This workshop was dedicated to understanding the first steps to constructing a period garment. Here we looked at pattern manuals of the period, focusing on Juan de Alcega as a source for our interpretations.
The first page of Juan de Alcega’s book, published in 1580, on the geometry and proportions of the body also contains instructions for clothing patterns
The first part of the session focused on the unit of measurement and creating bara tapes. These tapes are a historical method of measurement that helped tailors when drawing patterns. Each individual will have their own set of four bara tapes specific to their own body measurements. After this, each participant chose the garment they will be drawing for this project a followed the instructions provided by the master tailor himself.
A page from Juan de Alcega’s book depicting the patterns for a 16th-century doublet. This was used by some of the members to recreate their own.
Four bara tapes measuring the chest, waist, hips and hight of on one of the members
Some members opted to recreate a doublet while others chose to work on breaches. The different garments pose different challenges as some were able to draft thier pattern and cut it in fabric. While others needed to make slight adjustments to the pattern as the period CSM depicts predates some of de Alcega’s work.
