Clothing during the Medieval Period (1300-1400) was really quite simple. Women would wear a pair of bloomers, or Braies. Over the braies, they would wear a long, loose-fitting shirt, or a Chemise. Over the chemise, a long dress, called a Kirtle was worn. The kirtle had no waistline, and long tapered sleeves that were tight at the wrist.
Have you ever seen Eowyn’s dresses in Lord of the Rings? Well, the kirtle was similar to some of her outfits.
What about the excessively long, flowy sleeves? Most peasants could not afford the cloth to make these sleeves, so only the Gentry could afford them.
Gentry Doll Dress
What was clothing made from?
Most clothes today are made from Cotton, but back in Medieval times they were made from Linen. Until Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin in the 1840’s, cotton was too difficult to grow and spin, so the Medieval people used a plant called Flax to make linen for their clothes.
Making linen was a very long and difficult process. First, the flax had to be grown in a very damp place. Then, the flax must be pulled through a long metal comb to remove the leaves and seeds. Then, the flax is immersed in water for 12 days to allow it to rot. Then the flax must be air-dried in a cool place for several months! After it is dry, the flax must be beaten and then combed again. The flax is now ready to be spun into thread, woven into cloth with a loom, and then cut and sewn into a shirt! The entire process takes about one year or more, just for one shirt!
It’s really not surprising that nice clothing was hard to come by!
As always, feel free to leave a comment or ask questions!
You can check out the great selection of Medieval doll clothing at http://yoreclothes.com/1400home.html!
