I've finally decided to put a website together for my projects. I'll include links to many of my past projects, some ramblings about those projects I'm thinking about or beginning to work on, and I'll include links to any supporting documents.
The PDF from my gambeson class a couple years back at Great Northeastern War continues to be a frequently visited link from Adam's (Master Lucius Cassius Magnus's) armour site (White Mountain Armoury, LLC). The handout was intended to help those folks with some sewing experience get past any apprehension they may have about tackling a padded coat. Though it doesn't provide an actual pattern, it does give some basic instruction on converting the pattern for a garment many people do have—the "t-tunic" style shirt. In addition to that, it provides some basic tips and techniques for actually quilting and constructing the garment. Some folks have shared pictures of their final garments with me, and they looked fabulous!
With that in mind, I've decided to start work on a class about putting your 13th/14th century soft-kit together. The class will focus on the major elements of the kit: cuisses, armoured surcoat/coat of plates, and the gambeson. Some of the elements of kit are appropriate for other periods, too! I'm not sure how it will all come together yet, but hope to have my work done to present the class at Great Northeastern War this year (2008).
In the meantime, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or any suggestions for future classes. I can be reached via email at marlabuttercup at yahoo dot com.
By the way, the photo above is from a deed of arms held at Pennsic 35 (challenge for the Couter of Chivalry). Magnus is wearing a surcoat emblazoned with his arms, and my surcoat is done to match with little heraldic cockerels along the hem. The surcoats were both done in linen, though the cocks are appliqued to black wool flannel and then applied to the garments. I made sheets of the lozengy ground first, piecing it together as if I was making a quilt. I then cut the pieces from the new fabric and sewed the garments.