnants.

Guy Dawkins wrote:Dave, it's better the the ones who had no basis in reality for their costumes.

True! Though this last time I did meet a nice chap and his son, both in very nice late 14th C kit. The first day they were in their civilian kits, the second day their armour. Kinda Like me, he's just into the clothing, arms and armour of the time.. not a reenactor.

Charlotte J wrote: The funny part was when I walked into a shop, and somebody said, "It's not everyday that we get somebody in from 400 years in the past!" Turns out she was in the SCA and we became friends later.

I had a similar experience when I walked into a shop and a worker noticed I was wearing pointed hose rather than stretch tights. He commented "don't get many folks wearing those in here!'.

I finally finished my son's full outfit. Finally finished the doublet and sleeves yesterday. Just started a tunic for my youngest son. Its got a lot of 15th c elements, very full like a houpeland, but with full cuffed sleeves and a mandarin collar. Dug through some Breugel and Durers and my woodcut books to find a "tunic", as he didn't want the skirted coat which is more common and seen on a lot of children.

Got the blocking of my hat done... it was a ton of fun, and not as hard as I expected (though I will need much practice...). I am now the proud owner of a custom beretta Capitanesca:

that is a damn cool hat!

Crimthann of Fid-Nemed wrote:that is a damn cool hat!

thanks! I think the next step will be the hunting hat. I ended up wrecking part of the block for the capitanesca when I removed it because of how tightly things fit and how the block was put together (not enough paper mache, I think).

I was truly amazed by how much wool felt stretches, though I also found out it is hard to not get burned while steaming a hat... but I am sure that comes with practice

Very nice job!

Finally got the boy to try on the whole outfit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schutzhundheim/3894382358/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schutzhundheim/3894381846/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schutzhundheim/3893592481/

A few minor tweeks needed, but overall I'm happy with it.

Done with all the costumes for my youngest. Reblocking a hat.

a sharp looking outfit. I'm curious, is the bottom of the shirt intended to ride lower? It seems a little funky to my eye, but I am not familiar with the look.

I planned on a couple of new garments for Pennsic, but as usual, I managed to only get one complete.
For my Viking persona I’m setting him in southern Finland (modern Helsinki) as a trader of goods. So I am combining some styles from east and west, north and south of that area.


This Tunic is based on a find from Latvia. I used Finnish style bronze (or brass) coils in place of the “studsâ€

d-farrell2
Love the hat, nice job.

Thanks Chris - that is a wild outfit.

I got to see Chris's cool brass-enhanced tunic at Pennsic this year and it was rather impressive. But then, he doesn't do stuff half-way that I know of.

d-farrell2 wrote:a sharp looking outfit. I'm curious, is the bottom of the shirt intended to ride lower? It seems a little funky to my eye, but I am not familiar with the look.

In the picts, he didn't fully tuck his shirt in. I will be adding more to the top of the pants as one of the adjustments.

Well, after a whirlwind weekend of work, we got the muslin test pattern done from Tasha's pattern... Unfortunately the camera ate the pictures!

I do have pictures of our other projects over the weekend.

We got all of our swags sewn and hung in the living room and kitchen.


And I got my pell built, my first sword made, and plates cut out for my CoP.

Stephen, you are a terrible tease.

Stephen Weber wrote:And I got my pell built, my first sword made, and plates cut out for my CoP.

What is your pell made of? It looks like a bundle of pool noodles?

That's what mine is. Works great, though it is a little springy.

-24"x24"x1.5" mdf board (not perfect, but it was $10 and sucker is heavy)
-4"x4"x6' treated lumber
- Cutting those two was a pita. The mdf is basically heavily compressed sawdust, and my jigsaw, circular saw, and the miter saw didn't care for either of the woods. Oh well, they were cheap!
-8 pool noodles
-A big foundation bracket and a couple angles) and wood screws
-Some duct tape



As for the arming doublet... I can't believe the camera didn't take the photos. Battery was low so I guess that's what did it. Surprisingly, the size 50 pattern worked fairly well for us. Just needed a few tweaks here and there to get the fit and to not have things pulling in weird places. Doing a 7.1 oz black linen for the outer, cotton batting, and a 5.3 oz blue liner. Hemming the thing with an old gold 5.3 linen. I'll post progress pictures as it comes together!

Wore my new houpe and hat to the feast at a WMA event... after a long day of training, the heat and moisture from my head warped my berretta capitainesca (the top sagged in towards the middle, not a big deal). Note for next time: use more stiffener

I'll try and get a picture of the outfit. But I do now have a list of things to do in the next 2 years or so

No progress pics of the arming coat yet, but I had a quick question on it. What do people recommend using for the lacing (I decided against having buttons smashed in to me when I fight )? Thin leather strip? This fabled "para cord" that I hear so often mentioned?

Also... 1 layer of cotton batting seems pretty thin for the quilting. Do people usually do 2 layers?

Working on a civilian wear tunic tonight/tomorrow as well, will post pictures of that as well as the arming coat as they come together.

Stephen Weber wrote:No progress pics of the arming coat yet, but I had a quick question on it. What do people recommend using for the lacing (I decided against having buttons smashed in to me when I fight )? Thin leather strip? This fabled "para cord" that I hear so often mentioned?

Also... 1 layer of cotton batting seems pretty thin for the quilting. Do people usually do 2 layers?

if you are going for a relatively unpadded arming doublet (ie 1-2 layers of batting), I wouldn't even bother with the quilting. I'd just tack it in place or sew the outer shell and the padding together along the edge.

aaaand here's finally a better pic of my in my houppelande (which I will be converting to a slightly later period gown I think) and hat:

Karen Larsdatter wrote:

I'm not that short