I’m in the process of making my wedding dresses, which will be from the late 15th century.
Of course I want a nice looking wedding dress, but at the same time I want to be able to wear the dress on more occasions than the wedding. So I wont be having a pure white dress, since that is really unpractical. Instead, I have bought some lovely green (yes, I know I already have that green shade on several garments…) wool, a darker green velvet and a creme coloured silk fabric. This combination will be the wedding dresses, but it’s hard to decide exactly want I want to do.
But I have started with the basic dress in the creamy silk (or is it more like ivory perhaps?) cutting out the skirt and drafting the pattern. Now I have a bunch of orders to tend to, but after that I’m planning to sew wedding clothes only for a couple of weeks!
I also plan to make H a new outfit fot the wedding. We will match, of course, so I’m looking at the late 15th century and planning a doublet in silk (see below), hose in black wool, and an outer garment made of the same green wool that I bought for myself. The shirt will be in white linen or silk.
This week has been going real fast, maybe too fast forward. We are packing and preparing for the big SCA event Double Wars, which takes place in southernmost Sweden. In our case, that includes a 10 hour long drive over half of Sweden. I really like roadtrips, sweatheart isn’t that thrilled, but I promised we could buy a bag of candy to come along in the car…(yes, that worked)
The event is a really big one, and also over a week long, with outdoor medieval encampments and lots and lots of activities such as archery, handcrafting, cooking, fighting and such. And parties, of course. The event is also commonly referred to as “Knäcke” which basically means the hard, swedish crispbread. To make the war a bit more interesting, somewere in the beginning people wanted to find som real (but not political or religious) issue to battle about. The choise fell on what side of the crispbread you should put your butter on (a very noble issue indead) so now, every year in Sweden, hundreds of fighters gathers to battle over what side of the bread is the right one… Brilliant! Sometime it is the details that is the most important.
We have been building some simple furniture for our camp, sewing som new garments (mostly underwear) and preparing meals and a comfy camp. Lots of extra job, and my business have been somewhat put on the side for some days. But I’m sure looking forward to the event, were I will have workshops and a market place during the market days.
Our friend R visited us earlier this week, and got the nice task of helping with our tent… (he’s way taller than I am, perfect for reaching to the top of the tent). As you can see, there isn’t much grass and greens yet- the spring has been rather late and cold so I’m packing som warm woolen dresses, a hood and some woolen socks for sleeping in (wool really is the best for keeping warm).
Yesterday I realised that there was going to be a mask bal at the event. I’m last on the cake, I know, but I suddenly wanted to make some masks… Now, of to do some more laundry, packing, cooking and other shores…
I wont be posting here during the week, but you can follow our adventure on Instagram at #handcraftedhistory. And if you’re going to the event- you can find me at Lady Branna’s camp and I would love it if you came by and talked to me!
This summer’s calendar is getting fuller and fuller. But after the middle of August, things seems to calm down. Where are you going this summer? Do you have any particular events or markets that is “too good to miss”?
Yeah, I know I’m a bit late. But I totally blame the sunny spring weather, meaning that I’m spending my free time outside in the garden or at the stable with my horse. But here’s some more photos from Spring Crown as promised!
To get a picture of the autocrats (the main organizers) I had to sneek around and take them by surprise. Above L in her 16th century trossfrau outfit. Below G and Å during a break, while they were actually sitting down on the sofa.
They do seem a little sneeky looking- what are they up to?
L and S working with table decorations in the form of eatable fairy tale houses.
…and S in her fabulous party outfit thinking about bying some.
And some more nice outfits and happy people hanging out before the banquet during Saturday:
K in his new coat I made for him. Looking real spiffy!
Waiting for the banquet, with plates and tableware ready (and some wine in the glass)
After the banquet the party spread out over the site, with dancing, good conversation,
and a couple of additional snacks from the dessert table.
All together, it was such a nice event! But, this was all the good photos I had to show you, and now I’m of to my home town Luleå for a weekend of workshops in Frostheims SCA group. We’re going to have such a good time, and I will teach everyone to make good patterns for medieval fitted outfits. So, next week will probably be a workshoprelated post, and then I have some really good posts coming up on a certain theme…
Last weekend me and sweetheart went to a really good SCA event with over 200 people, lots of fun happenings, new friends and a good party. Our group Gyllengran arranged everything, though we only helped out on some small tasks. And, of course there was a tournament, won by Duke Siridean MacLachlan and Lady Jahanara. (Drachenwald crown tournament can be equaled with EM for you non-Sca people who wants to now). I had my shop with me so most of the time was spent selling stuff and talking to new and old friends, but I managed to take some photos from the event.
Handcrafted Historys shop with lots of handcrafting material, accessories for both medieval and viking outfits, some tutorials, jewelry and second hand stuff. My friend B sold stuff to the right, and Kerstin from Medeltidsmode sold her nice fabrics on the far end. Of course I didn’t need anything so I didn’t buy any fabric. I just bought a small piece for a very important but for now secret project…
To keep warm I wore my new houppelande dress, hand sewn in green wool, lined with silk inside the sleeves and trimmed with silk at the bottom. The front is trimmed with rabbit fur that I bought from a woman who breed rabbits for food and fur in her home (she takes good care of the animals, and the tanning is made eco-friendly. For me it’s really important were I get the fur from, since I’m an animal lover and strongly against any cruelty).
On my head, a 15th century hairdo and also my 16th c yellow gollar, lined with some more fur from the same as above, to keep me warm.
Banquet hall is getting prepared and decorated.
Some fighting outdoors with a really big audience.
J & Bs son had a really cute hat to keep warm, and of course a handsewed viking outfit to match his parents.
K looking awesome in her new trossfrau outfit!
My love in the middle, looking as if he had some mischief planned.
I forgot to ask for their names, but I met this really nice couple and look at her amazing headwear! Wow!
This will now turn into an inspirational blog post since people during the afternoon started to change into their party outfits. There were so much nice clothes and handcraft everywere, so I just had to leave my shop with K some time to be able to take photos (no, I didn’t have a chance to take everyones picture but I wish I did). If you know the SCA names of the persons, or the ones that are behind this really awesome outfits- please leave a comment on the post!
The event took place in a really big school, and just as we used to sit around the floors during the breaks when we were in school, some took up small picnics with handcraft during the event.
Ds party outfit, an Italian 15th century I believe.
Well done and awesome 14th century outfit.
There will be a part 2 with more photos, as soon as I have had time to sort them out. Hang in!
(And as usual, if you don’t want to appear here, just send me a notice and I will remove you from the blog. You are also welcome to use the photos you appear on, for private use only, as long as you link to the blog and write out me, Linda, as the photographer.)
Our local SCA group Gyllengran had a fencing event some time ago, a pleasant and small event- perfect to warm you up before the real event season starts. We who weren’t fencing gathered in the big common room for handcraft, small talk and cookies with wine.
Here’s some pictures from the event, and on my new 16th century outfit. I actually gave the indoor light a chance for pictures, but naw… I’m longing for outdoor events.
Warm and cozy with the fur lined gollar, comfy and easy to wear due to the well fitted bodice and the shorter skirt.
I’m wearing a straight unbleached linen shift closest to my body, and on top of that a simple yellow wool kirtle, without sleeves. It’s laced in the side and well fitted, so it works like a bra.
On top of that I wear my brown woolen over dress, which is based on paintings from Germany from around 1530-1550, mostly on peasants and simple workers. The pattern construction is from the book Drei Schnittbucher, which consists of tailor manuscriphts.
Over it is a handwoven smocked linen apron, a version of the st Birgitta cap (tutorial is out for sale) and last my rabbit fur lined gollar, which is based on paintings from the period. For work, only the Birgitta cap is used, but going out or getting fancy means another weil or two is pinned on top of the cap.
I also wear woolen hose, tied under the knee with wool straps, and a pair of simple leather shoes- much like you can se during the 14th-15th century. It seems cowmouth shoes were only for landsknechts and their followers and people of higher class, wereas the commoners used sturdy leather boots that reached above the ankle.
The belt is my old simple leather belt and fits well enough, but I’m planning to upgrade to a more 16th century one. The rosary and bag is a bit fancy for the rest of the outfit, but I liked the red colour on top of the brown dress- a little party fanciness to bling a simple workers outfit.
Now, a little mending of a seam and some improvements awaits the outfit before the season begin. New clothes are always the most fun to work with!
I’ve been working on this new booklets for months now, and now they are finally done and ready to send out. I know that many of you readers have asked me about new tutorials, preferably in English, but the truth is that tutorials takes a lot of time to make. I’m counting on around 8 h/tutorial and that doesn’t include the time it takes to handcraft the actual things. As you can imagine it’s quite impossible for me to continue to make a lot of tutorials for free, though there will be some new ones at the blog this year.
If you like the tutorials page and want to support it, or if you want to learn more about sewing, I can offer these new booklets as a way of doing that. They have basically the same structure as my online tutorials, but are even more hands-on and easy-following with text, pictures and useful tips. I include both instructions for hand sewing and machine sewing in each one, and you don’t need any previous sewing experience. They also include patterns in full size and a list of what you need for each project.
I’ll put them here, but you can also buy them on my facebook page or at my Etsy shop (for shipments outside Sweden).
Prices: 5 E/piece + 2 E shipping (so for two 5+5+2 E and so on) Sv: 50 kr + 15 kr frakt inom Sverige.
On of the things I like best with making garments to others is when I can help them to get their dream-outfit. You know- that dreamy perfect dress, the really cool adventure gear or that really well fitted medieval outfit that makes you feel like a king or queen. Every year I sew a fair amount of clothes by order, and some more that I make as experiments (like this dress) and then sell after using them a couple of times to check the pattern construction and how it works in real life.
But I also help others with sewing that perfect-dreamy-outfit, and a couple of weeks ago I met Elin and helped her out with her beautiful dress project.
If you are new at sewing or doesn’t know where to start, a little help in the beginning with pattern drafting, cutting and fitting can make all the different. I also like to share all my best sewing tip and tricks, even thou sometimes people prefer to maybe not hear “nah, you’ll have to iron that first” or “it will be much better if you pin all those small parts to each other” when they have that really really good idea they want to try Right Now. But in the end, working in the right order makes a garment that is well done and beautiful, and also makes the job easier…
I’m planning a weekend sewing workshop for all of you who would like to start with a new and awesome project, but may not know where to begin. Kepp a look out!
If you live far away and might be in need for sewing tips or help, you can search my blog for “sytips” or choose the category “bra tips” and run them through google translate, it will give you some of my best tips. Also, you’re welcome to email me or comment here on this blog, and I will try to help you as soon as I got time.
Oh, look! Some more photos from the autumn market at Årsunda vikings. It really was such an awesome and inspiring event so I wanted to share it with you as much as I can!
The amber viking dress.
R in his viking outfit, were most of it is handstitch by him
Cooking without digging a hole in the ground
Hanging out by the house
What a nice tent and camp!
Look at the red shoes- so awesome!
H playing games
Me and M trying to be still long enough for taking a photo.
We happened to wear matching outfits. I’m blaming it on both of us having really good taste in fabrics…
My friend A visited some time ago and since he is the one making all my folders and paper handouts it was time that I made him a new medieval outfit. A really likes the 13th and early 14th century, so we decided to make a “bladkjortel”- a rather long kirtle with an opening at the front. The kirtle is made of two different colours since A bought the fabric on a second hand store for a bargain, and I added some buttons by the wrist to make it more fashionable for the period. The slits at the front is really common in different paintings, and good to have on a warm day. There are also two slits at the front of the sleeve seams, which is another thing very common in paintings from the period.
I got some fabric left, so I also made him a pilgrim bag and a hood. Under is a simple linen shirt. I think the whole outfit took about 2 days to make, with lots of coffee breaks. It will be nice to see the whole outfit with the pieces A already had, maybe I could get him to take a photoshot when he’s home…
