A League costume diary - Revision history

Twiggy at 18:53, 8 August 2025

2025-08-08T18:53:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:53, 8 August 2025
Line 103:		Line 103:
	To be honest, I was having a bit of a whine about this bit, as it seemed like extra work for marginal benefit. Having done so though, I recommend doing the same and they do fit better and it didn’t take long. If you are making hose which cover your feet this bit is particularly important, but I’d do it either way.		To be honest, I was having a bit of a whine about this bit, as it seemed like extra work for marginal benefit. Having done so though, I recommend doing the same and they do fit better and it didn’t take long. If you are making hose which cover your feet this bit is particularly important, but I’d do it either way.

	Anyway, having cut out four triangular gussets anyway, I spontaneously decided to cut out a fifth one, slightly larger than the others. Bearing in mind how often I have seen hose split across the crotch before, I added this extra gusset between the legs. It isn’t in the pattern, but it should add a bit of extra room to ~~maneuver~~. A 10 minute job that adds a lot of confidence to the end result.		Anyway, having cut out four triangular gussets anyway, I spontaneously decided to cut out a fifth one, slightly larger than the others. Bearing in mind how often I have seen hose split across the crotch before, I added this extra gusset between the legs. It isn’t in the pattern, but it should add a bit of extra room to manoeuvre. A 10 minute job that adds a lot of confidence to the end result.

	[[File:Tim3.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|left\|Here you can see both the triangular gusset I’ve added to allow movement between the legs and the linen insert peeking out of the waistband where it has been stitched in to add strength.]]		[[File:Tim3.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|left\|Here you can see both the triangular gusset I’ve added to allow movement between the legs and the linen insert peeking out of the waistband where it has been stitched in to add strength.]]

Twiggy at 02:03, 18 July 2025

2025-07-18T02:03:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:03, 18 July 2025
Line 187:		Line 187:
	===Possible shortcut===		===Possible shortcut===

	It ~~occured~~ to me after I made the under hose that I could have cheated to save a lot of time by wearing a pair of coloured leggings under the wool outer hose, rather than the under-hose, since their primary purpose is to provide splashes of colour seen through the slashes. If you are on a budget, this may also save money (two metres of good wool will almost always cost a lot more than a pair of cheap leggings).		It occurred to me after I made the under hose that I could have cheated to save a lot of time by wearing a pair of coloured leggings under the wool outer hose, rather than the under-hose, since their primary purpose is to provide splashes of colour seen through the slashes. If you are on a budget, this may also save money (two metres of good wool will almost always cost a lot more than a pair of cheap leggings).

	==The Doublet==		==The Doublet==

Rafferty: Rafferty moved page A League Ccostume diary to A League costume diary without leaving a redirect

2022-01-12T15:51:22Z

Rafferty moved page A League Ccostume diary to A League costume diary without leaving a redirect

← Older revision	Revision as of 15:51, 12 January 2022
(No difference)

Rafferty: Rafferty moved page A League Costume Diary to A League Ccostume diary without leaving a redirect

2022-01-12T15:50:24Z

Rafferty moved page A League Costume Diary to A League Ccostume diary without leaving a redirect

← Older revision	Revision as of 15:50, 12 January 2022
(No difference)

Rafferty at 15:49, 12 January 2022

2022-01-12T15:49:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:49, 12 January 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Category:Costume]]		[[Category:Costume]]
	~~[[Category: The League]]~~

	=Dressing a Bravo=		=Dressing a Bravo=
	by Tim Baker		by Tim Baker

Rafferty at 15:00, 12 January 2022

2022-01-12T15:00:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:00, 12 January 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:

	[[Category:Costume]]		[[Category:Costume]]
	[[Category: The League]]		[[Category: The League]]

Jude: /* Dressing a Bravo */

2013-02-10T17:35:58Z

Dressing a Bravo

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:35, 10 February 2013
Line 78:		Line 78:
	Once this was done, I laid the pattern out on my fabric, sitting diagonally across it (on the bias). This is done to ensure you will get as much stretch as posisble. Despite not having made a pair of hose before, I’ve been wearing them at re-enactment for more than 18 years now and the most common problem is them tearing across the crotch. Knowing this, I plan to try and stop it happening by every means possible.		Once this was done, I laid the pattern out on my fabric, sitting diagonally across it (on the bias). This is done to ensure you will get as much stretch as posisble. Despite not having made a pair of hose before, I’ve been wearing them at re-enactment for more than 18 years now and the most common problem is them tearing across the crotch. Knowing this, I plan to try and stop it happening by every means possible.

	[[File:tim1.jpg]]		[[File:tim1.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|left\|One leg cut out. At this stage they don't look recognisible as anything.]]

	~~<b>~~One leg cut out. At this stage, they ~~don’t~~ look ~~recognisable~~ as anything.~~</b>~~


	A carpenter once told me ‘measure twice, cut once’. That is worth applying here. Once your pattern is laid out, draw around it on the fabric with dressmakers chalk. When you cut around it, remember to leave about half an inch all around as a seam allowance. You can always cut more off later if you make it too big.		A carpenter once told me ‘measure twice, cut once’. That is worth applying here. Once your pattern is laid out, draw around it on the fabric with dressmakers chalk. When you cut around it, remember to leave about half an inch all around as a seam allowance. You can always cut more off later if you make it too big.
Line 93:		Line 90:
	Having cut out twice around the pattern (once each way up), the next stage is to pin them and have a look at how they fit around your legs, then pin the two sections together. A friend to help you in invaluable here. Once they are pinned in approximately the right place, loosely stitch them together.		Having cut out twice around the pattern (once each way up), the next stage is to pin them and have a look at how they fit around your legs, then pin the two sections together. A friend to help you in invaluable here. Once they are pinned in approximately the right place, loosely stitch them together.

	[[File:tim2.jpg]]		[[File:tim2.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|left\|Wearing the hose inside out to be able to adjust the seams.]]

	~~<b>~~Wearing the hose inside out to be able to adjust the seams.~~</b>~~


	For this stage, I was just wearing them inside out, so I could see all the seams. It was also the stage where I made my first big mistake.		For this stage, I was just wearing them inside out, so I could see all the seams. It was also the stage where I made my first big mistake.
Line 114:		Line 108:
	Anyway, having cut out four triangular gussets anyway, I spontaneously decided to cut out a fifth one, slightly larger than the others. Bearing in mind how often I have seen hose split across the crotch before, I added this extra gusset between the legs. It isn’t in the pattern, but it should add a bit of extra room to maneuver. A 10 minute job that adds a lot of confidence to the end result.		Anyway, having cut out four triangular gussets anyway, I spontaneously decided to cut out a fifth one, slightly larger than the others. Bearing in mind how often I have seen hose split across the crotch before, I added this extra gusset between the legs. It isn’t in the pattern, but it should add a bit of extra room to maneuver. A 10 minute job that adds a lot of confidence to the end result.

	[[File:Tim3.jpg]]		[[File:Tim3.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|left\|Here you can see both the triangular gusset I’ve added to allow movement between the legs and the linen insert peeking out of the waistband where it has been stitched in to add strength.]]

	~~<b>Here you can see both the triangular gusset I’ve added to allow movement between the legs and the linen insert peeking out of the waistband where it has been stitched in to add strength.~~
	~~</b>~~

	===Stitching up===		===Stitching up===
Line 124:		Line 116:

	One other decision I made may have been slightly bizarre, but we’ll see if it worked out: to stitch the seams I used a large-ish needle and embroidery thread (as in, several strands, not just a single piece), rather than cotton. This was another choice to try and increase the strength of the seams. <i> (Note from Jude: using multiple strands of thread can strengthen your seam though embroidery floss can snap readily, especially when wet. Other extra strong options include linen thread, extra-strong top stitching thread and cobbler's thread. Stitching your seam twice is another option. You might also want to hem or oversew the raw edges of your fabric to stop them unravelling, as even the strongest thread can be let down if it's the fabric that gives way.)</i>		One other decision I made may have been slightly bizarre, but we’ll see if it worked out: to stitch the seams I used a large-ish needle and embroidery thread (as in, several strands, not just a single piece), rather than cotton. This was another choice to try and increase the strength of the seams. <i> (Note from Jude: using multiple strands of thread can strengthen your seam though embroidery floss can snap readily, especially when wet. Other extra strong options include linen thread, extra-strong top stitching thread and cobbler's thread. Stitching your seam twice is another option. You might also want to hem or oversew the raw edges of your fabric to stop them unravelling, as even the strongest thread can be let down if it's the fabric that gives way.)</i>

	~~[[File:tim4.jpg]]~~

	~~<b>~~Needle with embroidery thread~~</b>~~		[[File:tim4.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|left\|Needle with embroidery thread.

	====Handy Tip from Helly====		====Handy Tip from Helly====
Line 145:		Line 135:
	Thus the current plan is to remove the spats (top of foot) and just make them hose without feet, as these will most likely be covered by boots anyway.		Thus the current plan is to remove the spats (top of foot) and just make them hose without feet, as these will most likely be covered by boots anyway.

	[[File:Tim5.jpg]]		[[File:Tim5.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|left\|Here you can see the seam running up the back of the legs, as well as the unusually high waist..]]

	~~<b>~~Here you can see the seam running at the back of the legs, as well as the unusually high waist.
	~~</b>~~

	===Garment 2: Outer Hose===		===Garment 2: Outer Hose===
Line 198:		Line 185:
	Trying the hose on properly, it was obvious that the top of both leg seams needed tightening. Being too loose, especially with such a high waist, made my backside look massive. This was trivially fixed though. It is also apparent that I could stand to extend some of the slashes to make the colour more visible.		Trying the hose on properly, it was obvious that the top of both leg seams needed tightening. Being too loose, especially with such a high waist, made my backside look massive. This was trivially fixed though. It is also apparent that I could stand to extend some of the slashes to make the colour more visible.

	[[File:Tim6.jpg]]		[[File:Tim6.jpg\|300px\|thumb\|left\|Trying them on]]


	===Possible shortcut===		===Possible shortcut===

Jude: /* Dressing a Bravo */

2013-02-10T17:32:41Z

Dressing a Bravo

Show changes

Jude: /* Stitching up */

2012-12-11T13:46:14Z

Stitching up

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:46, 11 December 2012
Line 123:		Line 123:
	Once I was comfortable everything was about right, I did my final stitching together. For most of the back of the legs I just used a conventional [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_stitch running stitch]], although trying to keep the stitches small for neatness and strength. However, for the crotch seams and gussets I used another seam (with instructions from the pattern book)- the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backstitch backstitch]]. This is a dead easy stitch to do, but seems really strong and good for reinforcing those vulnerable areas.		Once I was comfortable everything was about right, I did my final stitching together. For most of the back of the legs I just used a conventional [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_stitch running stitch]], although trying to keep the stitches small for neatness and strength. However, for the crotch seams and gussets I used another seam (with instructions from the pattern book)- the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backstitch backstitch]]. This is a dead easy stitch to do, but seems really strong and good for reinforcing those vulnerable areas.

	One other decision I made may have been slightly bizarre, but we’ll see if it worked out: to stitch the seams I used a large-ish needle and embroidery thread (as in, several strands, not just a single piece), rather than cotton. This was another choice to try and increase the strength of the seams.		One other decision I made may have been slightly bizarre, but we’ll see if it worked out: to stitch the seams I used a large-ish needle and embroidery thread (as in, several strands, not just a single piece), rather than cotton. This was another choice to try and increase the strength of the seams. <i> (Note from Jude: using multiple strands of thread can strengthen your seam though embroidery floss can snap readily, especially when wet. Other extra strong options include linen thread, extra-strong top stitching thread and cobbler's thread. Stitching your seam twice is another option. You might also want to hem or oversew the raw edges of your fabric to stop them unravelling, as even the strongest thread can be let down if it's the fabric that gives way.)</i>

	[[File:tim4.jpg]]		[[File:tim4.jpg]]

Jude at 18:09, 10 December 2012

2012-12-10T18:09:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:09, 10 December 2012
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{stub}}~~
	[[Category:Costume]]		[[Category:Costume]]
			[[Category: The League]]

	=Dressing a Bravo=		=Dressing a Bravo=