Fun with Chitons.
The Chiton (Tunic) is one of the basic Greek clothing items. Its rather simplistic, really, basically a big square piece of fabric averaging about 70 inches, folded and sewn up one side ant buttoned or sewn at the shoulders.
This shouldnt be such a problem.
Last year, I made a hand dyed red Chiton out of linen. for those who havent seen it, heres a picture.
Now I actually REALLY LIKE this Chiton, mostly because I spent like 20 hours painting and embroidering the bottom edge, but theres a couple of problems. First of all, according to the event coordinator, the linen tended to blow around a fair amount and apparently showed things last year (OMG my boxers are showing). Not that I really give a damn. The main reason for that is that I like to wear it at a fairly authentic height- between the knees and groin- which is actually longer than in the archaic period, where they usually wore it at the bottom fo the groin.
The second problem is that because i have a huge frame (literally- my shoulders are 26 inches and my neck is 18.5 inches- so its not even a weight thing) the shoulders are really tight, as can be seen. In order to make it fit, the width has to be around 70 inches, which is almost unmanagable. Also, and more inportantly, I have (non authentic) ink on both my shoulders. Even when worn correctly and at the right size my tats show.
Also, linen itself isnt completely authentic. We really dont have verification of the Spartans (or any Greek for that matter) wearing linen until at least the Athenian War, which is about 100 years after my impression. It COULD have been worn, but it isnt verified.
So the answer should be easy. I just need to pick up some wool and make it bigger and that should solve the problem, right.
Yeah right, if only things were that easy (HA!)
Tonight I decided to do an experament. I took my Trioun (cloak- 80inx60in) and sewed up one of the sides, pinned it and tried it on. Not only does it only marginally cover my ink (and I suspect it would move and therefore not be useful in that aspect) but when I hitch it up, it looks like I am wearing a damn blanket (which I am, essentially) and it makes me look HUGE. I mean, I aint small, but damn, I look like a size 60 or something.
All in all, total fail.
So, that really only leaves me with the inauthentic later style tunic. This design has the arms coming out of slits in the upper sides with the shoulders sewn up and a hole for the head- See Matt Amts Legio XX page below for a better description.
http://www.legionsix.org/fort%20mac%2007/fortmac%20010.jpg
And for the record, hes helping him get his hamata off.
Its not completely authentic, but I have seen other Greeks wearing them. I'm also not going to remake it in wool. PArtially because the only wool I have is too damn heavy, but also, the only place for me to get it is online and I cant actually examine it, which is something that I wont do (been burned too many times). So it sill stay in linen and I guess I either will have to wear it lower or folks will just have to deal with seeing which colour my boxers are. Although I do suspect a majority of that problem is because the embroidery has really stiffened the fabric down on the bottom, which I may be able to rectify by adding a fringe which is (somewhat) authentic. It is depicted on archaic statuary but is believed to have been worn by the priest class... but thats unverified. The only problem is that I am worried that if I do fringe, even if it is matching rope, Ill look like a damn flapper. I guess we'll have to see.
This shouldnt be such a problem.
Last year, I made a hand dyed red Chiton out of linen. for those who havent seen it, heres a picture.
Now I actually REALLY LIKE this Chiton, mostly because I spent like 20 hours painting and embroidering the bottom edge, but theres a couple of problems. First of all, according to the event coordinator, the linen tended to blow around a fair amount and apparently showed things last year (OMG my boxers are showing). Not that I really give a damn. The main reason for that is that I like to wear it at a fairly authentic height- between the knees and groin- which is actually longer than in the archaic period, where they usually wore it at the bottom fo the groin.
The second problem is that because i have a huge frame (literally- my shoulders are 26 inches and my neck is 18.5 inches- so its not even a weight thing) the shoulders are really tight, as can be seen. In order to make it fit, the width has to be around 70 inches, which is almost unmanagable. Also, and more inportantly, I have (non authentic) ink on both my shoulders. Even when worn correctly and at the right size my tats show.
Also, linen itself isnt completely authentic. We really dont have verification of the Spartans (or any Greek for that matter) wearing linen until at least the Athenian War, which is about 100 years after my impression. It COULD have been worn, but it isnt verified.
So the answer should be easy. I just need to pick up some wool and make it bigger and that should solve the problem, right.
Yeah right, if only things were that easy (HA!)
Tonight I decided to do an experament. I took my Trioun (cloak- 80inx60in) and sewed up one of the sides, pinned it and tried it on. Not only does it only marginally cover my ink (and I suspect it would move and therefore not be useful in that aspect) but when I hitch it up, it looks like I am wearing a damn blanket (which I am, essentially) and it makes me look HUGE. I mean, I aint small, but damn, I look like a size 60 or something.
All in all, total fail.
So, that really only leaves me with the inauthentic later style tunic. This design has the arms coming out of slits in the upper sides with the shoulders sewn up and a hole for the head- See Matt Amts Legio XX page below for a better description.
http://www.legionsix.org/fort%20mac%2007/fortmac%20010.jpg
And for the record, hes helping him get his hamata off.
Its not completely authentic, but I have seen other Greeks wearing them. I'm also not going to remake it in wool. PArtially because the only wool I have is too damn heavy, but also, the only place for me to get it is online and I cant actually examine it, which is something that I wont do (been burned too many times). So it sill stay in linen and I guess I either will have to wear it lower or folks will just have to deal with seeing which colour my boxers are. Although I do suspect a majority of that problem is because the embroidery has really stiffened the fabric down on the bottom, which I may be able to rectify by adding a fringe which is (somewhat) authentic. It is depicted on archaic statuary but is believed to have been worn by the priest class... but thats unverified. The only problem is that I am worried that if I do fringe, even if it is matching rope, Ill look like a damn flapper. I guess we'll have to see.