L’Honourable Lady DeNevell and children, Tinker Demonstration, 2003
lady Danielle Wheeler in Elizabethan, Maidens 2005
from the Left, 2005 Shire Champion Lord Dafydd Gwynfardd, lady Danielle Wheeler (seated), Lady Antine Andersdottir, Lady Hendrijke Duin (seated) and lady Kate Moan (our War Fairy), Warfaire 2006 (courtesy of lord Moan)
Lady Caenell Verch Ailwyn and Sgt. Patrick von Brandenburg, Maiden's 2005
Clothing (also known as Garb)
The overall time frame of the SCA is from 600AD to 1600AD or Medieval through Early Elizabethan. Clothing can be bought or made and for people starting there is a limited supply of "loaner" garb available from the shire. Please contact the Chatelaine.
For those who wish to begin sewing their own clothing the Shire has a several basic patterns that are used by many of the shire members. These basic drawings and directions are compliment of Lord Patrick Von Brandenburg, computer graphics done by Antine of Blackhawk
Currently there are three easy patterns to choose from:
An excellent additional resource can be found on the web pages of the Shire of Ravenslake, Newcomers' Page.
Looking to make your own garb? Try the Needle Arts Guild
Sgt. Patrick von Brandenburg, Duchess 1999 (courtesy of William M'kreaner)
Tip #1-wash/dry clean your fabric first. Natural fabrics can shrink as much as 1" for every foot of fabric. Also all fabrics are delivered to stores with sizing (starching) chemicals. This keeps the fabric from wrinkling on the bolt, but may distort seams and hemlines if not removed from the fabric before sewing.
Tip #2-Make a copy of the pattern you wish to use. Trace the pattern with Pattern-ease or butcher paper in the size you want. The pattern is now saved for future use; whether that will be up-sizing or down-sizing patterns or if the pattern trace is lost.
Tip #3-Measure twice cut once.
Tip #4-Always make sure right sides are together. Most fabrics, especially prints and woven material have a wrong and a right side. The right side has the printed/woven pattern or in the case of "special occasion" fabrics (silk, taffeta, satin) the right side will have a shine to it.
Tip #5-If the dress you are planning is made from expensive fabrics, or if you have never used the pattern before; make a test garment first. This will help to ferret out problems in the pattern and save you from ruining fabric.
Tip #6-Always make sure the pattern pieces go in the same direction when laid on the fabric. When arranging a pattern on fabric make sure lay all the garment pieces in the same direction. This is especially true with napped fabric such as velvet, velveteen and corduroy.
Basic tips for buying fabric for Garb
Tip #1-If you do not have much experience in sewing, take someone who has experience with you. Having a shopping partner who understands costuming or the SCA will help you decide what color look good on you was well as steer you away from fabrics that may not be comfortable to wear or dry clean only.
Tip #2-Have a pattern or costume in mind before heading to the fabric store. That will help cut down on the impulse buys.
Tip #3-Buy a little extra fabric or trim. This may sound like a waste until the day when the fabric shrinks too much or later in the project you find there is a problem with the fabric. Buying a little extra saves on the headache of running to the store in the middle of a project and trying to match dyelots.
Tip #4-Keep a swatch book. Save a little piece of each fabric buy in a notebook photo-album or binder. You can just take the book with you to buy items you need for current and future projects.
Tip #5-When buying a pattern try and buy a pattern with three different sizes. Almost no one stays the same size forever. A pattern with three sizes allows the seamstress/tailor to upsize or downsize patterns with a greater amount of ease.
Sgt. Patrick von Brandenburg, cutting garments at a fighter practice
from Left Lady Meadhbh Winters, THL DeNevell, Lady Anora Warfaire 2005 (courtesy of lord Moan)
photographs © 2000-2003 by Will (Patrick Duchess 1999)
