Sarah ThursfieldMedieval Tailor's Assistant: Common Garments 1100-1480 (Revised and Expanded)

I love this book. As someone who is a plus size as well as liking to be accurate not just to use a commercial patterns I love this book! I happen to be in the SCA (that's a non-profit historical educational organization focusing on mainly 8th century to the death of Queen Elizabeth I) as well as a Arts and Sciences Champion. I have the Janet Arnold books, but this and the Tudor Tailor books are my favorites. The headdresses alone are worth buying the book (except for the horned headdress made with fabric not the metal mire actually used) are great. I have had many complements on things I have made based on this book. I do wish every garment had at least one headdress from the same period/place, but that's just a quibble. There are historical construction techniques I learned from this book that NO ONE ever told or showed me. I find the directions as simplified as you can get for things made differently than me make modern clothes. There are things I have never successfully made, and I found out it was because the construction order is different for had sewing (I cant do because of a disability) that I can now do with my sewing machine. Fabric recommendations are spot on. Not much on jewelry, but that happens to be really hard (I just wrote a 15 page paper on cuts and gemstones that we can document) even for me and I was a Applied Arts/Silversmithing minor in college. This is very focused on Europe, and I do wish a similar thing was available on Italian Garments, but this is so in depth and concise I do not feel it is lacking....just really focused. Excellent directions, diagrams, and I have not found an error yet, but I have not made everything in the 2 years I have had this book. I have not yet found a male willing ot let me try to make something for them, but I cannot foresee a problem as the women's items are so well done. This may not have everything, but it seems to be a good base to make you own variations. Who needs a paper pattern when you can make your own! Most things in period are based on squared shapes because is the most effecient way to use the handwoven cloth If oyu have ever woven enough cloth for garments you will understand the the obsessive need to not waste ANYTHING! As well that they have not developed the theories of movement we expect in modern clothing ..or if you need to move easily then you are not important/rich/powerful enough to need to do so. In any case I could make a Henrican/Elizabethan dress with all undergarments, corset, and farthinggale but I could never make a tunic that fit. I have narrow shoulders, a 40DD bust and 56in hips and this book let me make one that actually is period cut and looks good, with a veil of correct style, and I am not good at figuring out headgear.In short, this is my favorite costuming book, and its accurate too!

I love this book, and not just because it's a great primer on medieval clothing. It's also the best book on basic pattern-drafting I've found yet. You'll need a friend for pinning the block (a patient, non-grouchy friend, preferably), but the instructions are incredibly clear and simple. With almost no drafting experience, I was able to draft a very closely-fitting kirtle and cotehardie. The sleeves still need tweaking to fit perfectly, but sleeves are difficult and mine are totally wearable. For a first attempt at sleeve drafting, I'm quite happy (and the fit problems are all in the arm and wrist, not the armscye).While this book is not comprehensive and I'd recommend supplementing it with other sources (no mention of fur tippets, only tippet style included is a straight band, doesn't include bliauts or much instruction on headwear, no eight-panel cotehardie, no two-piece sleeves, etc.), it's an indispensable primer for patterning and sewing medieval clothing that is suitable for the advanced beginner to intermediate sewer. The book does an admirable job providing an introduction to the clothing of a very broad time period.To supplement "The Medieval Tailor's Assistant," I'd recommend the Excavations in London series, particularly "Textiles and Clothing" and "Dress Accessories," "Medieval Military Costume," by Gerry Embleton (does include some women's clothing; no patterns), and the annual journal "Medieval Clothing and Textiles," ed. Robin Netherton (volume 1 has an excellent article on fur tippets). A book or two on tablet-weaving might also be of interest for making your own belts and girdles.

This is one of the best books for creating patterns, choosing fabrics, editing a pattern for your personal size, as well as a great primer for what to wear that I have seen. Not being an expert in the sewing craft I need a little extra guidance, and this book delivers.This book first of all does feature a nice area on garments on when they were worn historically. In a simple time line she demonstrates proper fabric choices as well as the styles that were around during those years.The book is one of the few that features patterns for men, women, children, and even babies. Also included are maturnity patterns, shoes, and some hats. So its great for the variety of patterns it will provide you.So now that we know what styles are appropriate, what fabric will work, and we can do the basics, the book is kind enough to help you with making your pattern in terms of suggesting great ways to customize patterns for you own body.This book really sets itself appart with the breadth of patterns it offers, suggestions on how to make your garmets look period by even getting embroidery patterns for buttons, and other finishing stitches, and tells you how to make them look best on you. The book is easy to read, and the illustrations are clean, clear, and concise. A definate one to pick up if you want to create clothes from years past. I would personally jump on this one, as you know some books like this have small print runs, and who knows when you can get your hands on one like this again.

If you have never drafted a pattern before, this is a nice overview. It's also great for getting your head around the basic shape of many different garments, and how they were assembled. I have a little more experience with pattern drafting, so I've used this more as an idea book that using the actual patterns, but that is by no means a complaint. It's a great resource to have on hand for any SCA seamstress or costumer.

If you are creating anything old, as far as garb or costuming, this book is a must. Love it and use it all the time.

I don't have that much knowledge on Medieval clothing and searching on google was surprisingly hard to find different patterns for this time period. The kirtle is readily available on the internet but this book shows a variety of women's dress and also a variety on men and women's patterns based off of Medieval manuscripts and art. It is very thorough on what materials/textiles to use, and what colours you should pick, What I like about this book is that it shows how to draft the patterns. Great book overall it is worth the money.

Fundamental para recreadores de la baja edad media, con este libro poco más se necesita para indumentaria, muy recomendable, patrones muy claros y en sistema métrico.

très bon livre, plus qu'une source d'information, explication et réalisation de patron ou même confection, impossible de ne pas y arrivée

An useful book for seamstresses interested in making medieval clothes. Patterns are provided but need to be scaled up for use and not everyone can do that. It would be useful if the patterns were available as full size paper patterns ready for pinning onto the material for cutting out..

Diese Anleitung ist wirklich gut und ihren Preis wert! Wesentlich ist hervorzuheben die schrittweise Anleitung zum Erstellen eines persönlichen Grundschnittmusters. Allerdings genügt verschüttetes Schulenglisch nicht zum Textverständnis, aber mit einem Wörterbuch, Vorstellungsvermögen (Fachausdrücke!) und genauer Betrachtung der Bilder gelingen auch einem Anfänger zufriedenstellende Ergebnisse. Die weiter erforderlichen schneiderhandwerklichen Fertigkeiten können mit Geduld und Üben erlangt werden,auch Schneider fallen nicht vom Himmel! Hilfreich ist der zu jeder Zeichnung angegebenen Maßstab.Interessant sind auch die bis ins Detail gehenden Hinweise zu Stoff- und Farbauswahl, Zuschnitt bis hin zu Haartracht und Zubehör.