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LACINGS: These are often combined with slits and are used frequently at
necklines, sides of garments, up the back or front of gowns, on pants fronts,
and on boots. Laces can be drawn through eyelets or loops, or wrapped around
lacing hooks (available at fabric stores).
Eyelets - Hand bound or embroidered eyelets are lovely but time consuming.
Metal eyelets can be put in with a special pliers tool quickly, but are less
authentic, especially in early garments. Also special care should be taken to
avoid having the material ravel away from the eyelet. Some sewing machines
make eyelets (tiny buttonhole setting that will not ravel).
TIES: Ties can be used anywhere. In the earlier periods they were combined
with slits. Later they were used as much for decoration as function. Ties were
almost always what was used for garters.
DRAWSTRING: These are used in waistbands, necklines and cuffs. A drawstring
affect can be achieved with elastic, which allows easier ingress and egress to
the garment, but does not always look quite the same. A good "chest" version
with elastic can be achieved by sewing a drawstring to each end of an
appropriate length of elastic (1). Then insert the elastic into your casing with
the drawstring pieces coming out the ends. Stitch the elastic at the ends (2).
The drawstrings can then be tied. Since the elastic with stretch, there will be
no need to ever tie or untie the strings when putting on or taking off the
garment (3).
BUTTONS: These are used like hooks, but are more versatile as they are
decorative as well as being functional. They were used in the later periods as
pure decoration as on slashes in doublets, etc.
Button loops - Hand crocheted loops are great of course and terribly
authentic. However, elastic loops by the yard (look in the bridal section of
cloth shops) look pretty good, open and close easily and are eminently more
practical for long runs of buttons.
SNAPS: It is debatable whether or not snaps are in period. A crude kind of
snap was probably used during the cavalier period, but it is not likely that it
looked anything like the ones we have today. However, if well disguised, snaps
may be a convenient closure for you. They can be especially handy for faking
buttons. Snaps come in card form like hooks, available at fabric stores, or
singly.
Velcro - An alternative to snaps is Velcro. It is easy to use and very easy
to open and shut, so easy in fact that it should not be used on high stress
points. It is also somewhat expensive.
Links To Other Costuming Resources
SLITS: These are often called vents. Slits are found at necklines, sides at the hem,
and underarms to allow ease of movement, ingress and egress. A broach (or hook)
is commonly used at neckline slits.
Neckline Vent with
Lacing Through Eyelets
Side Vent with Lacing
Through Loops
Gown Back with Lacing
Around Lacing Hooks
Neckline Vent with ties
Italian sleeve c. 1490
HOOKS: Hooks can be used singly at a neckline, on cuffs or shoes. In groups
they can be used for back closures, pants fronts, etc. Grouped hooks can be
bought in tape form (called hook tape) at fabric stores. Be sure when sewing on
hook tape to lap the edges of the fabric over it to cover evenly from both
sides. It should look like a seam when finished.
Buttonholes - Bound buttonholes are most authentic, but a bit more
difficult. Fabric stores sell a bound buttonhole maker with instructions that
works on any machine and eliminates a lot of the hassle. Machine buttonholes
do not look too bad, and they do not show when covered by the button.
Buttons - Early ones were horn, shell, bone, wood, gold, silver, bronze,
and copper. Later, buttons of polished gemstones, ivory, pearls, brass and
knotted fabric were added to the list. Covered buttons as they now exist were
probably not known. Buttons could be one holed (like beads), two, three, or
four holed, or shank. Shank came to be the most popular from about 1300 on.
BUCKLES: Buckles were most likely developed from the fibule type broach. They
were used during the medieval periods on bolts, baldrics, shoes, and kilts. They
were very common on armour. Generally made of metal, they could be anywhere from
quite simple to very ornate.
RedDawn's Pages for Faire Costumes
The Garb Bag: Fantasy Costuming Links
The Perfect Armor Improved: Water Hardened Leather
Apprentice Armorer's Illustrated Handbook
Care & Cleaning of ChainMaille
Chaperon's and How To Make Them
Real Whips: How To Make Your Own Whip
Some Clothing of the Middle Ages
Lothene: Costumes of Medieval Times
Costumes.org: Medieval Costume Links
Costume Page: Medieval History
Sunara Clothing & Accessories Goodies Page
MoonDragon's Costumes Index