I recently attended a local SCA event in Meridies, which necessitated me borrowing some garb to wear, because mine is of course still not here from Cornwall. I have always worn what is considered late period garb, meaning late 16th century, and have worn what is considered upper class, or gentry clothes. This tunic and surcote outfit was a huge change for me, but a lot of fun. I did some research and made myself a veil, barbette and wimple out of a 60/40 linen/cotton fabric, all hand rolled hems, and was fairly pleased with how it turned out. Fairly, because it really does not look how I had imagined it would. Maybe I starched it too much, I am not certain. I was going for more of the look of the ladies in the Maciejowski Bible illuminations, where the veil rests on the tops of the shoulders but the front points come down to armpit level. I am going to try it again without the starch and see how that works for me, but overall I was happy with it. The barbette is a strip of linen, a tube of fabric sewn in the back, that goes up and over the top of my head and is pinned together there. On top of that I am wearing a fillet of stiffened linen that is pinned in the back and also pinned to the barbette on the sides. The Wimple is a large rectangle of cloth that is pulled up under my chin and around to the back of my head, being pinned at the top of the barbette and a few pins along the back. The Veil is pinned on either side, at the cross points of barbette and filet. It stayed on very well, no issues with the wind at all. I folded back the front edge when I went inside and was talking over dinner and it was pretty that way. I found out that the linen fillet is a lovely sweat band!I have just started a needlebook that I am working on some of the Zweigart Kingston linen. It is a carnation worked in GST inside a coil of gold plaited braid. A bee will figure prominently, which is appropriate as this is a gift for an SCA friend and she will recognize that the bee is from my own registered device and so will represent me. Carnations symbolize friendship, so I think it is a fitting design for the gift. So far I have the calyx on the carnation about finished, and hope to get some work done on the petals done today. I am so busy just now, trying to get my house painted before my furniture arrives, that I really don't have time to even be thinking about embroidering, but I have to sit at the landrymat today, and it helps to have something to work on so I am not sitting and fuming over wasted time.
Edit, October 15, 2010: Recently, I had the opportunity to drag my veil and wimple out from the drawer to wear to an SCA event in An Tir. I was again borrowing an outfit, because this time I had just moved across the country and my stuff was still in transit, what of it that was not damaged in the flood. The veil had come with me in my suitcase, for whatever reason. I really liked how it felt this time, and was much happier all around with the look. It helped that I did not starch it prior to wearing it. I was very comfortable in the gown and head wear, and have begun serious research into making a gown to go with the veil and wimple. I know, centuries earlier than I have ever even considered for Jane, but I think it will be fun. Most people in the SCA start early and gradually go late, so I guess I am going at it a bit backwardly.
