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Pregnant Garb

Started by LadyStitch, June 04, 2008, 09:40:13 AM

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Cilean




Hello,

Tudor Tailor's Ninya found out she was preggers just when they were going to come to the US for a tour in 07, so she did not come here but continued to use the woolen skirts and clothing she wore all the time!  Her information is on her site,

Now, if your friend wants something comfortable? Why on try the Comfort Pattern from Margo Anderson? It is what we have called the Spanish Gown www.margospatterns.com  Look for the Comfort Pattern the best thing about making something lke this? In like a nice cool linen? She can wear it again! If she breast feeds it gives her a modest section.

Now you can also make what is called an 'Irish Gown, and only it lace up to just under the breast section (because you said she as well endowed and it would give her plenty of support), and then use a basic Smock pattern, but at 10 inches to the waist measuremnt.  I would also make the smock lace up the front, to allow for breast feeding.

Cilean



Lady Cilean Stirling
"Looking Good is not an Option, It is a Necessity"
My Motto? Never Pay Retail

PrincessSara

I just got a pattern for myself tonight and then I realized it would probably make pretty good pregnancy garb.

It's Simplicity 5359, and the one I'm thinking of is outfit B (the largest picture).  If you made the skirt, blouse, and vest, without the waist cincher, that should fit around a baby belly.  And you can have the vest close in the front with frogs, hooks and eyes, or even lacing, which would give her the necessary bust support.  You might have to lengthen the blouse a bit, but it should work and it would give a good RenFaire peasant look or a pseudo Turkish look.

Guinevere of Leonesse

I attended Mayfaire Renaissance Festival on Memorial Day and I was just coming to the end of my 6 month into my pregnancy. I am now of course into my 7th and have another 11 weeks to go. Anyway, here I am with good friends of mine, Lady Gwyndolyn and Lord Dark Wolf, I'm in the Amethyst coloured gown. I was roasting there.



However, I do plan to attend Silverleaf  here in Michigan next month and will be about 33 weeks, I'm planning on wearing a light blue skirt, a white short sleeve chemise and a soft cincher belt without no boning in it. I want to look comfortable as much as I can be. :)
The more you worry, the longer it will take.

Baroness Doune

#18
Fabric fiber content plays a very important role in comfort.  For pregnancy wear, eschew synthetic fibers and use only linen and/or cotton.

Linen is the most comfortable fiber to wear.

QuoteProperties of linen:

Since early times flax has been reputed to possess curative properties. This fact has been borne out by the present-day studies. The very word flax meant "being most useful" in Latin.

Indeed, turned into a multitude of household things, flax possesses important, truly exceptional, hygiene and consumer properties that explain why things made of it enjoy such popularity:
Since early times flax has been reputed to possess curative properties. This fact has been borne out by the present-day studies. The very word flax meant "being most useful" in Latin.

Indeed, turned into a multitude of household things, flax possesses important, truly exceptional, hygiene and consumer properties that explain why things made of it enjoy such popularity:
   - flax cell is highly compatible with the human cell thereby producing a benevolent effect on the human organism. The human cell is capable to completely dissolve the flax cell. That is why flax fabric appears to be the only natural material applied in surgery for internal sutures;
   - used as underwear and bed linen it reduces fatigue and lifts spirits;
   - flax fabric is an excellent filter protecting against a chemically aggressive medium, noise and dust;
   - linen reduces gamma radiation nearly by half and protects the human organism against solar radiation. Flax fiber from contaminated soils appears not to exhibit even traces of radiation;
   - linen underwear possesses rare bacteriological properties. Resistant to fungus and bacteria, it is found to be an effective barrier to some diseases. According to medical studies conducted by Japanese researchers, bed-ridden patients do not develop bedsores where linen bed sheets are used. Wearing linen clothes helps to get rid of some skin diseases - from common rash to chronic eczemas;
   - linen does not cause allergic reactions and is helpful in treating a number of allergic disorders;
   - linen is effective in dealing with inflammatory conditions, reducing fever and regulating air ventilation, and is also helpful in the treatment of some neurological ailments;
   -linen cloth does not accumulate static electricity - even a small addition of flax fibers (up to 10%) to a cloth is enough to eliminate the static electricity effect;
   - linen is highly hygroscopic as it is capable to rapidly absorb and yield moisture. It evaporates water as quickly as the pond surface. It has been established that before giving a feeling of being wet, linen cloth can absorb as much as 20% of its dry weight. That explains why linen cloth always feels fresh and cool;
   - linen is renowned for its spectacular durability and long life. The tensile strength of linen thread is twice as high as that of cotton and three times that of wool;
   - linen possesses high air permeability and heat conductivity properties. Heat conductivity of linen is five times as high as that of wool and 19 times as that of silk. In hot weather those dressed in linen clothes are found to show the skin temperature 3°-4°C below that of their silk or cotton-wearing friends. According to some studies, a person wearing linen clothes perspires 1.5 times less than when dressed in cotton clothes and twice less than when dressed in viscose clothes. Meanwhile in cold weather linen is an ideal warmth-keeper;
   - silica present in the flax fiber protects linen against rotting - the mummies of Egyptian Pharaohs preserved to the present day are wrapped in the finest linen cloth;
   - linen rejects dirt and does not get teaseled;
   - linen and linen-containing articles are easily laundered in hot water, may be boiled and dried in the sun, besides they may be hot-ironed thereby ensuring maximum sterilization;
   - the more linen is washed the softer and smoother it becomes;
   - linen underscores naturalness, softness and relief; creasing is yet another precious property possessed by linen;
   -  linen has a smooth surface and mat luster and feels pleasant to the touch.

From http://www.linenline.biz/usefulinfo/prop.php

Cotton would be the second most comfortable.  Although, when cotton gets damp, it clings to the body enhancing that "sticky" feeling.

Cut of garb.

Elizabethan garb frequently utilizes sleeves that are tied on.  This means that the underarm area may only have one loose layer of fabric between the person and the environment - the smock or shirt - and that helps keep a person cooler.  Or leave off outer sleeves altogether.

A large neck opening helps keep one cooler than one that is covered up.  Also, hair that is pinned up, off the neck, will keep one cooler.  Make sure to wear and keep applying plenty of sunscreen.

The Kentwell reenactors (and this includes Ninya, one of the authors of The Tudor Tailor) have found that closer fitting garments keep one cooler than those that are looser.  It is thought that perhaps the looser garments trap pockets of air next to the body.  Air pockets are what make fiberglass insulation so effective in our homes.  Keep in mind, we are talking about close fitting vs. VERY close fitting garments here.

gem

Quote from: Guinevere of Leonesse on June 06, 2008, 09:39:43 PM
I do plan to attend Silverleaf  here in Michigan next month and will be about 33 weeks, I'm planning on wearing a light blue skirt, a white short sleeve chemise and a soft cincher belt without no boning in it. I want to look comfortable as much as I can be. :)

We took a *very* pregnant friend to Fair last season, and by the time she got here, even her own Italian-style gown no longer fit, so I brought her a box of loaner garb, and she put together an ensemble just like that!

Guinevere of Leonesse

Quote from: gem on June 07, 2008, 10:51:35 AM


We took a *very* pregnant friend to Fair last season, and by the time she got here, even her own Italian-style gown no longer fit, so I brought her a box of loaner garb, and she put together an ensemble just like that!

Yeah, that's how I intend to look too, thanks for showing the picture. :)
The more you worry, the longer it will take.