Tutorial: creating Herjolfsnes-style garments using a ratio system

I've made a few Herjolfsnes-style garments in the last few years. All of these have been based on my or other's own measurements, rather than using a pattern (such as those in Medieval Garments Reconstructed). Obviously, using one's own measurements results in garments that are a different shape/size to those of the originals.

I felt it was important when doing this to try to preserve the proportions of the original garments. In particular, the proportions of the bottom hems (they are huge!) and the proportions of the side gores (they definitely do not form princess seams). Here's how I did it...

A lower class tunic - Part 1: Pictorial research

The last 12 months or so have been full of (increasingly frantic...) sewing as I and some of my friends prepared for our first visit to the Battle of Wisby. For those of you who don't know, this is a huge mid-14th Century event held in Sweden which is a bit of a Mecca for 14th Century reenactors who are of an authenticity bent (i.e. ME!).

My husband & I needed pretty much head-to-toe new outfits. One of the key items was a new tunic for my husband. Of course, that required research!