FAQ

Below are the answers to a number of Frequently Asked Questions about the Garb Guide. Use the navigation buttons below to jump to a section or peruse the whole thing.

Garb Guide Questions
SCA Questions
Submission Questions
SCA Clothing and Requirements
Making SCA Clothing for Beginners
Garment Construction
The Finishing Touches

Questions about using the SCA Iowa Garb Guide

  • What does the SCAIowa Garb Guide mean by accuracy?
    • One of the big goals we have in the SCA is that our members are always approaching better accuracy in what they do.  To people participating in historical reenactment hobbies, accuracy is trying to be as close to the current understanding of what is historically correct as we can.
    • Now this doesn’t mean that we are all 100% accurate – that isn’t what our game is and really, it’s not likely a thing any of us could manage.  But we can strive to always do better and get closer.
    • Many of us are starting with a variety of knowledge, skills and resources, and this starting point partly determines how close we can get to being accurate in what we do.  The more money, skill or knowledge we have, the easier and faster is to get close to accuracy.  Others are starting further away, but the adventure is in the journey.  What we learn and try along the way as we get more accurate is all part of the fun. 
    • No one is expecting you to be perfectly accurate overnight.  If you are making progress, especially if you have a plan and work on it, than that is about all any of us could ask.   For many of us this journey towards accuracy is driven by looking at what we do and looking for the least accurate thing we have.  Make a plan and address that thing, then look for the next.  Before you know it you will find yourself well down the path approaching accuracy. 
  • What is meant by the different Confidence levels and the garb guide?
    • We have a whole page explaining just that! Check it out Here (also available under “More Information” in the Top Navigation Menu)
  • How do I search by
  • What is meant by the different difficulty levels in the garb guide?
    • We have a page explaining this one, too! Check it out Here (also available under “More Information” in the Top Navigation Menu)
  • There is not a link to more information provided on the entry I am interested in, how do I find more information about that subject?
    • The nice thing is that once you have a little information about the style you are interested in, it is often easy to find more with a search online. There are many blogs, vlogs and websites that have information about historic clothing. There are some pitfalls though, many Google searches can result in a plethora of Pintrest pages that are often not as helpful. Searches that include key terms about the garment as well as “SCA” can often yield useful results.
  • Why does this shirt have a name?
    • One of the curious things that you may spot as you begin making historic clothing is that people will refer to specific garments by name. Examples such as the Birka tunic, Moselund tunic, Eura grave 56 dress, and so on. This may be confusing at first but the answer is pretty simple. There are only so many extant examples that have come out of graves or tombs, out of the ground or hidden within walls in castles. Since there is such a finite number of these garments they tend to get specific names and people in historic reenacting circles tend to use these as starting points.  They are practice pieces they can base off of a known item and reproduce.
    • Since these are made so frequently and talked about so often they just become shortened to a name the Birka tunic.  In some of these cases, such as the fines at the Eura dig in 1920s Finland, there are several exciting finds in different graves, so specific ones get tagged with the archaeological grave number assigned during the excavations. This adds a level of specificity when referencing a specific garment.
    • One of the nice things about these named tunics for members of the SCA is that it makes searching for credible examples much easier. People tend to reference a specific source or a specific item when they are making things and so doing a search while including these names helps to narrow it down from so many of the fantasy-based garments that you can stumble upon in Pinterest traps.
  • I notice that you have outfits identified as male/female/either. What does that mean? Does the SCA require folks to wear the outfit which relates to their gender?
    • Absolutely not! There is no requirement about your garb beyond you making an attempt at appropriate period clothing. Your SCA persona doesn’t have to match you in any way (culture/ethnicity/gender/sexual orientation/whatever) as long as you are respectful about your representation.
    • We have chosen to identify these as male/female/either in this guide because, in the medieval time, clothing was often worn based on one’s gender role. If we add clothing which requires a gender explanation beyond those currently listed, we’ll add it to the list. Simple as that.
  • I’d like to submit to the Garb Guide.
    • How do I do that?
    • I’m new and creating my first outfit. Can I submit my garment? Do you have to have a specific award level to enter?
      • We encourage SCA Participants of all levels to submit to the Garb Guide. It’s important to show the breadth of what is being worn. Simpler garments are just as important to show as the masterworks created by some members.
    • I don’t have all the information I need to submit, but I’d like to show off my garments. What do I do? Can I submit a Basic Entry?
      • Basic Entries are limited to those items submitted before the digital version of the guide was created.
      • All entries must be submitted with the basic information – Who wore it? When was it worn? What is it? Where was it worn? How was it constructed? Is it a historic garment?
      • This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about your clothing! Do a little research or ask your local group for help in finding more information.
    • I’m not a member of the SCA but I have a historically based garment I’d like to submit. Can I?
      • The intention of the Garb Guide is to showcase clothing made and worn by SCA members in an attempt to inspire new members when they start to decide what they’d like to wear.
      • Unfortunately, the Garb Guide is limited to submissions by SCA members only.
    • I have questions about the Submission form.
  • I found an error on one of the pages, how do I submit it?
    • If the error is on your own entry, use this form to submit it to us for correction: Click Here
    • If the error is on someone else’s entry, and you know the person, please contact them to ask them to submit the error themselves.
    • If the error is on someone else’s entry, and you don’t know the person, you may use the error report form, but we will only make changes if we feel that they are relevant, fair, and necessary. For any major changes, we will contact the person who submitted the entry and advise them of your request to change their entry. By submitting an error correction, you consent to your name, change request, and possibly your contact information being shared with the original entrant.
  • I would like an item removed. How do I do that?

Questions about the SCA

  • What is the Society for Creative Anachronism?
    • The Society for Creative Anachronism is a worldwide historic recreation organization dedicated to recreating all the best aspects of life before 1600 CE. Members of the SCA reenact all aspects of life during this time period from cultures around the world. Participation in the SCA can include activities such as martial activities, activities related to the recreation of combat activities, like combat recreation archery and equestrian activities. The vast majority of participants in the SCA participate in a variety of different “arts and sciences” where they learn about and recreate all of the skills, the things and activities that people during this time took part in.  Anything made, used or consumed.
    • This happens in a variety of places around the world and at events that happen on a regular basis as well as local meetings held in communities around the world during the week.
    • Visit SCA.org
  • What is SCAIowa?
    • SCAIowa is a group dedicated to recruiting new members to the Society for Creative Anachronism as well as public outreach about our educational activities. We are members of the SCA who participate and live in Iowa.  However many of the resources that we create extend beyond the borders of our state. Although most of our resources are aimed at recruiting new members in Iowa, the vast majority of our resources apply equally across the nation and around the world. To find our other SCA Iowa resources please check out SCAIowa.org
  • Where can I find a list of events happening in the SCA?
    • There are many local meetings and events happening around the calendar year and around the world related to the Society for Creative Anachronism. To find a list of local activities and events happening nearby, you will need to find what your local area is. If you are in Iowa please feel free to check out our resources at SCAIowa.org. If you are in our Kingdom of Calontir, which includes Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and a small part of Arkansas, then please feel free to check out our kingdom website at Calontir.org. To find your local group no matter where you are in the world check out the society website at sca.org.
  • What time periods does the SCA cover?
    • The SCA generally covers time periods before 1600 CE with most people re-creating cultures between 600 CE and 1600  CE.
  • What cultures does the SCA cover?
    • The majority of the people recreate the cultures of Europe, however there are people who like to learn about Asia, Mongolia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. 
  • How does an SCA event differ from a Ren Fair?
    • Ren Fairs are a show people throw for profit to entertain an audience.  The SCA is a non-profit educational organization that serves as a hobby for its participants.  The local meetings and events are a chance for all kinds of friends who share similar interests in history to gather together and have fun, learn, teach, fight, shoot, eat, revel and hang out.  Our focus is on learning, experiencing and teaching you to make things, not just selling you things.
    • Both SCA events and Ren Fairs are fun to participate in, and many people choose to participate in both as their budgets and schedules allow. Ren Fairs do tend to happen on a few specific weekends but SCA events and meetings happen year around.  
  • Is the SCA a LARP?
    • Kind of yes, kind of no.  They can look a lot alike except that the SCA focuses on actually learning about real people, skills and events in history and trying to really recreate them.  We don’t pretend to have skills.  We really do the wood working, leather working, archery, fighting and all the other things.  We also don’t have someone leading a ‘game’ in which you are a character playing a roll.  In the SCA you are in charge of your adventure, your learning, your experience.
    • Both the SCA and LARPS are fun to participate in, and we do have members that participate in both as their schedules and budgets permit
  • Can I be an Elf?
    • You may be thinking of another group.  There are groups that play Live Action Role Playing games where you can be an elf or a troll, but that’s not us.  We strive to learn and become more historically accurate over time, but we can help you find those groups.

Questions about SCA clothing and requirements

  • What are the clothing requirements for participating in the SCA?
    • The SCA says that people who attend their events should have an “attempt” at clothing from before 1600CE. But what is the expectation?  You can go as fancy as you like, but the minimum can just be a tunic or a dress thrown over your regular clothes.  That is where most people start.
    • If you are getting help to go to your first event you might get more help from your local group and you could end up with a whole outfit, and that’s great too.  If you find yourself at an event in just the simple tunic or dress over your street clothes you may discover several things:
  1. You might have people spotting that you are a new face and coming up to introduce themselves and say HI.  Because we like new people
  2. You might feel that your tunic-over-jeans looks slightly less medieval than some of the other people there.  But some of them have been working on their clothing for, in some cases, 20, 30 or 40 years.  There is no way a person could walk in and out-do that their first time.  The SCA is built around people joining with what they have and moving on from there.
  3. You might get offers for help or suggestions. We might be an awkward group, but we are friendly and helpful.
  • Cont.
    • Simple starter tunics and dresses are often available in the loaner gear from your local group, or ask at a local meeting for help to sew these basic garments. 
    • And remember – this requirement applies to events, not your local group meeting.  You are always welcome to check out a local meeting in your normal clothes.
  • Am I required to wear something specific while participating in the SCA?
    • You have many different styles open to you as you participate in the SCA. You are required to wear an attempt at historic clothing when you are participating at events, but the complexity of that outfit, which time period it represents and which culture is up to you.
  • What are the restrictions for clothing in the SCA?
    • Your clothing should be based in reality and not fantasy, but the requirement says that people who attend SCA events should have an “attempt” at clothing from before 1600CE, not that it is a good attempt, or an absolutely accurate attempt.  We assume you will improve what you have over time.
    • There are some restrictions related to our hobby.  Most of these are tied to how we identify people who have earned specific awards or recognitions for their work in the SCA.  Here is a brief list of some things to avoid until you understand more about what they mean in the SCA:
      • Belts of one specific solid color – White, Yellow, Red, Green.  These are used to designate something specific.
      • A chain around your neck with nothing on it.
      • Spurs when not being used as part of Equestrian activities.
      • Crowns, coronets, metal circlets
      • Decorations on a garment that include a chain, a laurel wreath, blood drops or a pelican. These are specific items which mark you as a member of a specific group of people honored for their achievements in the society.
      • Heraldry – within the SCA, Heraldry may be registered as specific to a single person or group. Before choosing personal heraldry (and putting it all over your clothing) consult with a herald to begin the process of registering your own personal heraldry. This will avoid embarrassing confusion and disappointment.
    • And of course – no one should use any modern offensive imagery or symbols.  The SCA works to be inclusive to everyone and doesn’t tolerate harassment or bullying including use of offensive imagery  
  • Can I dress up as a king, queen, knight within the SCA?
    • You can come to an SCA event in any garment that meets with the idea of an attempt at pre-1600CE clothing, including the clothing worn by a king or queen.  However – you can’t wear a crown or coronet without earning it.  These particular accessories as well as the titles that go with them are earned recognitions and in the SCA.  They actually mean something specific.  So if you are new you should probably avoid putting a crown on your head or adding any titles to your name. 
    • For more information on this topic please make sure to reach out to your local SCA group and the new member liaison known as a chatelaine.
  • What do children wear in the SCA?
    • If you are a parent you might not know this but kids – they grow.  So constantly making new medieval clothes for them to wear might be fun for some, but it’s usually out of reach, due to time and money, for most members.  The good thing is that kids have a blast at SCA events even if they are wearing very basic garments. 
    • Many parents fall back on basic tunic and tunic style dresses to keep their kids in SCA play clothes.  They can be made very quickly, and you can use cheaper fabric as they are likely to outgrow it before they destroy it. 
    • Because of this issue, there are other swap opportunities between other parents with their own growing children. Your local group or the Minister of Youth might be able to help you find out when another such swap will be happening.
    • One way or another, your kids can participate and have a ton of fun joining in the learning and historical adventure.
  • Are there specific requirements for clothing while fighting or participating in archery or equestrian activities in the SCA?
    • There are safety requirements for many of the dangerous activities that members of the SCA participate in.  This can extend to clothing as well.  People participating in Archery and Thrown Weapons will likely be required to swap out for safer footwear.  Ask a local archery marshal for more details. 
    • People participating in Steel combat recreation (often called cut and thrust or rapier depending upon your kingdom) use specially made garments as their armor.  Not every dress will count as being armor – check with your local Steel combat marshal for details on how to insure your garments are safe for use in steel combat.
    • Members participating in rattan based combat may have tabards or garments they throw over sport armor to cover it up so it blends in at events.  Check with your local rattan marshal before starting any project related to things you want to wear onto the battle field.  They are full of good advice as well as tips and tricks to get the most enjoyment out of your projects.
  • Do I have to dress up if I want to check out a local meeting of the SCA?
    • The vast majority of local meetings held in local SCA groups around the world do not require members to dress up in historical clothing for local meetings.  Some members will attend local meetings dressed up, as it adds to the fun and enjoyment of the gathering and helps to make it special.  Some local meetings are special nights where all of the members are encouraged to dress up when they attend.  In pretty much every case, new members are welcome to stop by and join in, even in street clothes.
  • Do I have to dress up if I just want to attend one SCA event?
    • All people, whether member or non-member, who attend the weekend events are expected to adhere to the rule of an attempt at historic clothing. This can easily be facilitated by the loaner clothing that local groups have, by buying a simple outfit, by making something yourself or perhaps you have something in the closet that will work out. The easiest thing to do is to ask your local group members for assistance.
    • You are not required to wear an attempt to historic clothing at local meetings.  An attempt at historic clothing is required when you attend a weekend SCA event. 
  • How many clothing items do I need in order to participate in the SCA?
    • Most people who begin participating in the SCA generally start out with one outfit. There are a number of events that it happened that are single day events and even the weekend camping events can often be done with one change of historic clothing. As people participate more they tend to accumulate more outfits. If you are wishing to participate in one of the longer wars that can last between 4 to 14 days, then you are likely to need a little more historic clothing, but these also often take more preparations to be ready for. Be sure to talk to your local members before you decide to attend one of the longer wars
  • Do I have to pick just one time Period?
    • When you participate in the SCA you are not required to stick to one time, one culture, one style. You can dress up in as many different outfits and explore as many different time periods and cultures as you wish. That is part of the historic adventure open to you in the SCA
  • Can I dress up in the more than one style/culture?
    • When you participate in the SCA you are not required to stick to one time, one culture, one style. You can dress up in as many different outfits and explore as many different time periods and cultures as you wish. That is part of the historic adventure open to you in the SCA
  • Do I have to make the clothing myself?
    • Although many people do enjoy sewing historic clothing for use within the SCA, there are a number of people who do not enjoy sewing and so they acquire their historic clothing in other ways.
    • There are vendors online that specialize in selling historic clothing to members of the SCA, (although there are also a number of unscrupulous vendors out there and you will want to check with members of the SCA to see if a vendor is a trusted source). You can also pay to have one of the people who enjoy making clothing make you an outfit for use in the SCA. Remember that this is often a more expensive option, but is a way to end up with the custom clothing many people enjoy. Other people have found that bartering can work quite well. If you have a skill or a talent then you may be able to trade with someone in order to get some of the other items that you need.
  • What is the easiest way to get started?
    • For many new members the easiest way to get started with historic clothing in the SCA is to borrow loaner clothing from your local group. Many local groups have loaner clothing often referred to as ‘Gold Key’.
  • How much will my historic clothing cost?
    • How much your historic clothing cost depends primarily on the style that you choose and then on how decorated your garment is as well as any accessories that you wish to add to it. In a recent experiment (March 2020), basic tunic style garments made out of a fairly quality linen blend were constructed for an extra-large size for between $13 and $15. A tunic dress in a similar size would be between $20 to $25. However even a basic Elizabethan gown with the needed foundational garments will be far more than that.  
    • We often suggest that new participants not invest too much in their outfits before they can attend events.  We want you to be able to check out an event for yourself so that you can make an informed decision about participating.  Not only if the SCA is the right hobby for you, but also how much you want to invest in your participation. To some members participation is worth much more, to others they only want to invest a little because they may not want to participate as often.
  • What is the easiest way to get started?
    • The easiest way to get started with historic clothing and the SCA is probably to contact your local group and inquire about loaner clothing, sometimes called Gold Key. Many groups have a stash of hand-me-down clothing that they use to loan out to new and potential members in order to allow them to experience and check out the SCA without having to make much of an investment. These garments are probably not going to be the fanciest and may not fit exactly, but it is a very easy way to get started.
    • More recently we have had more newer members turning to some of the online vendors who cater to LARPS, Ren Fairs and Cos Play to just purchase a basic ‘medieval-ish’ outfit to wear as they begin participating.  This is easier, but does take more money.
  • How much does all of this cost?
    • As with many hobbies participation in the SCA can cost as much or as little as you would like to invest in it. For much of its history many people who joined the SCA were coming in while attending college, and so have demonstrated that participation can be done on a very tight budget. This is especially true of the construction of historical clothing. There are many choices and styles that can be assembled on a very reasonable price scale, where others will require more of an investment
  • Can kids/family participate?
    • For the entire history of the Society for Creative and Anachronism, the SCA has been a family-friendly hobby. Not only is it very easy for kids and families to participate in the SCA, but there are actually activities aimed at supporting family participation and many of the members of the SCA believe that the supportive, inclusive and learning focused environment of the hobby is the perfect family activity.
  • What are the requirements for clothing for participation in the SCA?
    • The requirements for clothing for the SCA is an attempt at historic clothing. This requirement is left specifically vague because, unlike some other historic recreation hobbies, the SCA is dedicated to allowing people of all skill levels knowledge levels and economic backgrounds be able to experience historic recreation themselves. The bar is set low to allow more people to come in and check out our hobby. if you have any questions about whether or not your outfit is excessive acceptable for use within the SCA feel free to reach out to your local group members and talk to them about what you have.
  • When do I need to wear historic clothing for the SCA?
    • Many people who participate in the SCA enjoy dressing up in their historic clothing whenever they get a chance.  This can occur at local meetings but the only requirement to wear historic clothing is at the weekend events.
  • Where can I get help with clothing for the SCA?
    • There are many online forums, such as Facebook groups, where members of the SCA talk about historic clothing and offer advice. As with as with any advice that you get online, much of this needs to be taken with a pinch of salt as many people have opinions.  Even those who may not know what they’re talking about.
    • Perhaps one of the best sources for assistance on your historic clothing are the resources of the people in your local group or other local groups in your area. If you bring questions to a local meeting they’re about to be people who are happy to answer your questions and help you with various aspects of your historic clothing
  • Where can I borrow clothing from for the use in the SCA?
    • Many groups in the SCA have stashes of loaner clothing available for new and potential members.  This allows the new and potential members to check out events without much of a monetary investment to see if it is right for them. To access this loaner clothing, often called gold key, stop by a local meeting or reach out to your local SCA group
  • Am I required to hand sew clothing for use in the SCA?
    • No.  You are welcome to hand sew your garments if you enjoy that, and many people do work towards the challenge of hand sewing as they learn and grow in the SCA.  But it is not a requirement.
  • Am I required to hand finish clothing for use in the SCA?
    • No.  Finishing of a garment often refers to the seam treatments done to prevent the fabric from unraveling and making it last longer.  You are welcome to hand finish your garments if you enjoy that, and many people do work towards the challenge of hand finishing as they learn and grow in the SCA.  But it is not a requirement.
  • Am I required to wear museum quality reproductions while participating in the SCA?
    • The requirement for historic clothing for participating in the SCA is an attempt at historic clothing. There is no requirement that historic clothing be of an extremely high quality. When you go to events you will often see people in amazing outfits that they have been working on for many years, this can lead to a misunderstanding that this is a requirement. It is in fact just the representation of how far some members have come in their learning experience as they participate in the SCA
  • I found some medieval costumes on Amazon/ebay/etsy. Can I wear those to an SCA event?
    • There are in fact now more vendors online selling clothing aimed at historic hobbies than ever before. It is possible to find reputable vendors online selling quality historical reenactment clothing for purchase. There are also a number of reputable vendors selling budget-friendly garments that will work for use within the SCA. However, there are many more disreputable vendors selling poorly constructed, low quality costumes that are unlikely to survive one wearing, let alone use of someone at an SCA event when they are actively participating. Many of these vendors will use photos that misrepresent what they are selling and will have descriptions that do not align with their products. It is best to check with an SCA member to see if what you are trying to buy online is likely going to be a decent garment for use at an SCA event.
  • Where can I get additional help with clothing for use in the SCA?
    • The best place to get some additional help in constructing your clothing is at your local group. You will likely find members there who can either connect you with people who have more information or can help you themselves to at least get started.  For help on specific garments specific styles or help further afield you may want to reach out online through some of the various forums open to new members or ask your questions on the various social media outlets in your kingdom.
  • What do I do for shoes?
    • It is often said that the accessories make the outfit.  That is often true for the attempts at historical clothing that members of the SCA wear at events as well.  Our new members often find that they need to add the accessories to their outfits piece by piece, as their time, money and skill allow.  We all know this and we don’t expect people to walk in the first day with everything perfect and complete.
    • Shoes are one of those problematic items for people to acquire.  There are some shoe styles that people can still buy today and they fit in for the most part.  Many of the roman style sandals can be found in spring.  These fashions still echo to this day. Other styles are harder to find in modern stores.
    • There are vendors who do sell quality reproductions of functional footwear.   Often this is somewhat cost prohibitive to someone just starting out.  Prices of $80+ for basic shoes are not uncommon.  This is still an option many people take.
    • Another option is to make shoes yourself.  If you are someone who enjoys making things out of leather, this is not an insurmountable obstacle.  There are often classes at events or handouts available online to help you in this process.  Other people do not enjoy the process of making shoes, so they avoid it.
    • I would say the majority of our new members find unobtrusive brown or black shoes that work for the time being and wear them until a better option comes along.  Avoid the white trainers or other bright colors as to avoid attracting attention to them, but make sure you can comfortably walk around in your shoes.
    • In the end, we would rather have you at an event in your running shoes than not have you there at all.  So make an attempt at pre-1600CE clothing and come have some historical fun.

Beginning to make my SCA garb/clothing

  • Where can I buy the cloth to make clothing for use in the SCA?
    • One of the basic requirements for participating in the SCA is to have an attempt at garb.  If you are wanting to try your hand at making the clothing then one of the first places to start is where do we buy the cloth?
    • Most of the old style sewing stores are closed down, and the ones that still exist either cater to quilting or people who don’t do a lot of clothing sewing.  If you don’t know where to look, or what to look for, finding the fabric can be hard.
    • The good thing is that there are members of your local group who can help you find those resources.
    • Local Stores- Sadly quilting shops are not likely to have anything to help.  The big chains are pretty much down to one, Jo-Annes.  The do carry some linens, linen blends and sometimes wool and wool blends, but they are usually fairly expensive. On a recent check, Jo-Annes regular price for linen was twice that of fabrics-store.com, a standard go-to fabric option for many SCA members we talk with, and had only a small number of colors.
    • Online Stores- This is often the best place for people to find good fabrics they need, but – the web is full of people selling junk too.  Your local group can help you find sites we have come to trust, places like fabrics-store.com and silkbaron.com.
    • Lost? Confused? Stop, breath.  We have clothing ready to loan to get you started and advice on where you can get a good deal.  Stop by your local meeting (where wearing a historic costume is optional anyway) and talk to some people about what you want to do.  We have people to help guide you through.
  • What kinds of fabric should I be buying? –
    • In many of the entries you will find in the SCAIowa Garb Guide you will see notes commenting on what the original garments were made out of as well as notes about effective substitutions.  Many people starting out in the SCA use cheaper and easier to find substitutions to begin with.  Even later in their participation, experienced members will make test garments for new patterns out of cheaper materials to make sure they have the pattern right before cutting into fabric worth ten times as much.
    • Eventually most people in the SCA migrate towards the kinds of materials that people would have historically used; linen, wool, some silks, some cottons.  We also try to use fabric that hold up well for clothes and don’t kill us in hot weather, so we avoid nylon, polyester and polyester blends.  Modern zip-zoppy, plastic fabrics don’t really work well at all.  It is best to avoid wild modern prints and quilting fabrics.  The Star Wars print is cute, but not really Norse, is it?  And often the cheap cottons people find at Walmart only last a short time before ripping out.
    • There are some fabrics that are good places to start.  But the fabric you buy will likely be down to what you are trying to make and what your budget limitations are
  • Where can I find patterns for clothing for use in the SCA?
    • If you know how to sew and if you know where to get the fabric, then one of the other key points is having the pattern or instructions to make what you want to make.
    • We find that places a lot of new members turn to first are the modern pattern makers.  They often have Halloween patterns for the ‘medieval knight’ or ‘medieval princesses‘ that are inspired by historical looks.  The key point there is inspired by, they often miss the mark. Oddly enough for many of them, they make the garments they are trying to replicate more difficult to make than the originals were.
    • Another instinct is to go with theatrical costumes.  These stage costumes can also try to replicate the looks of the past, but are often made to be worn for short periods and aren’t as rugged and durable as the patterns we tend to use.  They are made to ‘look’ right when on stage.
    • The nice thing is that now more than ever before, patterns and help patterning garments is more available, online, for free.  There are many blogs that go through step by step how to recreate various garments.  There are websites that detail specific cultures and time periods.  There are museums putting up images of the original surviving garments online.  And there are many events and classes held in the SCA where help can be obtained to recreate various garments from history easier than you imagined.
    • Stop by your local meeting, where dressing up in historical clothing is optional, or ask on line and members of the SCA will help you with your questions about historic costume patterning.
  • Where can I find accessories for my SCA clothing?
    • I have some good news for you and I have some bad news.
    • The good news – there are many vendors online who are now selling more amazing reproductions of actual historical accessories than ever before.  They are easily found online and many of them really do sell some wonderful stuff at amazing prices.
    • The bad news #1 – There are also a lot of people online selling junk and stuff at unreasonable prices.  The trick is knowing who is a reputable vender and who is a scam artist. 
    • The bad news #2 – once you find the reputable vendors you will want to buy all the cool things.  But really . . wait.  Don’t rush out and buy all the shiny toys.  Make a list of what you really NEED .  and then what you want.  Most of us have to play on a budget and we would rather get to see you at an event than have you sit alone at home with a new toy. 
  • What kind of fabric should I avoid?
    • The fabric choices you need for your garments for use in the SCA depend on what style of garment you are trying to recreate. The simple rule of thumb is to avoid anything that uses man-made fibers, but the problem with simple rules is that it’s never that simple.
    • Polyester, nylon and various other plasticy fibers are going to be uncomfortable to wear and will never quite look right. The amount of money that you save by purchasing a cheaper plastic fabric is unlikely to offset the feelings of frustration that you have later when it doesn’t turn out the way you like. There are some rayon blends that do work primarily if they are blended with linen. Rayon is a man-made fiber but is much like cotton in many of its properties
    • Cotton based fabrics were used during the time period explored by the SCA by some cultures in some areas. Cotton is a readily available fabric to us modernly, and so the temptation is often for people to use it as a go-to fabric for many of their garment choices. Many of the very inexpensive cottons that are available like the trigger or poplin cottons, or the ones that can be found about everywhere, like the quilting cottons, really won’t make a satisfactory garment. This is mostly down to the poor quality of the fabric as it will not stand up to being turned into a garment that people wear. It will likely rip out very quickly. There are other times where thin cotton like muslin can work for undergarments in place of linen.
    • You will probably also want to avoid knits as these will not really produce a garment look that you will likely be happy with.
  • What kind of fabric should I use?
    • The kind of fabric choices that you need to make depend often on the type of garment that you would like to create. Many of the later. Garments require specific fabric choices on specific layers in order to create the effects of the complex garments. For many of the earlier garments, which are the ones that new members commonly start on, the fabric choices a little bit easier. Your fabric choice is going off and comes down to not only the fiber content but also the weight of the fabric, as a fabric can be the correct fiber content but can be too light or too heavy for a specific application. As people work towards greater accuracy in their garment reconstructions the type of weave becomes an area of interest and you will find people searching out specific weaving techniques to yield the cloth that they would like.
    • In general the fabrics that you are likely going to want are going to be natural fiber fabrics such as linen wool and silk. There are some time periods and some places where cotton was used, but many of our newer members use cotton out of necessity rather than out of the historically accurate choice. Due to the difficulty and finding certain kinds of fabric, members of the SCA often rely on blends as these are more modernly available. Common blends that are used within the SCA include wool blends where the wool is blended with a man-made fiber, linen blends such as a linen-cotton blend or a linen-rayon blend as well as some silk blends.
    • As you are researching the fabric that you need to recreate a specific garment there are ways to get advice on and supplies for your project. There are a number of very high quality publications which can assist a new customer in their fabric choices. Books such as the Medieval Tailors Assistant have sections on each garment discussing fabric choices.
  • Where do you find the fabric for constructing historic clothing?
    • The common places that SCA members purchase their fabrics include, to a certain extent local stores, although this is very difficult as a majority of the local stores don’t often carry the kinds of fabrics that we need. We often rely on vendors at SCA events. These vendors not only understand the needs and the desires of the market that they cater to but they also often offer special deals to SCA members,. Online specialty markets and specialty vendors can be found, but finding these reliable and trustable vendors can be a challenge for your members. We have compiled a list of some of the websites that we utilize and can say that we have had positive purchasing experiences with them.

Questions about the construction of garments

  • Why do you suggest people not use polyester / nylon for making historic clothing?
    • There are several reasons why people try to talk newer members out of using man-made fabrics for clothing for use in the SCA. Among these are the fact that modern clothing fabrics such as nylon, polyester and even polyester based velvets like crushed velvet, never quite behave the same as natural fibers.  If you sew two garments out of the same weight and color of fabric but one is made out of linen and one is made out of polyester, the polyester one will always stand out for not draping quite right. That is to say that the way that the fabric folds and moves when it’s on a body is obviously different.
    • This may not bother you right away, and indeed you could make garments out of fabric like this, but eventually it may matter to you as you try to reach closer to authenticity. And the fact is that the amount of money you save probably is not going to be worth the annoyance and frustration that you feel later on but this look is not the only reason.
    • One of the other reasons is related to safety. That is that many of the historic garments have multiple layers to them in order to construct the garments and man-made fibers such as polyester and nylon just don’t breathe the same. If you have ever enjoyed wearing a linen shirt on a summer day you know that it just feels more comfortable. I won’t go into the science of why this works here, but there is a reason. So we know that many of our events happen during the summer, and of course during nice warm weather, so this heat trapping polyester and nylon fabric can actually be rather dangerous adding to the risk of heat stroke. It may be counterintuitive, but a garment made out of a layer of linen and a layer of wool might be a lot cooler on a summer day than a garment made out of a single layer of polyester.
    • One other safety aspect to keep in mind is this flammability of some of the man-made materials. The way that these materials burn and melt make them rather dangerous if you plan on being around campfires when we are camping at events. It’s true that linen burns, but it burns much like paper and it doesn’t melt and adhere to the skin. And you may be able to get a wool garment to burn but it burns so slowly that it’s really quite a safe material to have on.
    • You can of course use any material that you would like, but with over 50 years of experience in making historic clothing members of the SCA know that sometimes the easiest path is not the best one to take.
  • What kind of thread do you use?
    • There may be some specific applications where specialized thread like linen and silk may be the best choice, but many times projects that involve using threads like this occur after people have been participating in the SCA for some time. if you are new to the SCA and especially if you are new at sewing the normal sewing thread that you can purchase at your local fabric store or even Walmart will work for most cases.

Questions about the Finishing Touches

  • What do I do if I can’t find shoes that work for my outfit?
    • Most people start out with shoes they already have.  In many cases brown or black shoes work as do many styles of boots and sandals.  Many SCA events involve a lot of walking, so regardless of fashion or accuracy, make sure you have good walking shoes.  We want you in good health, not looking good but with blisters on your feet.
  • Do I have to wear medieval underwear?
    • Most people don’t start out with all the layers to their historic garments.  For many people shoes and underwear are last on their lists to acquire medieval versions of. 
  • What do I do with my hair?
    • You really can wear your hair as you do in the modern world, that is fine, however many people have been enjoying some of the online tutorials for how to do up your hair in a medieval way.  You can find several of those are on YouTube with a basic search.  Other people choose to cover their hair with veils or hats of different kinds.  Some members also enjoy using extensions from hair care stores to make some fabulous clip on medieval tresses. 
  • What if I have a very modern hair style?
    • Super short hair? Mohawk? Bright pink hair?  Yup, people with modern hair styles do participate in the SCA. Some people may choose to cover their modern hair styles with medieval head coverings and I have even met one person who liked to use different wigs for different outfits, but most people just go with the ‘do they have.
    • There is not a link to more information provided on the entry I am interested in, how do I find more information about that subject?