As I’ve mentioned before, I’m making two costumes during the next year or so. I’m making one Viking Age costume and one 14th century costume. Here’s the fabric I’ll be needing:
- 16 meters of uncoloured, lightly bleached linen
- 4 meters of thin, yellow wool
- 12 meters of thin, green wool
- 12 meters of thin, madder red wool
- 3 meters of thicker, green wool or frieze
- 4 meters of thicker, madder red wool or frieze
- 8 meters of thicker, woad/indigo blue wool or frieze
In addition to this, I’ll need:
- fabric and tassels for a 14th century bag
- embroidery thread in three colours for the table cloth I’m going to use for the fairs
- white or cream linen thread
- wool thread in the mentioned colours
- leather for two pairs of shoes, a money pouch and a Viking period bag
- lots of yarn for a shawl, mittens, another pair of socks, and for card woven ribbons for decoration
- fur for a hat, linings and decorations
- broaches, buckles, hair ornaments, period scissors/knife and keys.
I’ll probably need more stuff, but that’s what I can think of at the moment. I’m going for the middle class look, so I’m skipping the strap dress for the Viking Age costume. Before you protest on my choice of colours, my theory is that the women
who had the knowledge and ability to grow the herbs to dye the fabric,
and to weave their own fabric, could do so and not have to pay for
expensive fabric made by others. The same goes for the ribbons. When it comes t the embellished cape of the Völve, I imagine she could have been given various items for her services. I am basing these outfits on old manuscripts (for example Codex Manesse and the Hardenberg Codex) and archeological finds, not the fantasies of someone with a website.
I’m looking for an archeologist to verify my costume choices, so if you know of one with extensive knowledge about clothes in the 10th and 14th century, let me know.
The Viking Age Costume will be:
- A hand sewn, cream or natural white, linen shift. It will be shorter, the neckline will be wider, and the arms shorter than the rest of the clothes.(sketch)
- A hand sewn, Madder red, ankle length dress made from thin wool with two side panels in the same colour.(sketch)
- For summer: A hand sewn, green, over dress made from thin wool with two side panels in the same colour and decorated with card woven ribbons. This one will go down to the middle of my lower leg.(sketch)
- For summer: Ankle socks made with naalebinding from gray wool yarn.(picture)
- For winter: A hand sewn, Woad blue, over dress made from thicker wool with two side panels
in the same colour and decorated with card woven ribbons. This one will
also go down to the middle of my lower leg.(sketch) - For winter: Knee length hoses (stockings) made with naalebinding from Madder red, wool yarn with braided ribbons for tying them on.
- A coat made from Madder red frieze.(sketch)
- A hand sewn, Woad blue cape/cloak with Madder red lining and a Rabbit fur edge, made from frieze (for the Völve outfit).(sketch)
- A shawl made with naalebinding.
- A hand sewn, fur hat.
- Mittens made with naalebinding from Madder red, wool yarn.
- A card woven belt to go on top of the dress (under the over dress).
- Period leather shoes (summer and winter)
- A broach, three clasps.
- A thick leather clasp for my hair.
- A leather pouch, a leather belt bag, a pair of period scissors or a period knife, and period keys to wear on the belt.
- A wooden staff decorated with runes (for the Völve outfit).
- A beaded necklace (for the Völve outfit).
The 14th Century Costume will be:
- A hand sewn, cream or natural white, linen shift. It will be shorter,
the neckline will be wider, and the arms shorter than the rest of the
clothes. (sketch) - A hand sewn, green, floor length (neck to floor + 20 cm) dress with a tighter fit made from thin wool with two side panels in the same colour and lined with thin, Madder red wool. The sleeves will have 5 buttons each, and card woven ribbons on the edge.(sketch)
- A hand sewn, yellow, sleeveless, over dress made from thin wool with two
side panels in the same colour.
This one will be wider than the dress and also go down beyond floor length. It will be lined with Woad blue, thin wool.(sketch) - Knee length hoses (stockings) made with naalebinding from light green, wool yarn with braided ribbons for tying them on.(sketch)
- A thin, cream/natural white, linen scarf for the hair.(sketch)
- A semi-circle cape/cloak without shoulder seams made from green frieze and lined with fur or wool.(sketch)
- Period leather shoes(sketch)
- 1 broach and 2 clasps.(sketch)
- An embroidered belt bag with tassels.(sketch)
- A card woven, knee length belt to go on top of the dress (under the over dress).(sketch)
