Scattered Costuming Thoughts

[callistotoni]

-- I just found out that the Amazon's ship date for Medieval Garments Reconstructed, which I've had on pre-order for months, is now November 4th. This book is supposed to be a companion to the Woven into the Earth book, with layouts/patterns for garments in WITTE. I searched the Internets for the reason for the delay, and it may be a translation issue. The book apparently was written in Danish. Poosers.

-- Because I'm apparently the least well informed costumer ever, I just learned about Bocksten Man, who was a bog body they found in Sweden -- probably dating to the 14th C -- and who had an entire outfit preserved. Cloak, hood, tunic, under and over hose, shoes, belt, knives and sheaths -- the whole shebang. For line drawing layouts see http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/cloth/bockback.html

For photos see http://www.lansmuseet.varberg.se/default.asp . The site is in Swedish. Scroll down and click on the "BOCKSTENSMANNEN" link, and then click on Kladerna and then play with the links on the left.

Now *that* would be a project! Too bad we have weather in the 80s-90s for most of our events in the WK, making wool outfits of limited use. But it is tempting...

-- Has anyone seen and/or reviewed the new Viking Clothing book I posted about a while back? Seyele, don't you have a copy? What's the verdict? Inquiring minds want to know. :-)

-- Ian's tunic is done! Huzzah! And we're closing in on finishing Leohtulf's outfit for this Saturday. I'll be working on the hat tonight.

-- Yesterday I picked up the Grand Aissette pattern again. Made a trade for some hemp canvas. My enthusiasm for making another gambason at this moment is limited, I'm afraid (hey, the last one broke 2 of my sewing machines and I can't afford to fix them any time soon). But it will be a challenge and, since I'm mostly going to hand sew the thing, it will be an accomplishment to make the thing into a reality.

-- Ysuelt has been dealing with a death in her family, so her linen rapier shirt has been on hold. Looks like we'll be getting back to that soon.

-- I still have projects that have been cut out for me sitting around and aging. I might get back to them in the near future. We'll have to see what else is in the sewing queue looks like. I do feel guilty about most of my SCA clothes being purchased from HE these days.

Comments

[syele.livejournal.com]

The verdict: Beautiful pictures, good patterns, but a whole lot of missing documentation. I'm going to start a conversation with the lovely author, whom my honey met at Moesgaard, to see if I can get a little bit more background information that would help out us Viking Age types. :)

[aastg.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what syele said - she showed me her copy. It's in Danish with English paraphasis. However, the translation is a little idiosyncratic, so you'll want to read it carefully.

IMO it's on a level with the Medieval Tailor's Assistant: good information if your filter with extreme care; great pictures; insufficient documentation; written more for the "popular enthusiast". For example, one of her cutting diagrams is based on Norlund #39/40; she acknowleges that the Greenland garment is 14th century but does not offer much by way of explanation why a 14th century garment is relevant to a 10th c. garment.

I think she knows more than she's stated in the book: I was left with many more questions than answers.