Replies

1. 
   nmog | Feb 01, 2008 04:52am | #1

   I got "The Tudor Tailor" for Christmas and am finding it quite interesting (not that I have the time to do anything with what I'm learning, of course!). I'm finding a few of the pics confusing, but I don't have a background in this. I'm sure it's just the vocabulary. Good luck with your hunt!
   Nicole

2. 
   Kilroy | Feb 03, 2008 03:18am | #2

   Janet Arnold's "Patterns of History" The earliest period covered is in your period of interest. There is a wonderful book that comments on Janet Arnold's book, called "The Annotated Arnold" by Robert W. Trump. He is a theatrical costumer and member of the SCA who is very serious about reproducing period clothing exactly, and he describes the problems he had trying to work from Janet Arnold's patterns. The book is self-published and hard to find, though.
   This line of historical patterns has pretty good instructions that help with more than just sewing, but also making the garment look very authentic.
   http://www.mediaevalmisc.com/patterns.htm
   And if you join the Society for Creative Anachronism, nearly every branch has a sewing guild, with *very* knowledgeable members to help you.
   http://www.sca.org

1. 
   BernaWeaves | Feb 03, 2008 10:05pm | #3

   Thanks for the info.

   I'd read some negative stuff about Janet Arnold's "Patterns of History" which is why I bought the others instead.  The Patterns link is very interesting.  Thank you.  I've bookmarked it.

    

   Thanks, Berna

1. 
   Kilroy | Feb 04, 2008 03:23am | #4

   Arnold is very good for getting the authentic shape of the period garment. Just don't expect to be able to take her gridded patterns and be able to expand them to lifesize and have the front and the back pieces match in length when you sew up the side seams... I treat her patterns like I would a pattern from an off brand commercial pattern, good for the general idea, but not necessarily tested thoroughly like the big four patterns are. If you really do want to delve a lot deeper, there are some wonderful links available from this site:
   http://www.costumes.org/And if you can track it down on Google the Victoria and Albert Museum in London has quite a collection of older costume pieces, and their books from the Museum store can be quite good, although they tend to be a little past the period you are interested in, just because there is little clothing still extant from that far back. This bookseller has been a source for some real "guilty pleasure" costuming books for me:
   http://www.unicornbooks.com/index2.asp