I want to make a bodice and maybe some simple shoes.

[Keno]

I tried making one but I guess the fabric I used was too weak so it stays under my top.  Its just it get real hot at the faire and sadly I can get heatstroke quickly and dangerously, so I want to make one that can hold the girls up, look pretty with dust, and I can wear without anything else topwise if I wanted to.  Im not looking for something fancy, its not my persona style.  If you have tips on fabric and sewing style any advice would be helpful since I got a few months to make the thing.  And if it helps.. I do hide one of my weapons in the low back part of my other bodice.  I want to keep the record of the most hidden weapons on a female.

For the shoes I'm trying for two types.  Both have to be comfortable to walk ten hours in, one is for my armour, they have to slip under my leg guards, and the other are for walking and dancing around, but I might have a design for that in my head.

Thank you for reading and for any tips.

Keno the traveling crafter.

[ArielCallista]

I would highly suggest you canvas back any fabric you would use,especially if you have a larger chest, it helps reign them in without needing any under garment. You should also line it, either with actual lining or whatever you think would feel good against your skin if you think you'd wear it with nothing under it. I've found upholstery fabric works really well for a bodice. Knits, spandex, or anything that stretches is a bad idea. Delicate fabrics don't work so well either. But it all depends on what you want. You should definitely bone anything that's supposed to support the girls.

As for shoes,I've never made any so I'm not help on that, but have you checked out medieval moccasins? They're my favorite!

[Keno]

Thanks.

[gem]

If heat is a concern, stay with natural fibers.  Fabrics-store.com carries heavyweight linen (which will breathe).  Look for the six or seven ounce weight.  As you'll see from the link, it comes in just about any color you could possibly want, and it's sturdy and hard-wearing--perfect for your character.

It sounds like there could have been any number of problems with the last bodice; for us to "diagnose" them so you can avoid them in Bodice #2, we need more information.  Did you use a pattern?  Which one?  What kind of fabric and boning did you use?  Commercial bodice patterns (Simplicity/McCall's/Butterick) tend to run quite large, and they're also notorious for having princess seams and improper/inadequate boning, all of which will conspire to give you less than desirable support.

There are a number of *excellent* bodice threads on this forum, chock full of fitting/fabric/boning advice.  Here's a recent one to get you started.

Good luck!

[Keno]

I know what I did wrong with it.  One it was made with light cotten, two no pattern, three it wasn't given much time, I built it in two days.

[Cilean]

Good Suggestions from everyone!  I would like to add to your wisdom a bit myself if I may;

1. You need someone to help you fit your bodice so use the cotton you have to make something called a 'Toile' so that you can then form fit the pattern to you and you can work on many things that crop up.

2. Boning, I think you will get a good supportive fit with boning.

3. Heat Stroke is awful, however, not having a cover for your arms and chest might be just as bad, using natural fibers as Gem mentioned will help you so much, and when I worked Faires I would often wet my hat and arms to keep the dratted heat at bay.  There are also "bodice Chillers" on the market and they will help somewhat as well.  Linen helps by wicking the sweat from your body, and I have been in full Royal gear and have been happy within it and I live in really hot California.

I have some suggestions on patterns for you:
(I know you all, but she did say it was not H/A leaving me to show I do know something!   )

Alter Years
www.alteryears.com

Simplicity 3089
http://www.simplicity.com/p-2022-costumes.aspx

Simplicity 5582
http://www.simplicity.com/p-2253-costumes.aspx

McCalls
http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M4107.htm?tab=list/costumes&page=all

Margo's Patterns
http://margospatterns.com/Products/ElizWorkWmn.html

Here is Dawn's suggestions on making a good fitted bodice
http://www.reddawn.net/costume/bodice2.htm

And Drea's how to make a corset and then turn into a bodice
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/custompat/index.html

Here is another example on how to make a bodice without a 'real' pattern
http://sca-garb.freeservers.com/articles/self-support.html

Shoes are tougher

Here is a how to on boot making:
http://www.simpleshoemaking.com/resources.htm

Shoe Making:
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~chrisandpeter/shoe/construction.html

Another view of shoe making:
http://user.it.uu.se/~arnoldp/SCA/Articles/1998/SHOES/


One of the other ways to make or fake Renaissance shoes is to go to your local Payless or discount shoe store, and when they have their shoes at $3.00 to $5.00 purchase flats that you like and then glue more fabric onto them to look at like Renaissance type shoes.  You will need to do some research on what you want your shoes to look like, but then you use fabric tac or a good fabric glue and well have at it! It works, can make you have many different pairs of shoes and they are wearable and durable!  Plus you can put in helpers like insoles to make them very comfortable indeed!!

I hope these help!

Cilean

[Margaret]

As Cilean said, trying to stay cooler by NOT covering your head and arms may be a great mistake.

A few years ago I ran into faire wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  I was absolutly amazed to find I was cooler if I had my garb on rather than the shorts and t-shirt.

Even a fine layer of gauze - as many chemise are made of -  will protect your arms from the sun and provide some UV protection as well.  A straw hat can provide some shade and if you have your hair up in a caul, having your hair up off your neck is a God send.

Good luck!!

[Keno]

Thank you all, especially Cilean.  I have found that less is alittle better for me cause of my body type and how my system works.  I have to wear sunscreen no matter what and most of my hair is up.  I have no problem with layering skirts but with tops I have to wear less or I have to stay in the shade or near the aid tent.  I don't want to repeat of last year, I enjoyed that everyone was nice of my needs but I want to be alittle more independent.

[Anna Iram]

Keno, would it be possible to incorporate a parasol into your characters garb? One of the paper ones could be distressed to not look so fancy, and it would give you shade where ever you might be. I use one an it helps loads in this hot Florida sun.

[Aunty Lou]

     Using your not-so-great cotton bodice as a pattern to mark up, pin, and generally cannibalize is really helpful in making the next one fit well.  A number of the previously-mentioned sites also have kits available, one need only substitute the outer fabric.
     A parasol is a very good way of carrying shade, and I wouldn't dare go to Faire without my handy flat fan.  It's an oriental import, plain palm fronds, woven like a southern church pew fan, with a loop on the handle for a ribbon, which is then tied to my belt.
     I get hot very easily, and am susceptible to sun poisoning, so any of these keep-cool-in-garb suggestions are very worth trying.

[Anna Iram]

May I also suggest becoming very friendly with the pickle man. Not tooo friendly mind you, ... but he'll be a good source of pickle juice...good to sip in hot weather, and ice galore.

Forgive me for the hijack, but I'd hate to here of you getting sick out there.

[Kate XXXXXX]

For a duel purpose bodice/corset, try Drea's pattern generator.  Make with two layers of good canvas on the inside, and a light fashion fabric on the outside.  Keep it breathable.

For sun screening, you might like to insert a gauze partlet and tie on some gauze sleeves.  Make them from cotton gauze.  You can get some rinse-in conditioner for them that gives additional sun resistance.  Top off with a Big Shady Hat that is as wide as your shoulders.  And carry plenty of water.

As a dark-haired and dark-eyed Celt with the skin of a red-head who has lived in the Mediterranean, I find that I seek shade and carry it and water with me whenever I am anywhere hot.

[Cilean]

I know you are probably thinking "Oh my Freaking Gosh" that I have yet more to say but I forgot a Friend's Site with
a great step by step!

Check out Karen's site on making a Bodice I think you will like how she goes about this whole thing with step by really good step instruction
http://www.karen.htmlcreators.com/renbodice.html


I think you should read through this site and then think about your own bodice and see what you can do with it!

Cilean

[Betty Munro]

Cilean, that last link rocks!

[Goody]

http://www.butterick.com/item/B5233.htm?tab=costumes&page=1


Today, I made ONE shoe, View A. I wanted to make them washable so instead of leather I used brown cotton and lined with canvas. I had purchased insoles long ago but they wouldn't fit in there. I do have big feet so I may try to blow up the pattern a bit. Seems to me I read somewhere to put a layer or two (glued together) of that foamy stuff used to line shelving. I figure if people can walk around fest barefoot I should be able to do it with a few layers of fabric??