How to Make an Inexpensive Medieval Costume

Medieval tunics were a basic article of clothing for men and women.

Medieval garb, whether fancy or plain, was based on one simple piece: the tunic. The T-tunic was floor-length for women and usually knee or thigh-length for men. Some tunics were short-sleeved, but most had long sleeves. The sleeves were narrow at the wrist, although the styles changed through the years. Most people wore tunics of either linen or wool, leaving the more expensive velvets and silks for royalty or nobility. However, using a thrift-store cotton bed sheet or wool blanket serves the purpose for an inexpensive medieval costume.

Things You'll Need

• One thrift-store bed sheet or wool blanket
• Loose fitting T-shirt or sweatshirt
• Matching color thread
• Chalk for marking the fabric
• Scissors
• Needle or sewing machine
• Ribbon or braid for trim, if desired

Instructions

1. Fold the sheet or blanket in half lengthwise so you have one long rectangle. Fold the material in half again, by putting the “top” and “bottom” together. The fabric is now folded in quarters. Note the corner that corresponds with the center of the fabric.

2. Take the T-shirt or sweatshirt and fold it in half lengthwise. Put the fold of the T-shirt on the fabric, matching the neck hole of the T-shirt up to the corner that corresponds to the center of the fabric.

3. Use the chalk to mark the outline of the tunic using the T-shirt as a guide. Leave a 1/2 inch or 5/8 inch as a seam allowance. The sleeve will go out to the edge of the fabric. It can be narrow, or it can flare out for a wide, hanging sleeve. The wide hanging sleeve is appropriate for a woman’s costume tunic. Extend the sides into a skirt, flaring out in an arc.

4. Take the T-shirt off the fabric and cut where you’ve marked with the chalk.

5. Measure your neck. Mark the neck hole with the chalk. Open the fabric by one fold, and make a "D" shape centered on the fold. Turn the fabric over and mark a much smaller "D" for the back of the neck. Cut out the neck hole.

6. Cut a small slit a few inches down the front of the neck hole so you can fit your head through it. Keyhole necks were common in medieval times, although there were other neck hole shapes as well.

7. Sew the side seams and sleeves of the tunic. Turn the tunic inside out, so that the right side of the fabric is out. Try it on to ensure the fit. Hem the sleeves and the bottom hem of the garment.

8. Sew the ribbon or braid around the keyhole neck and around the wrists of the sleeves. To wear this medieval costume, add a thick leather belt, and wear either tight-fitting pants or tights underneath.

Tips & Warnings

• Stick to basic solid colors. Natural dyes were used to make green, yellow and brown cloth. Blue and red were a bit more difficult, but the colors were popular in medieval times. Purple was rare and reserved for royalty.

• Be careful not to make the neck hole too big. It should be slightly bigger than your neck, and the slit in the keyhole will allow your head through.

References

• The Scholar’s Garret: How to Make a Quick-and-Dirty T-Tunic
• Incidental Padding; Sewing a T-Tunic; Adrius; 2006

Resources

• Lothene; Experimental Archeology; Early Medieval Clothes Patterns