June 16, 2013

Viking websites

Here are a few sites that I've been looking at.

Basically, though, I do a search on Pinterest for "viking garb" "apron dress" or some combination - from there, the rabbit hole is endless!

www.hurstwic.org
I like this page - a nice overview, with good color photos.

www.vikingsonline.org.uk
lots of great info

www.vikinganswerlady.com
everything you could think to ask!

http://thedreamstress.com/

These are totally just a start.  I freely admit that I am making the "apron dress" and "underdress" that many others have made.  I am learning so much about the Vikings - especially that viking really was an occupation - not a nationality.  They lived in many different countries, so their clothing would not be the same, and there really isn't enough exiting clothing to know for sure what they wore

So far, I'm having fun!

Viking dress beginning



So, I decided to make a Viking Dress.  I've done some research online - I will list some websites that have been helpful to me in the next post.
I've made a few pieces of garb for my RennFaire costume - mostly shifts & skirts.  For this one, I decided to sew it all by hand.  I haven't done much hand sewing *at all* - so far it's going ok, but it is kicking up my carpel tunnel.  What did ladies do for so many years?  Just grimace through the pain?

I was able to find these two linens locally. They are a bit bright - but I really like them together. 
Underdress & Apron dress fabric
Here, I have the underdress fabric laid out on the floor for cutting - and of course, Scarlette thought I needed some help!
Scarlette helping 

Here is a photo of my stitches - as of now, I am just doing a running stitch.  I know that as I go along,  and get better at handsewing, my stitches will get smaller.  I'm not super worried about it atm, though, because after I'm done putting the whole thing together, I'm going to go through and flat fell the seams.  Also, until I have all the pieces sewn together, I don't know if it's going to fit!  At least with not so perfect stitches, I won't feel bad ripping them out.


I didn't take a picture - but if you follow the directions that I did, make sure you sew two sleeves one way, and the other two the other way!  
Here's the pattern/directions I am using.

So far, I've sewn the sleeve/gore seams together, the sleeve tops together and started on the neckhole.  I've run into a couple of more issues.  (The fun of learning by yourself!)

First : I sewed the gores on, so that the on grain side of the triangle was parallel with the top of the sleeve.  I realize now, that if I sew up the side seams, that will attach the bias edges of the two gores together.  From what I've read, this will cause that seam to stretch out of shape. Luckily, the seams that I need to tear out and do again, are about 3" x 4 seams.  Could be worse!
Second! : Hopefully this picture isn't totally confusing.  I decided to make a round neckline, with an offset slit, that I think i'll do a button/loop on.
 My plan was to do a bias tape edge (I don't know what it's called for sure) out of the same orange fabric.  But, this seems to be super bulky, and doesn't want to turn the corners very well.
  Orange Neck 
I've seen a couple of references to silk being used, so I decided to get some and see how that will work.  Luckily, I have a fabric store nearby that has all of their fabric @ 2.99/yd.  They have a bunch of remnants of silk - I've done a burn test on most of them and they seem "real" :)
I also had a bunch of coupons for JoAnn's - so I got a couple there.
Here are the colors I got today.
  Silks 
I laid the orange and green across them.  I finagled with the colors/saturation a little so you can see the colors better.  I'm really tempted to go with one of the brighter red/cranberries.  But, for now, I think I'll end up with the nice brown.  ... sigh. 
I picture in my head Vikings off conquering the lands of the Middle East and bringing home pretty fabrics.  They wouldn't have had the option of choosing the best match - they would have just gone with their favorite.  I might talk myself into a bright one, after all.  :)