Blogs of fellow historical dress, textile and needlework researchers that I admire:
- Aislings Welt
If you are at all interested in historical tablet weaving, then this is the blog for you. Silvia Aisling produces stunning reproductions with amazing skill. She also has a website which is a treasure trove of information and guidance (including historical designs up to the late medieval period). Blog and website are in German, but if you want to see incredible reconstructions and use Google translate, you’ll get the gist. - A stitch in time
Katrin Kania’s blog “Togs from bogs and other dirty laundry from medieval times!” One of the best books I have ever seen/read/obtained/pawed with abandon and found incredibly useful is Katrin’s book Kleidung im Mittelalter. Materialien – Konstruktion – Nähtechnik. Ein Handbuch. German-language (thankfully I am bilingual) book about materials, sewing techniques, the development of tailoring techniques and a reconstruction of the tailoring techniques of the Middle Ages as well as a catalogue listing extant garments from 500 to 1500. With illustrations and an English summary. - Medieval Silkwork
Excellent and well-researched practice-based blog by Isis Sturtewagen, a researcher at the Centre for Urban History at the University of Antwerp. She is completing a PhD on dress and fashion in the Low Countries during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, which I can’t wait to read. - Neulakko
Very interesting Finnish blog (part of it in English) by a lady who researches and recreates medieval dress and textiles. Don’t be fooled by her claiming not to be a “professional historian”, her rigorous approach to research & recreation is highly recommendable. - Katafalk
Stunning blog by Swedish classically trained tailor Cathrin Åhlén. She offers very well researched tutorials on a number of period clothing (focused on 14th and 16th centuries) with detailed photos. Cathrin’s sewing skills are awe-inspiring and her background of being a tailor, combined with her creative & researched approach to recreating historical dress is truly noteworthy.
My own Pinterest
- Nic’s Pinterest
If you are using Pinterest you might be interested in following my boards on historical dress, textiles and needlework. If you don’t have a Pinterest account, what is keeping you? It is a very useful tool not only to keep track of visual inspiration, but their algorithm lets you find some excellent further material as you pin.
Actually I have a question maybe you could help me with please. I am researching the period of 1647 to 1704 French history, Louis XIV. There are paintings, plates, illustrations showing period clothing. There are scenes, military, men with what look red ribbons clustered on the shoulder, like some form of early epaulets. There is a painting of Louis XIV in military dress, seated and the red ribbons on the shoulder are quite obvious. If you search Louis XIV Wikipedia page it is the 1673 painting. He is in white/silver and red.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIV_of_France
Would know what is the significance of those ribbons? Or could you suggest a possible site I might contact to search further?
These ribbons show up in several paintings and illustrations of this period, all seem to have some military significance such as a symbol of rank. In one period painting of a musketeer unit storming a city gate there are red, gold, and even a black set of shoulder ribbons being worn by individuals in the painting.
Thank you so much .