The Medieval Tailor's Assistant: Making Common Garments 1200 - 1500

by Sarah Thursfield

From establishing the date for your outfit, defining the wearer, and selecting garments, to measurements, patterns, materials, and methods of construction for braies, shirts and smocks, cotes, kirtles, doublets, hose, surcotes, cotehardies, gowns, overkirtles, cloaks, children's clothing, head-wear, and on to accessories, this is the perfect costumer's resource all in one volume. There are more than 400 line drawings, including 121 patterns.

Sarah Thursfield is an experienced cutter and dressmaker with a diploma in fashion and a special interest in medieval dress. Her tailoring commissions include medieval and Tudor outfits for museums, garments for exhibitions, and many outfits for re-enactors.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Sewing, Reference, Fashion, Medieval, Fashion History

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent guide for planning and construction. I started out with the original edition from the library but recently purchased the new edition for myself, and I greatly appreciate the inclusion of more big nice color photos! While I never before had excessive interest in this period, the techniques and styles detailed in this book made me really excited and eager to make some medieval garments - it should be an excellent reference book for years of costuming to come.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book to help costumers make medieval clothing.

[Chocolategoddess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good overview, and great for learning the basics of a medieval wardrobe. Could use a little more detail in places, but definitely worth a read.

[Zuri Bennett-paden · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are expecting something as well researched and thorough as the Tudor tailor books you will be dissapointed. This is very much a book for people needing a quick medieval costume for a play or Halloween. The images many of the line drawings are based on are poorly sourced and the reasoning for patterning choices are not described. What choices are from extant garments or from art/sculpture and what is patterned based on the authors modern sewing training are not differentiated.

[Jaye Sudar · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's alright. Gives basic stuff from a modern patterning perspective.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book of how to make meadeival clothing!