How to Make a Knight's Costume for the Renaissance Festival
Knights of the Renaissance did not dress in the heavy suits of armor of their Medieval predecessors. Instead, they wore outfits more closely resembling the everyday clothing of the period, often of a Tudor style. Their elevated social status, however, prompted them to wear finer fabrics and fancier accessories than the general population. If you're attending a Renaissance festival and want to go in costume, you do not have to purchase an expensive outfit to wear. Use your basic sewing skills to create a costume that reflects your individuality and creativity and will fit you perfectly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Historic costume sewing pattern
- Fabric
- Sewing pins
- Scissors
- Marking pencil
- Thread
- Sewing machine
- Notions
Instructions
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Measure yourself while wearing the undergarments you plan to wear under your knight's outfit, so you get a good fit for your costume. Measure your hips, waist and chest. You will need to take these measurements to the fabric store to purchase your sewing pattern and fabric.
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Buy a sewing pattern for a men's historic Renaissance costume that features a fitted vest or jacket that ends at or below the hips, a shirt with long billowy sleeves and pants that come just past the knee. Choose your size by looking at the back of the pattern envelope.
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Purchase the correct amount of fabric for your outfit. Popular choices for Renaissance clothing feature jewel tone colors, particularly dark red, green, and blue. Fabric choices may include cotton for the pants and shirt, and velvet or brocade for the vest or jacket. Keep in mind that most Renaissance festivals are in the summer, so you may be wearing this costume in hot weather. For this reason, choose fabrics that are not too heavy or thick. Read the back of the pattern to see what notions, such as buttons or braided trim, you may need.
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Cut out the pattern according to the instructions included in the pattern envelope.
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Pin the pattern to the fabric and carefully cut out the pattern pieces, making sure to mark any pattern markings with the marking pencil. If using velvet or any fabric with a nap or design, be sure the design or nap is positioned in the same direction for all your pattern pieces.
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Pin the garment pieces together as instructed by the pattern directions. This is the time to try on the garment to test the fit and make any changes or alterations.
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Sew the pieces together as instructed, and try on each garment after sewing any major seams, such as the back and side seams.
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Hem the sleeves of the shirt to fall halfway down the length of the hand.
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Attach any notions, such as buttons or trim, that were not attached during the sewing process.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid slippery fabrics, such as satin or chiffon, if this is your first sewing project. These fabrics are difficult to cut and sew.
No Renaissance knight would be seen without a hat, so if your pattern includes a hat, make one to match. If you do not have a hat pattern, consider purchasing an inexpensive floppy cap to top off your costume. For a more authentic look, consider purchasing a metal helmet with a flat brim.
Top off your look with knee-high boots.
While it may be more historically accurate to wear a weapon, such as a dagger or sword, with your costume, many festivals do not allow them for safety reasons. If they are allowed, be sure the blades are protected so you do not accidentally injure yourself or others in a crowd.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit sewing image by pncphotos from Fotolia.com
