Once upon a time, in a post a fair way away I promised some measurements for the formal black Franco-flemish hood* that I constructed. This one to be precise: And lo, here they are: These measurements are for the following three...
Read MoreAnnouncing: 31 pages of analysis and examples of women’s headwear between 1460 and 1530. (18MB, PDF file, click link to download) This is the handout from a class I taught at Rowany Festival in 2014. It covers eight types...
Read MoreFirst of all, what is an ear iron? An ear iron is a metal frame that passes behind the nape and drops over the ears, ending at or slightly below the level of the ear lobe. It is held in place with ribbons which are tied...
Read MoreOne of the most distinctive aspects of Netherlandish clothing are the hats. It’s probably the whole reason that I’m drawn to the style. While the ladies of England and France were wearing the ubiquitous...
Read MoreOver Easter I was asked to join the Order of the Laurel, and made a decision to be elevated at Rowany Baronial change-over four weekends later, i.e. last night. This decision was made easier by the fact I had a dress close to...
Read MoreAs promised back in February, here’s the 20 page research paper on the history, varieties and potential construction of the Hovetcleet (know in modern Dutch as a sluierkap). It includes a visual survey of the change in...
Read MoreHSF Challenge #7: Tops and Toes The huik (also spelt heuk, heuke, hoik or hoyke) is a cloak-like garment with a distinctive “duck-bill” which appears in the artistic and written records of the Netherlands from around 1520,...
Read MoreIn preparation for a class on women’s headwear in France and the Low Countries that I am teaching at Rowany Festival I have started a count of the frequency of each hat type as represented in art. I thought I might...
Read MoreThis is part 2 of the Hovetcleet Challenge, and my entry in the Historical Sew Fortnightly’s 2nd challenge: Innovation. Part 1: Hovetcleets and Oorijzers covers the history of this piece of headwear and some of my theories...
Read MoreThe iconic and most easily identifiable item of female Netherlandish clothing is the heart shaped structured veil, or hovetcleet, seen in many paintings of the time. Most especially in the works of Gerard David and Joos van...
Read MoreMy sewing group recently posted its wrap up of completed projects for the year, I thought I’d replicate my list here, with photos. Low Countries Clothing Projects For me: Green linen kirtle with ruffled hem, including...
Read MoreThis project is coming along well (see this post for design decisions and overall vision, and this one for the first progress update), despite having to do everyday things like go to work and sleep and general life admin. My aim...
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