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| Simple Sleeve |
But these always had problems. I always had issues with the elbows, special with a few extra pounds. Always ended up with it pinching and digging into my skin when flexing my elbow. Some garments I was able to let out enough to fix this. One I tried to split up to the elbow crease, but was still to tight just above the elbow to be comfortable. So it ended up being short sleeves. Another still I added extra strips of fabrics around the elbow.
So apart from the movement issues, the garments of the 14th and 15th century often do not have seams running down the underside of the arm. Plus they are generally more fitted than I was able to achieve with my uber simple sleeves. Plus It finally got through my stubborn skull- that making a few drafts would probably be worth the time and energy despite "wasting" fabric.
I knew the basic principles of drafting sleeves, and even drafted them for others. So I decided to actually draft my own sleeves. I did some refresher research. Edyth Miller has a post here about sleeves, and a drafting prototype post that I based this sleeve off of. Others of interest include this article by mathildegirlgenius, or this one on Ikatbag.
On the Left Is a paper draft in progress for my sleeves. You can see the big difference between my flexed elbow measurement and the bicep just a couple inches above. The red dotted line represents where my old method of sleeve patterning would have been. OUCH!! no wonder I had so many issues.
Also sleeves with this kind of seam placement Cannot go on either arm! I found that out the hard way when trying to figure out why my seam was ended up in front of my arm.
Fitting of the mock up before final tweaking. Full range of movement. Just a bit looser than desired. Please ignore the fact that my craft room exploded behind me, and my kirtle looks awful because I have mundanes under, and still have to take it in around the waist!
No problem bend elbow or flexing bicep!
Final sleeves on now finished kirtle. Remember to mirror the pattern and mark which side is inside and which is out on fabric without a wrong side! Other wise you will sew one inside out and end up with 2 right sleeves. Twice in my case. Grrr.
Actually, for the 14th century I see the solution more in an oversized upper arm part of the sleeve (I always let the wearer bend his ellbow and measure around the bended ellbow since that is usually the thickest the sleeve has to be). That "oversized" upper sleeve can be seen in many original pictures of the time as well. Only the lower arms are fitted (at least until they are being buttoned up until the shoulder).
ReplyDeleteThis typical "winged" upper part I usually get when I cut the armhole first until it is wide enough for the wearer to feel comfortable. Then I cut out a trapezoid, measuring the "ellbowsize" on the upper part and the wristsize on the lower part. I then stick it together with needles, and lay it flat on the floor, arranging the seam to be on the back and the seamless part facing me and then I just lay the dress with the armhole over it and give the sleeve a little angle just so that it points down a bit with the wrist part. I then mark where the armhole's edges are lying, put the dress away and cut the sleeve according to the markings. I then get the right sleeve form automatically http://wh1350.at/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/20121205130625_00001.jpg
Yes, sleeves were loosely fitted in the upper arm for a good chunk of the 14th century. That is a good fitting practice! I will have to try that for a future project I have planned.
ReplyDeleteI should have been more specific about the fact that this kirtle is in a late 14th century style - around 1390. It is to go under the angel wing surcote I wrote about in a previous post. It's meant to transition into the early 15th century styles. At this time buttons up the upper arm had already been a thing and was on the decline, leaving the tightly fitted sleeves. My buttons are to be subtle, and only a few for practical sca camping reasons. This is also why the kirtle has a high fitted bust and gently scooped neckline with a hint of cleavage, vs the rounded bust and boat neck that was standard in most of the midcentury (1340-1375ish) art works.