You can find a ton of great pattern reviews at www.gbacg.org....just click on the "great pattern review" link and then look through the index for the brand and number.
Sorry to partially disagree, but... Pattern reviews? Yes. However, most of those pattern reviews are: a) made by people who have no idea what the SCA is or what it requires b) unable to resize patterns (*no* woman in the world has a "size 12" from head to toes! One NEEDS to make adjustments when using a commercial pattern! Yet some people at the GBACG complain that the dress made from some pattern didn't fit off the box *snort*...). c) at least 90% of the patterns there are *not* historically correct, which is required for the SCA. So while the GBACG might be interesting for seeing pictures of what people made from certain patterns, it's in my humble opinion worthless for pattern reviews *or* to find a working pattern.
I don't want to get under anyone's skin, but I have to put in my two cents as well. Naergilien's pointers should definately be taken into account. However, I adore the great pattern review because it gives me an idea of how the basic pattern is to work with (before any alterations, additions, etc.). In my case, if I read that a pattern is crap to work with, I'll stay away from it. However, if a certain pattern is reviewed as being easy to work with and to alter, then I'm much more prone to getting that one.
Naergilien's definately right though. Many of the reviews for medieval patterns are not done by SCA members. Just keep that in mind, if you use the pattern review.
Please note that I did NOT advise the OP to use the site as her costuming bible. She implies that she has enough experience to know about working with patterns, so she should know that most patterns won't fit without some tweaking
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- First, what do you mean by '14th century'? The period between 1301 and 1399 (what '14th century' would mean) *or* the period between 1401 and ~1450 (which I think to remember being the latest dates for the SCA)? - Second, where does your SCA personae come from? Country? What is her social status (rich, poor, intermediate)? Is she married, single, a widow? And also very important: How old is she, and where did she grow up?
These two questions need answers before anyone might be able to advise on any suitable pattern book or commercial pattern out there :-)
Yes, I do mean between 1301 and 1399. I may be new to the SCA but I have been to history class. Also, I'm not quite sure about the second question yet. I was talking to people in my group and they told me I should just fool around with different styles until I find something I like. That said, I am most interested in England or France, a middle-class person, and probably a young, unmarried person, as that is what I am right now.
Ah! I was asking about the country because styles even in the countries of Europe were distinctable different up to c. 1650 (and sometimes even after that date). So if you would like to be Burgundian it would be not such a bright idea to wear clothing that was usually worn in Norway ;-) Anyway; I suggest getting some books first. Most of the following books also contain patterns (which are *basically* no more needed once you understood how medieval clothing mostly works - the clothes' patterns are usually much likely to a jigsaw puzzle consisting of rectangles and triangles with very few appearances of circles and half circles). A whole book, which contains authentic historical patterns (that you then just need to draft to your scale - which is easy with rectangles... ;-) ) is much cheaper and easier to handle than the nicest collection of commercial patterns which might not be so historically correct... ;-)
If you are looking to get into the historicaly accurate 14th century in the future, I really recommend attending Robin Netherton's lectures if she is ever in your area. She has loads and loads of great knowlage, and advice on making the gothic fitted gowns, and their evolution. Not to mention several hundred slides of 14th cent. illuminations and paintings. You can also find more info by googling "Gothic Fitted Gown" Good luck in your costuming!
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Pattern reviews? Yes. However, most of those pattern reviews are:
a) made by people who have no idea what the SCA is or what it requires
b) unable to resize patterns (*no* woman in the world has a "size 12" from head to toes! One NEEDS to make adjustments when using a commercial pattern! Yet some people at the GBACG complain that the dress made from some pattern didn't fit off the box *snort*...).
c) at least 90% of the patterns there are *not* historically correct, which is required for the SCA.
So while the GBACG might be interesting for seeing pictures of what people made from certain patterns, it's in my humble opinion worthless for pattern reviews *or* to find a working pattern.
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Naergilien's definately right though. Many of the reviews for medieval patterns are not done by SCA members. Just keep that in mind, if you use the pattern review.
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Have fun with your first project for the SCA!
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- First, what do you mean by '14th century'? The period between 1301 and 1399 (what '14th century' would mean) *or* the period between 1401 and ~1450 (which I think to remember being the latest dates for the SCA)?
- Second, where does your SCA personae come from? Country? What is her social status (rich, poor, intermediate)? Is she married, single, a widow? And also very important: How old is she, and where did she grow up?
These two questions need answers before anyone might be able to advise on any suitable pattern book or commercial pattern out there :-)
Best wishes,
Naergi
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I was asking about the country because styles even in the countries of Europe were distinctable different up to c. 1650 (and sometimes even after that date). So if you would like to be Burgundian it would be not such a bright idea to wear clothing that was usually worn in Norway ;-)
Anyway; I suggest getting some books first. Most of the following books also contain patterns (which are *basically* no more needed once you understood how medieval clothing mostly works - the clothes' patterns are usually much likely to a jigsaw puzzle consisting of rectangles and triangles with very few appearances of circles and half circles). A whole book, which contains authentic historical patterns (that you then just need to draft to your scale - which is easy with rectangles... ;-) ) is much cheaper and easier to handle than the nicest collection of commercial patterns which might not be so historically correct... ;-)
Here are some suggestions:
Medieval Tailor's Assistant: Making Common Garments 1200-1500
Medieval Costume in England and ( ... )
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You can also find more info by googling "Gothic Fitted Gown"
Good luck in your costuming!
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