Easy Newbie Sewing Projects

[isabelladangelo]

Although most of the time, we point to the Easy Italian Chemise as a good, basic, start sewing project, I think it's time we brought some others up.

A sideless surcote  Although these are earlier than what we normally do, sideless surcotes were still worn for weddings, important functions, ect (think like a huge crinoline would be worn today) all the way until the end of the 15th C.  This pattern is easy.  You don't need to make the train if you don't want too.  I still use this basic pattern to make my sideless surcotes for Pennsic (they are fabulous for when you just wake up and roll out of bed and do NOT feel like getting dressed yet)

Here are links to all the patterns we have discussed here over the years:

The SMOCK Pattern Generator
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/smockpat/


Variation of ITALIAN CAMICIA
http://www.feoragdubh.eastkingdom.org/Patterns/ItalianRenChemise.gif

Making a FARTHINGALE
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/farthingale/period.html

CORDED PETTICOAT
http://www.sempstress.org/experiments/cordedpetticoat.shtml

BUMROLL
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/bumroll.html

CORSET Pattern Generator aka CPG
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/custompat/

Patterning the EFFIGY CORSET
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/EffigyReconstruction.htm

The CPG Modified to Make a BODICE Pattern
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/kirtlepat/index.html

The bodice from the previous link attached to a gathered skirt and made into a KIRTLE
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/makekirtle.html

PETTICOATS
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/petticoat.html#make

Constructing a 16th CENTURY FLEMISH OUTFIT
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/lowerclass/makeflem.html

MAN'S DOUBLET
http://freespace.virgin.net/f.lea/doublet1.html

HATS
http://www.sempstress.org/patterns/hatmaking/index.shtml

FRENCH HOODS
http://www.kimiko1.com/dressdiaries/1545FrenchHood/index.html

Buttons

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/jennifer/buttons/index.htm


Various Patterns

http://www.reddawn.net/costume/patterns.htm



Mid 16th Century Italian Gown style

http://homepages.wmich.edu/~rowen/renbk/rendressbook.html#anchor320283





Depicts seam lines of various tunics

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/cloth/tunics.html



Turkish Coat

http://isabelladangelo.webs.com/turkishcoat.htm



Women's Viking Dress

http://www.drafnwarband.org/fgarb.html


Gothic Fitted Gown
http://www.cottesimple.com/

Houppeland

http://www.virtue.to/articles/index.html

Way too many patterns to mention but Capes, tunics, hats, ect

http://eqos.deviantart.com/art/Pattern-Cloak-with-Capelet-197937801

I don't know how many of the links still work but I know most of them should. 

[Serenity]

Excellent list!  Thank you.

The Italian gown links don't work though    Nor the buttons link.

[isabelladangelo]

Sorry, fixed the links now.  They should work.  It was a technical issue.  :-)

[LadyFae]

Any easy hat patterns?  Such as muffin or flat caps?

[isabelladangelo]

On the Elizabethan Loose Gown page, there is pattern for a period flat cap.  Muffin caps aren't period as I found out early on in my Renn Fair career.     All they are is a strip of cloth, about the same size as where you'd want it around your head but enough for the seam allowance, and a very very big circle. Gather the circle and sew it to the band.   

The simplest of caps is also period:

The coif as it looks when it's cut out and embroidered
The coif and forehead cloth when it's been folded and sewn across the top to fit the head.  Plain (not embroidered) coifs were very much worn.   

[LadyFae]

Thanks!  I'm not a huge fan of muffin caps but I know that others love them.  Flat caps look so easy to make but for some reason I'm really nervous to try to make them.  Probably because I hate to waste any bits of precious fabric and if I screw up it'd be just that!  LOL!

[isabelladangelo]

Flat caps are a bit more difficult than they look just because you need to do them by hand for them to look "good" given how you have to have them turn and all the other fun stuff.  Just go to Wally world and get some el-cheapo fabric to practice on.  Or, at Joanns, get one of the nearly a yard remnants they always seem to have for 50% off.  Your practice hat doesn't have to be what you want for your final product but just something so you can learn how to make it. 

[CenturiesSewing]

Flat cap how to, along with several variations of it for different looks.

http://www.sempstress.org/tag/jacobean/

[Kate XXXXXX]

For kids, a kirtle pattern: http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/stories/palacehighlights/AlivingTudorworld/Makeakirtle  and a gown pattern for boys: http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/stories/palacehighlights/AlivingTudorworld/Makeagown 

And paper hats for kids!  http://www.hrp.org.uk/Resources/HenryHat.pdf  http://www.hrp.org.uk/Resources/EnglishHood.pdf  http://www.hrp.org.uk/Resources/FrenchHood.pdf

[GryffinSong]

Thanks for collecting these sources, isabelladangelo,  ... this will be VERY helpful to newbies like myself!!! 

[Margaret]

Well, the other ladies beat me to all the cool links, so I can leave some advise.

You too can create amazing looking Elizabethan clothing.  Really.  Every person on here will assure you with a; "If I can do this, so can you." type of comment.

You will make mistakes.  You will do stuff like cut out something too big or too small.  You will sew stuff backwards.  You will bleed on your fabric from a pin prick.  You will vow never to sew again at least once per project.  This has happened to all of us.  Heck this STILL happens to all of us.

Fabric and trim can be cussed in to submission.  If you think sailors swear - seamstresses are worse.   

Your first big noble gown all covered in shiney trim and pearls will still look like crap if it does not FIT correctly.  The fit of a garment (at least in my book) is the most important thing.

Don't limit yourself to the "costume" section of pattern books.  Learn to look for the shape you are looking for in other sections of the pattern book.  One of my favorite gowns (and the one I receive the most complements on) started life as a pattern for a retro over coat.

Here is the biggest bit of advise.  Start looking for spare room right now.  You are going to get hooked quick like and thus will need room for fabrics, notions, trims, thread, supplies, clothing, the 'someday' fabric pile, the 'I am going to need this soon' fabric pile, the 'I don't know what I am going to do with this but I want to do something' fabric pile, the 'I just can bring myself to toss anythig under a yard' pile etc. 

[skitter]

If you think sailors swear - seamstresses are worse.   

True story.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Excellent list of links.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Every word you say is true, Margaret!