What are good websites for SCA Garb?

Question

More specifically for Norse and not incredibly complicated.I need actual patterns. I've got an event in may and I need to make some garb for myself as well as my significant other and I don't have any anymore

Answer 1

Hi!

For an overview, start with Hustwic, http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/daily_living/text/clothing.htm, they have one of my favourite sites for this kind of info.

Also check out www.vikinganswerlady.com (Mistress Gunnora from Ansteorra), or www.regia.org (Regia Anglorum - they do Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Norman).

I make my dresses and my husband's tunics using Maggie Forest's approach to T-tunics ("T-Tunic the Period Way"). It's all based on using triangle and rectangles and has the added benefits of being not terribly complicated and demonstratably period:
http://www.forest.gen.nz/Medieval/articles/Tunics/TUNICS.HTML

A couple other approaches making this basic garment:
http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/index.php?s=&c=8&d=141&e=&f=&g=&a=126&w=2
http://www.virtue.to/articles/tunic_worksheet.html

However, if you lack time, here a "quick & dirty" approach:
http://www.sca.org.au/politarchopolis/library/tunic.php

Here is the pattern I use for my top layer, the Norse "Apron Dress" (aka, "hanging dress", "suspended dress", "hangerock" or "tragerrock"):
http://sca.uwaterloo.ca/mjc/sca/aprond.html

Here are a bunch of other ideas how to do it:
http://www.tjurslakter.nl/viking%20apron-dress.pdf

Here is Thora Sharptooth's article on Norse ("viking") tunics:
http://gersey.tripod.com/history/tunic.html

Here's an article instructions for both Tunic & Pants (for men):
http://members.iinet.net.au/~bill/handbook/tunic.html

This site has a fairly simply trouser pattern:
http://www.larp.com/legioxx/coldcloth.html

Try to use wool or linen, if you can; avoid poly-cotton broadcloth. I've used a lot of linen-cotton blends for both my husband & brother's garb. It's not a strong as 100% linen, but it looks right. If you can find silk noil for a decent price, it's not really *authentic*, but it looks right. Just be forwarned that it bleeds in the laundry. Pre-wash it before you cut it out and always wash it with similar colours.

As for colour, the Norse had a strong preference for blues and greens (the Irish even sometimes refered to them as the "Gormglas" which means "blue-green" in Gaelic). Other colours that have been found in Norse archeology include walnut-browns, natural black/charcoal (from wool from sheep that colour), yellow, red (brick red more than fire engine red) and purple.

Have fun at at your event, and it you're ever at Pennsic, drop by the Rowanhall camp (at the bottom of Runestone Hill) and say hi.

Answer 2

Sca Costumes

Answer 3

Here are some websites that the SCA website links to for "what to wear."

http://www.costumepage.org/tcpmake2.html
http://www.sca.org/officers/chatelain/ForwardIntothePast.pdf
http://www.geocities.com/yourstruly/sca.html
http://www.costumes.org/history/100pages/medievalinks.htm
http://scatoday.net/node/view/3992

I didn't see any that specifically said they were for Norse costumes, but I also didn't look too closely at them. If nothing else, maybe they'll give you ideas or point you in the right direction.

If those websites don't help, try the link below to find your local SCA group, and ask the people in the group if they have any suggestions. The SCA people I've known in the past have all been really friendly. Best of luck!

http://www.sca.org/findsca.html

Answer 4

Go to sca.org, they will have links. Also, bear in mind that Norse garb is pretty simple--a t-tunic and leggings (storebought work just fine) would work for both of you, though you'd want to make the female tunic a little longer. The best thing about t-tunics is that you can use a t-shirt as the basis for your pattern.
For decoration, sew or quickbond pre-made trim around the neckline, sleeves and lower edge. For Norse, you might want to go with fake fur trim.
amtgard.com has a very simple t-tunic pattern also.