SCA Costume Resources on the Internet
Many Online Resources for Making or Buying Medieval Costumes
Nov 8, 2009
The Society for Creative Anachronism, or the SCA, is a pre-17th century medieval Europe reenactment group located in the US. As explained on their website, one of the requirements for attending events is an attempt at a appropriate costume. While new members can borrow from long time members or get away with something left over from a theater group, once a member starts attending regularly it is time to build a closet of more accurate and appropriate costumes.
Finding Patterns, Learning to Sew, and Locating the Right Fabric
For those with a little sewing experience or who are willing to learn, making their own costumes is probably the best choice. Buying costumes can get very expensive, and the quality or historical accuracy can greatly differ. The first step in making home sewn costumes is to locate a decent pattern. Fabric selection can be trickier, but should usually what until the proper pattern is located. Not all fabrics work with all patterns.
There are some decent patterns to be found by checking the costume section of a fabric store's pattern books, even from large pattern companies like Simplicity. However, they're not usually very accurate, and can be tricky for those not used to sewing. For men, the best project to start with is a simple t-tunic. It's named after it's shape - it resembles a capital T.
The resources page on sca.org has plenty of links explaining how to make a basic tunic, how to modify it into a very easy dress for women, and how to make basic accessories. The page also links to small companies that offer very historically accurate patterns, and websites with free patterns and tutorials. For those afraid to buy a sewing machine or a bunch of fabric on their own, most groups have at least one person very well acquainted with costuming that can help teach beginners the basics.
Buying Custom or Pre-Made Medieval Costumes Online
For those who have the extra money and don't have the time for sewing, buying a pre-made or even custom made costume may be the best choice. One obvious place to start is on the juried merchant's list on SCA.org - it's found under the Shopping tab, and then under the link SCA Marketplace. This list is juried to only include vendors offering quality and historically accurate products, including clothing.
SCAToday.net also keeps a list of merchants, but the quality of the merchants may vary more there. Ebay is often a good source for finding nice garb, but beware of getting ripped off. The quality may be much lower than expected, and fabrics that look far from the time period are often used. If you're not sure what to look for, find someone experienced in costume shopping on eBay through a mailing list or your local group.
Boots and footwear are also something most people buy, due to the complexity of creating a pair of shoes from scratch. Good options can be found in many normal retailers, if you're willing to forgo a little accuracy for price and comfort. Very accurate boots and shoes can be found online, but these handmade items can be expensive and uncomfortable.
Footwear wasn't very comfortable in the middle ages, so the most accurate reproductions won't be either. Consider if you're willing to put up with blisters or if you can adjust with insoles and thick socks before purchasing them.
Medieval Costumes Can Be Homemade or Purchased from a Vendor
The Society for Creative Anachronism certainly doesn't discriminate against those who make their own costumes instead of spending lots of money on pre-made costumes, even if the seams are crooked. There are patterns that can be followed even by those with no sewing experience, and often beginners can find a helpful mentor in their local group to lend them a sewing machine and teach them to use it.
Sources:
SCA.org, Accessed November 8th 2009.
SCAToday.net, Accessed November 7th 2009.
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