medievalrosalie | A Handbook for Women's Clothing- Northern Europe 1360-1415.

Do you need a book to recommend people new to living history or to people asking you to explain medieval women's clothing to them? Yes? This is your book.

I was extremely delighted to find A Handbook for Women's Clothing- Northern Europe 1360-1415- Historical Clothing From The Inside Out by Peter Ahlqvist and Maria Neijman ticked an extraordinary number of boxes for me. It includes the essential information required to explain how the clothing and dress accessories of this period are made and go together in an easy to understand text with illustrations and photos to visually demonstrate what is meant.

This page is typical of the style of the book. It gives precise information about the garment (without bogging the reader down with too much technical jargon which can, quite frankly, terrify the sewer with limited skills,) includes a contemporary medieval reference, a large line drawing with helpful notes, photos of real people with an actual made item so the reader can see how it looks on a real person and it explains how to achieve the right fit for a proper medieval look for each layer.

I particularly like how it walks the reader through the layers of clothing, again giving the right amount of assistance to the novice who is putting together an outfit for the first time. The tone is both practical and encouraging. Dress accessories and instructions are included.

Sewing techniques themselves are discussed and practical tips are included. Backstitch here. Use the selvedge there. Seams go here.

This is a great book.