Making Medieval Times Clothing for Kids
Medieval times were an age of myths and legends, providing the basis for many children's stories and fairy tales. Amateur seamstresses can easily make period costumes to dress their little boys as Robin Hood, merry-men woodsmen or court jesters. Little girls can be clothed as medieval princesses, fairies or wood-sprites. Use the handmade clothing for games of make-believe, imaginary dress-up activities or school plays.
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Medieval Period
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Historians define the medieval period as lasting from after the decline of the Roman Empire until the Renaissance period, or roughly from 450 A.D. until about 1450 A.D. Sheep's wool, woven into cloth, was a major industry of the European medieval economy. Woolen fabric was universally worn by all social classes and age groups. Linen, made from flax, was used to make undergarments and clothing for the upper classes. Sheep were often shorn and their wool spun into thread for cloth by medieval family's women.
Medieval Fashion
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Medieval clothing styles varied over the thousand year period, evolving from simpler to more complex fashions. The type of clothing worn depended upon the economic class from the peasantry to royalty. Children's clothing was essentially a downsized and simplified version of adult clothing. Children were occasionally depicted in paintings and illuminated manuscripts wearing tunics, cloaks, simple dresses and frocks, woolen hats and leather or cloth shoes. Boys wore cowls and hoods, while girls wore shifts, bonnets and booties.
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Basics
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Hand stitch basic children's garments such as knee-length tunics for boys and ankle-length girl's gowns using lightweight wool dyed bright red, green, yellow and blue. Gather the tunics and dresses at the waist with a wool belt. Sew with narrow-gauge woolen thread for authenticity. Make short breeches for boys and long socks or tights for girls held up with wool strips. Hem and embroider long cloaks fastened with brooches for both sexes. Make linen undergarments to prevent itchiness from the wool.
Accessories
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Fashion long linen headdresses for girls, held on with wool headbands. Make flowery wreaths, chin kerchiefs and veils fastened with pins. Sew long-tailed hoods and cowls for boys and girls. Construct elfin caps with long pointed tips that fold over for boys. Stick feathers in the caps. Stitch together shoes from leather or felt with long, upturned tips. Make tall hunter-style boots with folded down tops for boys. Sew small purses and bags to hang from woolen belts.
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