March A.S. 15

Catherine Kenda of Stillwater

One of the first impressions a newcomer to the SCA receives, often even before noticing armored fighters, to formed by the eight of people in “strange-looking clothes". Lords and ladies, babies to grandparents, all in wonderful and beauteous clothing from ages past, convey a real sense of living history.

But what to make these marvelous gowns. tunics. etc. from? There are many fabrics available today which are quite suitable for costume purposes. All one has to do is hunt a bit. Wool is probably the most widely thought of, and it is authentic, warm and good-looking. It is also rather expensive as a rule, and generally requires dry-cleaning. But for cloaks and other cold-weather costumes, it can’t be beat.

Cotton-type woven fabrics are generally the best for all-purpose costumes. The higher the percentage of natural cotton in the cloth, the more comfortable you will be (especially in hot weather). Fabrics in this category include denim, which is good for all sorts of outfits as it has a fairly heavy weight... but try to find something other then blue or your gown will look like a "blue jean special". Cotton fabrics come in all weight and the light gauzy types are great for undertunics, chemises, etc. The major problem with cotton is that it will shrink when washed, so be sure to wash the whole piece of fabric before cutting out your pattern.

For grand court costumes, a wide variety of fabrics can be found. Uncut (no-wale) corduroy is very close to medieval velvets in texture, usually comes in a wide range of colors, is usually washable cotton, and is relatively inexpensive. Satin was in general use by about the 14th century, and works especially well for ladies' Renaissance dresses. Beautiful brocades for the period from about 1375 on can be found in the drapery sections of most fabric stores. (A brocade is cloth with a pattern, such as leaves, woven into it rather then printed onto the surface),

General point to consider when choosing the material for your costume involve what type of use the outfit will receive, the period of the costume, and your budget. Remember to avoid the obvious anachronisms- printed fabric is generally not period, but solid colors are; knit materials such as quiena are out; etc. - and you are on the way to a great costume.