… the only material that I can find to make a surcote with is only 3 and some yards long; thus the question about fur tops. Since that doesn’t look to be period for me, that’s out. Katrine, if that’s enough to make the cote you mentioned, that would be lovely.
I’m interested in, but I’m not sure I understand what is meant by, the “shoulderless” surcoate someone else mentioned, though. I’m the type of person that needs lots of pretty pictures drawn for me
~ Rachael
Message #728, January 16, 2003
45″ wide or 60″ wide? Is there a nap to the fabric? What I would probably do with this is make a very easy calf length overgown in the T-tunic style like many German women wear and take the fur and trim the tunic with it (be sure to use a razor to cut the fur so you don’t cut the hairs, just the skin or backing fabric). You’ll probably need trim or embroidery to finish the look. Depending on your taste you can have it tight in the waist area or loose. I’ll look for some images.
Probably not [enough to make the cote mentioned] without a complicated layout.
~ Katrine / Katherine Barich
Message #729, January 16, 2003
The material is 3 yards of 46 inch wide of what I am calling a brocade but might be a jacquard — I don’t really know materials, and am quite frankly trying to use up what I have before making sure of “periodness”. It is black with a woven in design, also in black, of some kind of flowers, not as big as they should be, but clumped in fairly big groups. I think I’m going to wind up actually sewing it so the “wrong” side shows — that way it’s a dark grey/blackish with shiny black flowers instead of black with dark grey/blackish flowers that look an awful lot like daisies.
I have some black very nice fake fur that I was going to use as a hood on my Kinsale, but think would look very nice done as you describe instead.
~ Rachael
Message #730, January 16, 2003