Notes from Mischief Zoom - Viking Clothing & Future Topics
Updated 05/26/2022
VIKING ERA COSTUMING NOTES
This was a quick overview for some friends who were planning to attend The Viking Experience NC 2022 in Oxford, NC.
Common Men's Period Costume Components
Linen knee-length undershirt, usually linen.
Knee-length wool or linen "T-tunic" with scoop neck or centered or off-centered slot neck, embellished with embroidery or tablet woven trim
Tunic could also be closed bathrobe style, fastened with belt
Belt of either leather or tablet woven
Three styles of trousers:
Puffy with legs wrapped in 5-inch wide strips of cloth from knee to ankle (instructions from John Reitschy - Facebook)
Tight-fitted trousers
Gaiters
Headwear examples include round skull cap with or without folded brim or simple hoods. Here's a fantastic viking headwear Pinterest board.
Rectangular cloak folded over at the top fastened with fibulas or large pins (instruction video).
Outer wear could include a wool "Birka" jacket/kaftan - like a slightly looser version of the tunic, open down the front and fastened at the chest with a brooch or fibula
No evidence that they made much use of leather for armour
Boots taller than ankle length were not common. Usually turnshoes (turned inside out with seams inside the shoe).
Common Women's Period Costume Components
Linen knee or calf-length shift
Knee-length wool kirtle ("T-tunic" dress) with scoop neck or centered slot neck, embellished with embroidery or tablet woven trim
Several kirtles could be worn for warmth.
An apron dress was often worn over the kirtle. It was like a wool tube, narrow at the top widening out into a skirt that was often knee length and always shorter than the kirtle underneath. It was held on with straps (like overalls), which were fastened in front with a pair of large metal "turtle" brooches.
Jewelry usually included beads. Vikings made beautiful glasswork beads and they were fond of amber. The ladies advertised their wealth and status by hanging (often several) strands of beads between the apron brooches.
Optional belt, either tablet woven or leather
Headwear was often a sort of plain white kerchief. Sometimes simple hoods. Here's a fantastic viking headwear Pinterest board.
Rectangular cloak folded over at the top fastened with fibulas or large pins (instruction video).
Outer wear could include a wool "Birka" jacket/kaftan - like a slightly looser version of the kirtle, open down the front and fastened at the chest with a brooch or fibula
Boots taller than ankle length were not common. Usually turnshoes (turned inside out with seams inside the shoe).
Fabric
Fabric can be expensive! Before I buy, usually ask family and friends via social media if they have any fabric laying around. You can also alter mundane clothing to make pretty good garb. A large wool skirt from a thrift store can become an apron dress. A bathrobe can become a birka coat. A blanket can become a cloak.
Fabric Care
How to clean wool
Bits n' Bobs and Bling
A used belt buckle can become a rung fibula. Costume jewelry can be string between brooches for viking bling. A baseball cap can become a hat pattern. And there are loads of boots to be found in thrift stores and similar.
Thrift Store Materials Sources
Durham
Durham Rescue Mission Thrift Store
The Scrap Exchange
TROSA Thrift Store
Carrboro
CommunityWorx Thrift Store
Other
The Snob Shop (Winston-Salem)
Costume Examples - Images and Videos
Viking Dance in Norway - Lofotr VikingMuseum - many garb examples
Ladies viking cloak - Armstreet image
General - YouTube
Complete Viking Wardrobe by Opus Elenae
Viking Clothes by Skjalden
DIY Viking Costume and Accessories - by Aspiring Costume Designer
How to Buy Viking Clothes (and what to avoid) by The Welsh Viking
Men - how to use leg wraps - by John Reitschy (Facebook)
How to pin a viking cloak by Malcolm P.L. (YouTube)
How to wear a Medieval cloak by The Welsh Viking (YouTube)
Patterns / Instructions
Viking Apron Dress Pattern Generator by ElizabethanCostume.net
Viking Overdress Tutorial by Annie Brahe
Men's Viking Tunic Construction by Carolyn Priest-Dorman
"Skjoldehamn Hood" tutorial (example by Grimfrost)
Men's Period Wardrobe - YouTube
Men's Wardrobe - by Bjørn Andreas Bull-Hansen
Common Men's Clothing of the Viking Age - by Marobud
How to wrap your lower legs by John Reitschy (Facebook)
Ladies' Period Wardrobe / Styles - YouTube
Period Viking Women's Winter Garb - by Viking Ventures
The Real Haristyles of Viking Women - by Silvousplaits
Pass the Rune Viking Glow-Ups - (YouTube - outfit ideas)
Original with subtitles
Yule Edition
Makeup Turorial
Viking Vendors
The Bone Weaver
Calvina Costumes
Crafty Celts
Fjallvaettir
Grimfrost
Klan Rúnda
Nordic Trader
Skjaldborg Artisans
Sons of Vikings
Music
Eldrvak
Fever Ray (Vikings theme)
Heiling
Wardruna
Celtic Links (for new article later)
16th Centiry Irish Kern (male clothing with inar (high jacket) & leine (saffron shirt)
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Our second gathering was via Zoom (due to icy roads) with Cheryl, Nathan, Merit, Ursula, Danielle and Bob. Presentation topic was Viking-era costuming.
Ursula showed off her viking era ladies garb with embellishment examples and talked about typical period wardrobe components and materials for men and women and briefly touching on non-period embellishments.
She suggested thrift stores and The Scrap Exchange in Durham as sources for outfit components and materials. She also offered to provide in-person sewing and costuming instruction at The Dome - contact her to set up a time - evenings and weekends are fine if she has no conflicts.
The outfits will be useful for viking and multi-period theme events, SCA events and pagan events (see below).
Upcoming Viking / Multi-Time Period Events
March - 26-27th Sat-Sun - Viking Festival - Oxford, NC
June TBA - Fri-Sun - Have A Peasant Day (SCA) - Booneville, NC
Aug - 28th - Sun - Heilung Concert - Asheville, NC - 8PM
Aug-Oct - 27th-23rd - Sat-Sun - Maryland Renaissance Festival - Crownsville, MD
Oct 1st-Nov 20th - Sat-Sun - Carolina Renaissance Festival - Huntersville, NC
Oct - 12th - Wed - Wardruna - DPAC - Durham - 8PM
Nov - 5-6th - Sat-Sun - VikingsCon - La Plata, MD
OTHER TOPICS
The presentation was followed by discussion of topics / activities that people are currently drawn to.
Hiking: All agreed that this would be a good bonding activity for the group and set the next meeting as a hiking date (see below).
Border Morris Dance: Ursula introduced the group to Border Morris, sharing a few video clips, a brief history and costuming elements (see the link above for details).
Various Events: Ursula added event links to the Mischief Manifested Home Page.
The concensus for now... was that we should focus on low-prep group bonding activities such as hiking and social activities to help the group bond.
NEXT MEETING
Sat 29 Jan 10AM-2PM - Hiking the Poet's Walk trail at Ayr Mount in Hillsborough. We will be hiking The Poet's Walk trail at Ayr Mount in Hillsborough.
What to bring: Food/snacks for yourself and a camp chair if you wish. Ursula will post her phone on the Facebook page in case people need to join the group later.
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