Making a *thrifty* medieval dress (15th century kirtle on the cheap)

[@making.history]

I'm so thrilled that people are finding and enjoying this! 😍 I make videos at a pretty slow pace but I'm having so much fun and there are definitely more coming! The next one may involve leather 😎🏍🔥

[@artheaded1]

A very well researched and executed project! You really nailed the look of the inspiration piece, too bad your "unicorn" didn't want to cooperate. One thing we should remember is that although there was the "usual" way of cutting and piecing and sewing garments, each cotehardie, kirtle, shift, etc. was made for a specific body shape. More times than we'll ever know, the seamstresses and tailors undoubtedly ran into the same limitations of fabric that you did. And as you said, clothing was treated as a precious commodity so it was worn long past the time it was in the height of fashion. Styles also changed more gradually so its not unusual to have no clear cut start and end date, there's some overlap. So all the guess work, weird piecing, extra darts and seams you made to make this fit are absolutely historically accurate.

[@AriallaMacAllister]

"I roughly know exactly where they're gonna go" is something I suspect most people who have made stash projects have thought about their pieces. I genuinely enjoyed this video, especially the historical tangents.

[@making.history]

Haha YES. I'm always just surfing this wave of having enough of an idea of where something's going to do the next step, but not quite enough to feel like I actually know what I'm doing.

[@making.history]

and thank you so much!

[@Risaala]

Please more historical tangents!!! The editing and commentary on yourself and the world is *chef's kiss!*

[@making.history]

Thank you! :) More historical tangents coming up!

[@deannachattaway1013]

Those eyelet holes are beautiful

[@making.history]

thank you!

[@nancyborden210]

For a beginner seamstress you are quite gifted!

[@jenniferpingleton8389]

Love your videos! And just an historical note, making your pattern or idea work with the fabric you have is completely historically accurate!!

[@making.history]

thank you! And that is a great point. Absolutely!

[@caroleanderson4020]

Yup yup yup!! That's exactly what I thought too!

[@stevezytveld6585]

How on earth is this only your fourth video... good heavens... just hit the notification bell... *_really_* well done... I don't think I've seen an onion skin dye that's worked out to that deep a colour. Love having the cat as a stand in for the unicorn. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown

[@making.history]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it and I'm excited to keep the videos coming your way!

[@sangarora1216]

Love your narration style --- and its so good to see someone else who does costuming entirely by thrift and internet. Subscribed!

[@making.history]

Thank you! This is so encouraging!!

[@caroleanderson4020]

💕😍💕😍💕 I love the historical tangents!!! Omg! I love this dress SO MUCH!!!! I love your juggling of (historical research + scant real examples + your own creative/practical solutions). I kinda do that too, so your process is very informative and inspiring. I love your calm & deadpan attitude: cute, intelligent, funny! Thank you for your wonderful video.

[@Siennaflower]

That color you got from the onions is amazing!!! 🧅

[@geraniaceae4470]

Good to see someone else's sewing process successfully includes "making it up as I go along".

[@Jess38044]

Damn, I truly got blessed by the youtube recommendations today

[@making.history]

(take note, algorithm 😎)

[@juliecain6397]

YOUR DRESS TURNED OUT BEAUTIFUL...A BIT SHORT, BUT BEAUTIFUL NONETHELESS. BRAVO! ESPECIALLY ON THE SLEEVES. GENIUS SAVE.

[@avisfuriosa2189]

Totally great video. Was going to make an office-ready kirtle next and am now looking forward to it even more. Btw, the sleeves with the little pieced-in gores, from some archeological work I was able to read, are actually historically correct.

[@tammymcc327]

Grabbing the cat to try to pose like the picture, made me laugh out loud!

[@DarklightAmy]

The dress turned out gorgeous! And it was so satisfying how you used every possible fabric scrap.

[@making.history]

Thank you! :)

[@eleanorbarsic8065]

Great! I love how you priced it together. So period in my opinion. After combing fiber, Spinning it, weaving it into cloth, I don't think any would be waisted! Later dresses show tiny tiny pieces used and I have done so in many pieces I've made.

[@making.history]

Thank you, and I totally agree!

[@lottiw2939]

"i'll jump back into my body now" is the perfect way to end a voiceover (also your brief breakdown of European culture was *chef's kiss* immaculate)

[@making.history]

hehe thanks :3

[@elainebye9090]

I really liked this video, and thought the balance of crafting/sewing and historical info was perfect. I also love your sense of humor and your cat. 😊

[@nuadsilverhand]

Tangents are fine, and you looked wonderful. It's a style that could do with a revival.

[@doreenfinlay8267]

Amazing is what I thought about the dress. The onion skin dye is the darkest I have seen, gorgeous. I love the comical narrative in places. Love it and will keep watching.

[@reasonablyreliable]

Love the historical tangents, and the natural dyes!

[@bricksloth6920]

I'm currently binging on your vids. I particularly like UNRELATED IMAGE and the cat in this one, but I'm enjoying them all

[@margaretwillis7306]

You are hilarious! Thanks for having the humility to show the struggle! Very well done, in the end!

[@annabradshaw213]

I love the historical tangents, they really add so much depth and explanation to the piece you are making!

[@lindsayaliciawilcox2440]

LOVED the historical interlude!

[@cathryncampbell8555]

I loved your thrifty medieval dress and I adored your substitution of a cat for the requisite medieval unicorn. When Rodrigo Borgia's mistress, Giulia Farnese, was (ironically?) painted -- *repeatedly* -- as a virgin with a unicorn, a goat was used in lieu of the unicorn. So unicorn substitution was a historically authentic measure....

[@cd2street]

Loved it so now I am looking to see what other treasures you have shared - thank you!!

[@making.history]

So glad!

[@kristinm6612]

So glad I’m finding this channel when it’s just starting out, I can’t wait to watch you grow! That being said, the amount of effort that went into this video deserves way more views and subs. Keep up the good work, I love the focus on thrifting and being sustainable with fabric!

[@making.history]

um wow! Thank you so much!! This wins the prize for sweetest and most genuinely encouraging comment so far (although, I have been floored by ALL of the kind words from total strangers) haha. I'm excited to keep the videos coming :)

[@OmegaTheSillyWolf]

THAT MUSICAL EDIT WITH THE HORSE. Almost spit out my sandwich, that was great!

[@making.history]

awesome! it made me giggle too :p

[@Deeisawesome1234]

I really appreciate how informative and thorough you are with your historical explanations. I ALSO really appreciate the sidebars of humour everywhere. That brings me a lot of joy. I will readily absorb more of this content!

[@making.history]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dizzyk54]

You are fun to watch and I love your method of telling your story, plus some of your own make it work creativity. I love that you decided to dye it too, I've played around with dyeing yarn but never got results like those with onion skins! . Your gown looks great!....Vicki

[@slothsister3716]

Love this! I'm also trying to do historical sewing basically all thrifted, i found an empire waist dress thats going to become a regency gown!

[@making.history]

Awesome! Wishing you the best of luck on this repurposing adventure!

[@edeemitheippin3876]

That color is so gorgeous!!! Absolutely stunning!

[@DipityS]

What an absolutely beautiful colour and a lovely gown. I love your slightly tubby unicorn 😊

[@making.history]

Thank you! She is truly a magical beast.

[@lidiawest8615]

Oh Lydia, you are lovely. Beautiful dress and yes, I love the historical tangents. That onion colour is devine. ❤️💕❤️

[@making.history]

Why thank you, other Lidia! Glad to know you like the tangents :)

[@nixhixx]

new here... Love the history you stitch into the sewing.

[@hazeluzzell]

I get the feeling that you’re very good at jigsaw puzzles...you got very lucky with your onion skins! Your dress looks stunning, by the way!

[@making.history]

I did get lucky! After the tannin "mordant" it looked a bit blotchy and I thought it wouldn't work. I'm not exactly sure why it did, to be honest haha. I think the sheer quantity of onions was key. Thanks!

[@WayToVibe]

The color of this was amazing. I normally hate that particular shade of mustard yellow in modern clothing, but on this historical garment, it fits and looks great. I've been working on making a dress form and a kirtle dress is going to be the first thing I make when I get a way to fit something to my waist without having to wear it at the same time.

[@making.history]

Yes! My wardrobe is entirely grey and olive green, and somehow I love this dress. Ooo how are you making it? I've never had one, but I have been cultivating a healthy amount of envy watching videos of people draping on dress forms and it may be time haha.

[@laurahardgrove955]

I saw a video that used an old fitted T-shirt to make a pattern for a supporting bodice or kirtle. She put on the shirt and her assistant wrapped her up in duct tape so it was snug. (You can have a bra on tor the fitting but this finished garment should support the breasts.

[@1sharewithu771]

Wow, I'm impressed. The dress turned out beautifully and fits you so well.

[@lynn858]

Not the video (or creator) I was searching for, but the thumbnail grabbed me! Well done! EDIT: And subbed for the mind that included the intro to cultural hegemony, religion, and myths that lead to bigotry.

[@yx6889]

What a lovely dress! It turned out so nice!

[@jeremydutton2132]

Keep the historical research! You’re great at it!

[@ReinaElizondo]

Hilarious and fascinating! Looks great! Also that thumbnail image!😂🦄

[@kristinwenke5793]

I really enjoyed hearing how the architecture was influencing dress styles (or vice versa). I'd read that dresses of that period were based on making you look longer and taller, but had never heard that connected to church architecture. I also liked getting to see how you made all your alterations to make the most of a small piece of fabric, just as a medieval seamstress would have!

[@jim40004]

Great outcome!

[@making.history]

Thanks!

[@northernbelle7460]

I just found your channel and I'm already in love with your editing and personality 🤣🤣🤣👏🏻👏🏻💙💙

[@making.history]

Aw, shucks! Thanks so much!

[@annadrift4]

Absolutely love how you put this video together, very entertaining and informative and omg! your cat is excellent!

[@making.history]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! :)

[@PatiaRussell]

love the tangents as you call them...love everything history and especially clothing related

[@making.history]

Glad you liked it! :)

[@maxwellmccoy1815]

loving the unrelated footage while learning about the history of western europe 😌

[@ladywiththelantern]

The historical research kept me engaged. I love to know all the things!

[@cherylhelm4282]

I absolutely love the history you add to your videos and that it isn't just a sewing video. Thank you

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

I embraced the rectangles-and-gores style dresses for using up stash about the same time this came out :) I finished my first kirtle in 2022 and omg hand done eyelets are so awesome. I love rectangles-and-gores dresses for stash because I can just draw out my fabric on grid paper, I know from experience how wide the two strips need to be and I can nudge things around to either get sleeve fullness, length, pocket size or swoosh depending on where I add or take away fabric, and I also liked armpit gussets so much that I'm putting them in anything that's just a bit tight up top and it's become my secret weapon for battling my increasing bust size because apparently my body has decided it wants to be top-heavy instead of pear-shaped. I adore how fabric-efficient these designs are and am trying to make more of my wardrobe in that style because having big chunks of leftover fabric does not bust my stash! And coincidentally, I just did an onion skin dye on greyish striped wool (I used 800g wool and the bag from 10 lbs of onions stuffed with the skins) and it came out just how I wanted it, however every time I try cotton in onion skin dye, I get off-white at best.... I'll have to try it with the linen I've got, because though orange isn't usually my colour, I really like THAT orange, and I also figure that when I collect black walnuts in the fall that combining onion skin with the greyish brown that black walnut gives will give me a lovely warm brown, which is exactly what it did with my greyish brown wool. That wool is becoming a Victorian walking skirt, but I still need to sort out how I'm closing it. Perhaps putting skirt hoooks in the middle of an inverted box pleat at the centre back, dunno yet, I'm winging it.

[@rachelboersma-plug9482]

I've just discovered your channel through CoSy and I'm thoroughly enjoying working through your back catalogue of videos. Hooray for chopsticks. They make excellent point turners as well as eyelet wideners, and a bamboo one lives permanently in my sewing tray. Piecing and bodging to make a garment that will fit you out of the piece of fabric that you have seems very appropriate for the period. I've done it a few times and it always seems to work out somehow, because it has to.

[@making.history]

Yes! It always works when it has to, even if "working" takes on a slightly downgraded meaning haha. Thanks so much! I'm so happy you're enjoying my videos!

[@LordSolfan]

Thanks for leaving the bloopers and quirky moments in, they add a unique and geniune character! I noticed the cup and hand gesture while talking combo in an earlier scene, so it felt like good novelistic foreshadowing when the spill occured ;)

[@kimmullin2334]

Fabulous job! I’m impressed! Great work Lydia!

[@making.history]

Thanks Kim!

[@kittycatt738]

The dress design is so cute, it's simple and flattering! I would love to try this

[@making.history]

You should!

[@sewmad1400]

I thank the KZbin logarithm for suggesting this video. Really enjoyed your historical tangent. Thank you for all that research. It was fascinating and inspiring watching you make the fabric yardage work for you. You’ve sparked a few ideas about how to use my personal thrifted stash. (And I decided to try growing my hair longer after watching Morgan’s tutorial). Subscribed. 😊

[@making.history]

Yessss, all the stash projects! Welcome! :)

[@silvipeppers]

really enjoyed the historical tangent. you really spilled the tea! (-; the dress also came out so beautiful, and the color you got from the onion skins is so vibrant and happy!! thank you so much for sharing

[@thequintanashow5058]

You will be a star. Guaranteed. Stay with it … please.

[@Maraaha55]

I loved this and think you did very well. As I watched I was thinking how your need to piece little bits of fabric together was probably very accurate to what most people would need to do at the time. I have great sympathy with the 'slow fashion, movement and perhaps more accurately the process of thrifting and remaking garments from 'found' or discarded fabric. I am verrry bad at sewing (a sewing machine serial killer) but in the 80s or so I started to make my own clothes, mostly without patterns and to my own designs using very simple techniques. In my area there were many clothing/furniture factories, so many 'remaindered' fabric shops, and as a result I used a number of unusual fabrics (cheap as chips - £1 a metre).such as curtain or upholstery material, and borrowed techniques from things like Kimono making (I had 2 vintage kimono from my mum;s family). I ended up wearing only my own designs for work, and was once told that I 'presented myself extremely well' (!?!?!?!) : I think I never spent more than about "5 on an entire work outfit. But since I wear almost exclusively thrifted clothes even now, things may not have changed that much!

[@trish3580]

Thank you so much for a wonderful video- the colour is gorgeous- I love the colour of onion skins and have ddye yarn with it in the past.....amazing how even your dyeing turned out-I've never had such success with fabric. I have watched a few videos on kirtles but feel so daunted. After watching you make it as you go, I think I can do this now. I've never been able to sew gores as nicely as I'd like but maybe it doesn't matter so much :) Love the braided details and will check out the links. Thank you for lightening things up for me. Love the unicorn :)

[@m.andthemist]

Love this video so much!! I'm making a medieval dress atm but got so freaked out because fabric can be soooooo expensive so I'm so happy to see you create such a beautiful dress without spending as much!

[@making.history]

Glad you liked it! :) Honestly, I'm excited to gain the confidence to cut into some proper expensive wool one day. Hope your dress is going well!

[@HiSummerWasHere]

Pretty dresses AND historical tangents!!! ❤

[@helenhunter4540]

I LOVE your historical tangents!

[@brigidscaldron]

I love this! I love tangents!

[@mmcgartland2095]

Wow, that color is amazing

[@making.history]

Thank you! I'm so proud of it.

[@katewaters7059]

Just found this video as I am doing research to prepare for my own kirtle-making quest. You're "help me Morgan!" comment made me laugh so hard! I also regularly seek guidance from the Almighty Morgan. Great video, very fun and helpful!

[@making.history]

Haha glad you enjoyed it! Good luck on your quest!!!

[@jesseclark8561]

Beautiful! As an oil painter, your poses give an inspiration. Keep up your craft.

[@osborn.illustration]

This channel combines many of my passions together in such funny, well edited videos. Love your content!

[@marvellousmrsmoller]

Please tell more about the pretreatment of fabric to take the onion skin colour. I have occasionally played with natural dyeing, but dabbled only and have forgotten most of what I discovered 25 years ago. Would you please make a video to share what you have discovered?

[@cd2street]

totally brilliant historical context!! You answered questions I have never thought to ask myself - thank you!! I am already impressed with the video and I am only 4.23 minutes in!!

[@making.history]

Wonderful!

[@beowoofthemoviestar]

This was fun to watch. You made it work with the fabric you had - good job.

[@judithpatrick2207]

What a gem!! Well done. Look forward to your next sewing creation

[@making.history]

Thank you! 😊

[@deborahhamilton9388]

History tangent was the icing on the cupcake that compelled me to subscribe. Also couldn't stop laughing over the IRL elusive unicat at the end...

[@Liutgard]

I just found this, and I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised at your work! Truly creative ways to use what you have and make it right! Most of my medieval clothing is a variety of thrift-shop finds, stuff inherited from various sources, old dresses (including an early 60s wedding dress that was an AMAZING silk brocaded/embroidered with silver thread), and stuff I grabbed when a local fabric store closed. You learn to look for potential, to eyeball yardage, guess at fiber content without setting it alight in the store, etc etc. But it is truly rewarding to produce something with repurposed and reclaimed materials, and not have to pay retail for stuff! I look forward to seeing more of your stuff! Oh- and yes, Morgan Donner rocks! I've known her for quite some time (she was in the same SCA kingdom until just recently) and she's one of my daughter's best friends. She's a fantastic teacher and is really good at working with people at their current level. So cheers! Your gown is lovely!

[@making.history]

Thanks so much for this comment! (I've been away from youtube for a bit.) I totally agree. Part of being into recreating old things is the problem-solving and the repurposed materials just a whole other layer of problem-solving that makes it that much more rewarding at the end. thanks :)

[@aliciawalrath]

This is just so fabulous, you did such a great job!!! I'm inspired to try my own

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

Unikitty!🐱😁 Seriously, I like your narrative style & your voice. I also like medieval-type clothes. I hope to watch the rest of this when I'm ready to settle down again. For now, I boost the algorithm & like.

[@persephonequeenoftheunderw84]

This is perfect. You did an incredible job!

[@kbm9676]

I loved everything about this video! I'm subscribing right now! Please talk more about the the dye process? I want to try.

[@making.history]

More dye videos are certainly on the "to make" list :)

[@cherylhuot4436]

Your problem solving feels very familiar…… Nice job. The dress turned out so nice! Love the “tangents”

[@kyasarin131]

You are absolutely delightful - I'm So glad I clicked on this video! Visited out of boredom, but am staying for the historical tangents, sewing, natural dye experiments, shenanigans, and your ridiculously cute cat. PS: do you have an Instagram that we can follow?

[@making.history]

Yay! I'm so glad you liked it :) Yes! it's @lydiarobb.art

[@drgrandma1]

Nice job with your dyeing! I’ve done this before, but not gotten the color so consistent. A side note: I wanted to see how dark I could get the eggs (it was Easter) so I simmered them for hours. Paper came out a deep pumpkin, the eggs went all the way to a deep deep rust. I loved it. No, I didn’t eat them, they were works of art ❤️

[@feliciagaffney1998]

Beautiful job with the dress! I love that you are using natural dyes. You should do one with red onion skins, too. 😊

[@angelicaquiggle2591]

It turned out so lovely!

[@making.history]

Thank you! :)

[@catherineleslie-faye4302]

Finding this late. Very nice work!

[@beaubryant2120]

A lot of work!! Loved the dress. And the picture too!

[@making.history]

Thank you so much!

[@AshLG]

I thought there wasn't anything new to be said about late medieval gowns but this is a really excellent video with a lot of smart points (Also welcome to the "how do I even pronounce Herjolfsnes" club)

[@making.history]

Thank you!!!

[@miiol7018]

please more historical tangents!! i woke up anxious at 4am and decided to check youtube for a video to get my mind off stuff and this was in my recommended. couldn't be happier that it was! those tangents combined with the wonderful editing really were a balm to my soul. not to mention the pretty dress!!! the color is SO beautiful.

[@making.history]

Thank you for the kind words and it's so nice to hear it helped! (from one anxiety riddled soul to another)

[@DraemoraH]

Beautiful work!!! I particularly love the whole adpatation you did to be able to do it, I imagine this was extremely common. I make a kittle a few years ago, and I'll do another one as soon as the fabric arrives. I'll dye it with mulberries! Wish me luck 😂❤

[@laurahardgrove955]

Thank you! Awesome video.

[@annedavis3340]

Your TED talk is the most satisfying thing I've heard in years. For real. Thank you so much for addressing that.

[@making.history]

Wow, thank you!.....I saw this a few months ago but didn't respond because I was busy blushing. But seriously, so kind!

[@thorunns.craftstudio]

very inspiring and i absolutely LOVE the color the dress came out!

[@making.history]

Thank you so much!

[@lisaharris6847]

Thank you for the info & your excellent content! Great job 👏

[@DavidS-gx1ok]

These videos are awesome

[@LaGrammont27]

WOW! Amazing work!

[@sandrakicklighter2735]

LOVE the tangents!

[@theverbind]

Loving this! Excited to be at the channel early!

[@making.history]

Thank you, and welcome! I'm so glad you found me :)

[@victoriarosesimons6449]

Ahhh you’re so cute can’t believe in all my views of medieval/historic sewing videos I haven’t seen you before… anyway glad to have found your account