velvetpage | The Renn Faire

Hamilton now has a very nice little Rennaissance Faire located in the Royal Botanical Gardens. Ourselves,

anidada, their daughter who is Elizabeth's age, and

danaeris went this afternoon.

I'm not up to a full write-up - it's almost eleven o'clock, and it's been a full day, and Piet still wants to fiddle with pictures. But for me, the most interesting part of the afternoon was the donning of some period garb. I am now seriously considering buying a bodice instead of a corset, primarily because they cost less than half as much and are more comfortable to wear. Also, since they are designed to be worn with a peasant blouse shift underneath, they are easier on my modesty than a corset designed to be worn as the only garment above the waist.

I took a close look at the construction of the peasant blouse and skirt, and concluded that, with a few lessons from Aunt Jeanne and possibly a pattern for the blouse, I could sew my own with little trouble and considerably less expense than the ones they were selling. I might even crochet the lace for my sleeves myself, since that would be a logical use of my favourite handicraft, and would be very period appropriate. The bodice, however, I would have to buy. Dana found the ones there quite expensive at $85, but they had more boning than hers and good workmanship; I think I would be happy to pay $70, if I could then make the rest of the costume for somewhat less than that. (The peasant blouse could be made from cotton sheeting, and the skirt, while more fabric, was still just a cotton batiste - $8 a metre if I'm careful about colour and pattern. They had no underskirts with them, but I think I'd want one, maybe with a bit of flounce at the bottom. Again, though, cotton sheeting is cheap.)

So, what do you all think?

The Rennaissance Garb

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I did about 7 active years in the faire that started it all, and still put my hand in. Yes, the outfits are easy to make.
The peasant blouse is usually what is called a 'bag' shirt. You can modify most old fashioned nighty patterns. The sleeves inset to the neck, not the shoulder, so that the neckline is in quarters (front, right arm, back, left arm). I find them most flattering and beautiful when made with at least 4 yards, more like 8 yards, of thin and soft material so that you get a lot of gathers at the neck and wrists. If you finish the edge and set the channel for the gathering (by drawstring or elastic) back an inch or so from the edge, you also get ruffles. I have found it more convenient to make my shirts at least hip length, so you can tug them from underneath and so that can act as a nighty. But I doubt you will be camping at the festival the way I did. You can also make your shirt go all the way down and serve as an underskirt. :D I would also go for muslin rather than broadcloth, it washes to a nicer drape for a top. Don't use muslin if you are doing a full length shirt.
For the skirt, while a full circle skirt works very well, I tend to do a multiple gore panel skirt. Again, at LEAST 4 yards, 6 is good, 8 is better. Flounces are umm, not very time period appropriate. I find pleated skirt, with most of the fullness at the hem by cut anyhow, set into a solid waistband to be most comfortable for a full day's wearing. Otherwise I end up with a wad of stuff pressed into me making a red mark. Yuck! textures are lovely in skirts. Look at using drapery fabrics that are washable? I cheat and use raw silk, but I can get raw silk for about $5 a yard here in all sorts of lovely colors.
Looking at the bodice you have on in the picture, the shoulder set seems okay, the front is at least 2 inches too low, it should be about 2-3 inches longer down on your hips to cover the top of the skirt, the back needs to be taken in, actually it is too large overall. Something that fits more snugly, without being corset tight (which I personally hate. Lvoe bodices, hate corset) will lift your breasts so you won't lose cleavage, the front actually should be higher. With your cup size, you chould look for bodices that have at least 4 metal bones, two supporting the lacing and two running diagonal from the center front towards the armpit to the outside of your breasts. More bones wouldn't be bad.
Please consider a hat?
And you look lovely.

Wow.

I simply don't have enough sewing knowledge to parse what you just wrote in a way that makes sense, so I'm going to put it in my memories, call it up for Aunt Jeanne, and get her help finding patterns and material, as well as cutting (once it's pinned, I know enough to sew it myself, I think.)

I'm going to leave the bodice for the moment, because I can't afford it and I would prefer to purchase that part, and because if I'm going to dramatically change shape over the next year, it makes sense to wait until I'm back to a more normal size for a while. The rest, though, I could start working on very soon.

I'm sitting a few blocks away from one of the best fabric districts in Canada. I don't know if i can get raw silk for that price here, but it's a distinct possibility and I will keep it in mind.

Thanks for your input!

*frantically jotting down notes, too*

Also, $5/yd raw silk? *envy*

http://www.thaisilks.com/
And bog dresses are good for people who don't mind/want to be irish and/or hate bodices.

Wow. I think my brain just shorted out -- too many ideas all at once... velvet pants; button-down shirts in blue brocade, black stretch charmeuse, and paisley crepe georgette; a corset in the black brocade that has dragons all over it; a bodice in the black brocade with the gold honeybees... Too bad I can't sew. *chuckle*

Thanks for the link! :)

And dude, bias tape makes the easiest cheating elastic of drawstring channel ever.

The Renn Faire

Not that you asked (blushes)

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Silk

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Silk