Creating A Comfortable Kirtle: Creating A Supportive 16th Century Underdress

Friday Afternoon February 20th - Sunday, February 22nd

Before the advent of separate pairs of stays or corsets women wore supportive underdresses, often called kirtles, to give shape and form to their gowns. The kirtle bodices (upper bodies) were worn by women of all classes and created support through the use of layers of buckram and canvas rather than boning, which did not become common until the end of the 16th c. in elite fashion. Kirtles could lace up the front, sides, or back depending on the garment with which they were worn.

Join Samantha Bullat for this 2 1⁄2 day workshop where we will:

• Discuss and analyze the evolution of kirtles: who wore them, how were they worn, and who made them? This discussion will include factors such as socio-economic status, geography, etc.

• Choose different types of inner layers for body type and social demographic.

• Work in pairs to fit and adjust  a kirtle bodice mock up made prior to the workshop (patterns will be suggested).

Students will leave the workshop with a mostly completed kirtle bodice and the understanding of how to finish the bodice, then assemble and attach skirts.

Your kirtle will be fitted over an undergarment. A 16th c smock is highly preferred but a later shift or chemise is acceptable for the purposes of this course.

This workshop is an INTERMEDIATE LEVEL 2. Participants are expected to have good hand sewing skills and experience in creating an article of historical clothing using a pattern, and have fitted that piece of clothing. Please read more about our current  Workshop Levels here.

Workshop cost of $335 includes: 2 1/2 day workshop
which includes muslin for adapting kirtle bodice shapes.

Class size will be limited to 12 Participants

Registration opens HERE Wednesday, November 5th at 12:30 pm  

*CANCELLATION POLICY

Because of the nature and enrollment limitation of our workshops, we regret that we are unable to give a full refund for a cancellation.  If you cancel 30 or more days prior to the workshop, we will refund your fee less a $50 cancellation fee. If you cancel less than 30 days prior to the workshop, we will have to charge the full amount of the workshop unless we are able to fill your slot, in that event you will be charged only the $50 cancellation fee.  In the event of the workshop being cancelled we are not responsible for any costs by the attendee for cancelled reservations.