I Made a Historybounding Kirtle || Medieval but Modern

In today’s episode of chaotic sewing adventures, I took the silhouette of a 15th century kirtle and modernized it to make a lovely little tea gown. This project was surprisingly cursed, and had so many hiccups that while it was supposed to be a lovely, light summer dress, it didn’t get finished until October. Such is the journey of sewing...

Silk & Wool Thread from DeVere Yarns

For behind the scenes, geekery and tea, find me on Instagram @the_halfling_seamstress

[coalsparks]

“Yes, my life is a side quest.” Glad I’m not the only one who feels like that!

[GrainneDhub-llvw]

I am convinced that hiccups are part of the historic process for most dressmakers. Keeping in mind that only the very wealthy owned lots of clothes and had professional dressmakers, most women probably didn't make that many kirtles over their entire lifetime, counting the ones they make for themselves and helped those in their households, family and friends made. At least in the earlier medieval period, say before 1400 CE.

Things started changing a great deal with the rise of a middle/merchant class, aided by the black death and various political upheavals.

Because every inch of every thread in every yard of fabric was hand spun, I doubt mockups were a normal part of the process and paper patterns probably weren't either. I think the average woman (neither ultra wealthy nor terribly poor) probably made a kirtle the way my Korean aunties made clothing when I was a girl: by taking measurements using a system of knots in a string (the measurements in a certain order and a few measurements marked out with a different knot from the simple overhand of the majority), then drew the pattern on the fabric itself.

Then they hiccupped and solved their way through the entire process of putting it together. They expected to hiccup and solve their way through the entire process. They expected their kirtles to get done when they got done and not one moment sooner.


were probably both different and much easier, being barely fitted and there being so many more of them than outer and middle layer garments.

[KissMyFrog]

Love it! That purple is just luscious, and the little bit of embroidery is adorable.
Also, I'd just like to point out that a "light summer dress" can be worn with a cardigan and tights well into autumn, and even winter, depending on what your winters look like.

[SerenaKaye]

💚🖤 I love the modern take on historical clothing, and this is lovely.

[ReinaElizondo]

Very cute! Great fit & I like the embroidery. And the color is yummy!

[makeda]

I pulled this up to watch whilst I bind my vaguely victorian history bounding corset and ended up just watching. Great kirtle~. 😌

[juniperjr]

Lovely kirtle! Thanks for sharing the hiccups along the way.

[stitchwithbritt]

This kirtle is so pretty💕 I love the purple color🥰 definitely gonna use this as a reference for my own hand sewing kirtle adventures💕

[KristinaHoneyHavenFarm]

Oh, that is such a lovely dress, and I love the blue one as well. Two things I learned: the little ironing board that I decluttered (gasp) was a sleeve ironing board, and the easy way to mark the hem is to hang the dress and measure up from the floor. How did I make it to 57 without knowing at least the second thing? I have one of those chalk tripod sticks but I do not like it very well; first it doesn't work incredibly well and second is that I like my dresses on the long side, which means that to use the chalk I have to actually step up onto a stool (not easy to balance and chalk at the same time).

[jsproles]

What a beautiful dress. This has inspired me to start drafting one!

[bunhelsingslegacy]

Hah, my kirtle pinafore is almost the exact same shade as your historybounding one!! I ended up facing my front centres with some canvas for rigidity and it was harder to force open with the awl but wo worth it. I used the rainbow colourchangey crochet thread from Michaels for the eyelets on mine, no regrets!

Thanks for the hints about eyelets. I always use as small a needle as I can get my thread through... and I like my shortest needles best, but that shouldn't be a surprise to me, as I can't use long knives too well either.

Yours looks really good!

[ladyduffield]

You have amazing skills!! The dress is adorable!! Fantastic job!!

[GwentheShieldmaiden]

This was so inspiring, thank you for sharing your journey on this project! I've been looking for ways to modernise medieval clothing for every day wear so this is great ❤

[aliveandwell]

Found some awesome wool (lightweight) at thrift, and thought of a dress . Like your idea of a kirtle ! Like mine longer as legs get chili. Can you make the front and back each 1 piece (no extra cut gores) ? Or if can use 1 piece for each side? Looks nice and comfy. Have some linen might try first. or see what to line wool in case itchy. Very inspiring

[Emmajen]

This is gorgeous! Now I want a pink one. 😊 I should make a kirtle pattern for myself!!

[AlexandraLynch]

I have some linen in my stash that I have earmarked for just such a dress! Very cool to see someone do it!

[christenagervais]

I don't think I would have your perseverance! Your kirtle did turn out beautifully though!

[brendaescalon]

Great video. You drove me crazy not ironing as you go, lol. You are encouraging me to try to make one too. Look forward to your videos. lol, you could call me the Halfing in Texas.

[hannah_finearts]

What a sweet dress and I the color. And gratulations for reaching the Partnerprogram - great Milestone :O) I still have a long way to go till I am there, I am doing something wrong it seems - 34 videos and 71 subs :o/ Maybe I should start sewing instead of painting - lol.
Love your outtakes by the way.

[aquaaurora]

Hope you were able to warm up after your reveal shoot! Cute dress. I also can't finish projects within the season I want to >.<