How to Make a Costume to Be Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1). Measure the person who will wear the Chaucer costume. Take waist, neck, wrist and bust measurements from the shoulder to calf-length, where Chaucer wore his tunic. Have the person stand with his arms straight out to the sides. Measure the distance between his two wrists. Write the measurements down.
- 2). Study a basic T-tunic pattern. Sites like Barony of al Barron have T-tunic pattern images and instructions. Visit your local fabric store and ask about medieval tunic patterns, if you don't have Internet access.
- 3). Lay out a piece of pattern paper, a giant sheet of tracing paper or an old sheet or fabric piece. The fabric piece should measure twice as long as your shoulder-to-hem measurement and several inches wider than your wrist-to-wrist measurement.
- 4). Fold a piece of black, gray or brown fabric like cotton, wool or twill in quarters, folding the raw edges together first, then the selvage edges together second. The fold should sit on the left-side of the cloth square.
- 5). Fold a loose T-shirt or short-sleeve button-down shirt in half lengthwise. Lay it atop the fabric square on the top left corner, flush with the folded edge.
- 6). Draw the right half of your tunic using the T-shirt to guide where the armpit and sleeve sit. Trace about 2 inches away from the T-shirt so the tunic fits loosely. Draw a long sleeve straight out to the side and a bell shape with a rounded hem reaching the bottom of the fabric piece. Consult your T-tunic image for guidance.
- 7). Cut the neck hole based on your measurement, cutting 1 inch longer than your measurement.
- 8). Open the fabric. Pin and sew the two pieces together along the sides and under the sleeves. Have the wearer try on the tunic. Pin and resew as needed.
- 9). Press your seams with an iron when the tunic fits correctly. Turn it right-side out.
- 10
Sew several buttons on the front of the tunic, starting at the neckline. - 11
Cut a rectangular piece of the scrap tunic fabric long enough for it to wrap around the top of the wearer's head and hit his shoulders. Wrap the piece once around the top of the wearer's head, above the hairline. Drape the extra fabric over the head and neck, similar to a nun's habit. Adjust as necessary and pin it in place with hairpins. - 12
Have the wearer put on black leggings and basic, flat brown or black boots. Cut pieces of felt, and tape them around the outside of sneakers or regular walking shoes if you can't find boots. - 13
Have the wearer put on a white turtleneck, then the tunic over it. Place a rosary on the wearer's wrist, or tack it onto the front of his tunic.
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