"But I have nothing to wear!!!"

Ahh, the eternal dilemma.....what to wear to a joust, royal feast, listening to minstrels in the Great Hall or just meandering through the Renaissance Faire?

If you make your own costumes (sometimes called "garb"), there should be something of interest for you on this page. Though I have also included a very small section of merchants who sell ready-to-wear or custom-made costumes (to give you ideas or if you're in need of something "right now!"), you will find my page rather slanted toward making your own.......

Costume Designers, Shops, Accessories

Ana's Accoutremonts   I have not bought anything from her, but I've seen a couple pieces of her work, and it is nice quality.

Catskill Mountain Moccasins   another "RenFaire" boot/shoemaker

The Renaissance Store   This is kind of a "one-stop shopping" site. Books, patterns, finished costumes and accessories.  Although I have heard some folks having problems with this particular source, my own purchases and dealings with them have been quite satisfactory.

Renaissance Dancewear   I've not tried these, but they certainly look good.   The sample of fabric I got from them was impressive.

Travel Clothing by Half Moon   I endorse these folks most heartily!! Their stuff is *almost* as good as mine!

Sewing/Costuming Sites

17th Century Sewing Tips Good basics on corsets, cartridge pleating and such. Some nice hints I hadn't seen anywhere else....

AlterYears Costume Supply  Don't let this (rather ugly and very bare-bones) website fool you... get one of their catalogs!!  Patterns, corset boning, grommets, supplies of all sorts.... oh, and did I mention books and patterns? (Their range of patterns is from ancient to current...very heavy on stuff later than my own period of interest, but they carry more pattern lines than anyone else I've seen).  I've personally found the staff very willing to answer those "oddball" questions here and there and if you ask for opinions on the patterns or books or for help on a very specific sewing technique or construction problem, you're likely to get very good information. 

Basic Tunics   From an article published in the SCA's "Tournaments Illuminated".  (Due to the illustrations, this page takes QUITE a while to load!!)   However it's very complete and contains a lot of information on drafting a "period correct" tunic pattern.

Blackwork Embroidery Archives  If you want to do Elizabethan blackwork, this is an interesting site....

Braids    How to make three, four, five and more strand braids.   Suggestions on the page for uses for some of the more elaborate braiding styles.   (The inventive might draw inspiration for hair braiding here.....)

A Brief History of That Most Delectable of Subjects: Codpieces     No, NOT fish parts!!   No patterns (or recipies, either), just some history/info on when and why codpieces existed...

Button Emporium (hand crafted and replicated buttons)   The thing that drew me here were the pewter buttons and the sterling/gemstone buttons.  Very nice, even though probably not historically accurate!!

CGW   Costumers' Guild West main page... many good links to other professional costumers resources and organizations here

Chaperon's and How to Make Them  Chaperons were derived from hoods...   eventually extended with long tails to liripipes (those long dangling things kind of like modern stocking caps can have).  Info/patterns here....

Dry Cleaning Period Attire     Things to consider when looking for a drycleaner for your costumes...

Clothing of the Ancient Celts   Good "jumping-off point" to a group of resources for what is generally termed "Celtic" clothing.... no real pictures here, but a great deal of historically accurate information if you're interested in (mainly) Scottish/Irish clothing up to the 16th century.

The Costume Page   Another page of good links and information for costumers!

Cowls   (that hood-like thing that drapes over your shoulders.....pattern and instructions here)

Cloak Making    Besides a few mentions of commerical patterns that may or may not still be around, this page has shows how to make your own cloak in several styles:   Rectangular, semi-circle and "opera"...

Dragonfly Design  Another purveyor of several lines of Renaissance patterns... and some other things besides...

Fantasy/Medieval clothing   A web page with instructions and patterns good for the beginning sewer or someone who wants a very basic start.   Shirt, tunic, pants, cloak covered on this page.  Clothing could be considered unisex, though the author is male and is primarily concerned with men's costuming.

Green Duck Designs  Books, patterns, music and more.  Good place!

Hand-Knit Hose (Stockings)    For those who *really* want to be authentic... or just for a look at how it was or is done.

16th Century Fabric Consumption  Or, "how much fabric does it take to make a......?"    Excellent reference!!!  Part of the very well done Elizabethan Costuming site....  kudos to all involved in this one!

How to Make a Renaissance Hat  The "flat cap" so often seen with Elizabethan costumes for both men and women.

How to Wrap a Great Kilt  This is one way, but certainly not the ONLY way.  There are pictures provided that may help to visualize it for those who are confounded by the "lay down on yards of fabric and pleat it" advice....

Quick and Dirty Great Kilt  Another version of how to do this...  very basic drawings here with text.

Milieux: The Costume Site   Absolutely HUGE number of links and references here! If you don't go to ANY other link on my page you still need to go here!! She's done an absolutely AWESOME job of gathering costuming and sewing resources in one place. I spend a *lot* of time checking this site out on a very regular basis!!

Elizabethan Costuming Homepage   Great page for all aspects of Elizabethan costuming.  Well-documented!!

Ren Faire: Costumes    No pictures, but a reasonably current list of commercial and specialty patterns (and sources) for period clothing.  Also recommendations on how to make some of the commercial patterns listed either pass "Faire costume check" or just getting closer to that genre.

Making an Elizabethan Corset   great page with instructions, how to draft a pattern that *really* fits and even includes a corset pattern generator based on measurements you input!

Manly Men (Ye Olde Garb Monger)   Describes basic "Faire Wear" and sort-of how to make it.

A Stitch Out of Time   This stuff will make you drool and cringe at the same time.... some of the works pictured here are gorgeous, but I cannot imagine the time needed to do the actual embroidery!

MoiRandall's Web Catalog   Some readymade stuff here, but they have simple patterns for beginners or that "peasant look"

Pouches   Quickie instructions that allow you to make a basic pouch (lined or unlined)

Poulet Gauche (French peasant/lower middle class costume) Basic diagrams/suggestions and links with other pages discussing this era (late 16th century)

Scottish Men's Clothing    No pictures, good information and historical references.

Scottish Women's Clothing   Same author as the Scottish men's clothing, same notes.

Sharon Krossa's Leine Pattern   for that very baggy-sleeved chemise that is considered Scots or Irish for RenFaires

Sumptuary Laws in Renaissance England    Some information on what you could and couldn't wear depending on class... interesting to the modern eye...

Viking Embroidery  For those who want to embellish an earlier period character's costume.

Viking Tunics   Pattern/instruction and information here.

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This page last updated on: 06/06/00