We keep meeting here. I’ve often joked that every time I fit myself for a new self-supportive kirtle I lose 50 lbs (friends have also remarked that if that really worked then they would never stop fitting themselves for new kirtles). So here I am again. I am (yet again) faced with the fact that I’ve shrunk out of all…
Category: 16th Century
Walking it back
In my last post about my new bodice fitting based on the methods described in Mathew Gnagy’s book “The Modern Maker” and the pattern published on his facebook page (the pattern which will be included in his soon to be published pattern book(!!!)) I went on (at length) about the issues I was seeing with the L measurement coming out…
Just a bit off the sides
Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky. Pictured here is the amount of fabric I removed from both sides of ONLY the front pattern piece of the bodice that took it from “filling in the cone in a not entirely flattering manner” and “actually working as a flattering and supportive bodice”. Honestly I’m a bit gobsmacked that removing that little bit from each side…
“Yes, but where do my boobs go?” Part 2
After much thrashing about I’ve finally landed on a “Low-neck bodice” pattern that’s close to fitting me. Close.. but not quite there. Our story so far: (see also Part 1) I need a new kirtle. I’ve lost 50 lbs and my old kirtles are just not supportive any more. I don’t want to wear a modern bra under my kirtle…
The continuing pursuit of a better kirtle
“Goals. Someday I want my garb to hang like a well made suit.” – Posted by me on Facebook Feb. 5, 2017. Un traje para Pitti Uomo 89 Posted by Sastrería Serna on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 I’ve often joked that every time I fit myself for a new self-supportive kirtle I lose 50 lbs (friends have also remarked that…
Midnight Blue Waisted Kirtle
A while back I was wondering around at an event and I saw someone wearing the most gorgeous blue dress. The blue was so deep it looked black until they stepped into the sun at which point it was obvious that it was actually blue. I asked them about the dress (and the fabric) and they said that they’d bought…
“Yes, but where do my boobs go?”
As I mentioned I’m very excited to try out Mathew Gnagy’s methods and apply that to a late-15th/early 16th century kirtle. That said.. I will need back out some information from “how they did it in the 17th century” to make sure the garment I’m creating is as true to my period as I can make it. Juan de Alcega’s…
When is a hood not a hood? When it’s a bonnet and frontlet.. unless it isn’t.
A while ago I found myself fascinated with a hat. I blame Tullia. Happily the hat is limited both chronologically and geographically. As far as I can tell this headgear was popular from 1485-1515 in northern France/Brittany and the Netherlands. Even more happily that seems to coincide with my waisted kirtles which I like to wear so much. I made…
Early tudor smock
I need a new smock. Something appropriate to the dress styles I want to recreate from 1485-1515. I skimmed the books I have available and found that I really like the square-necked smock showing in The Queen’s Servant’s (p. 36). It turns out that this is also the same style as a smock shown in Patterns of Fashion 4 (item…
Princess Dress
Fitting started 3/8/2016. Blue waisted linen kirtle started 5/13/2016, handed off (with unfinished hem) 6/9/2016. kirtle Fitted, self-supportive (ie, not bra underneath). Short sleeved, waisted kirtle. Front opening. Bodice will have two layers of linen, skirt will have one layer of linen. Square necked. Edges bound. Silk sleeves tied in at the shoulder. Inspirational Images https://www.facebook.com/musee.renaissance.officiel/posts/10153407662910866





