Category Archives: PIONEERS

It’s nearly time for the faire! If this will be your first visit to a renaissance fair or if you are tweaking your costume for this seasons festivities, historical accuracy will cross your mind at some point. You only have to be as accurate as you want to be. Though Queen Elizabeth didn’t have machine…

Anne, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton was born into one of the wealthiest and most powerful Scottish families in Whitehall, London in 1631. King Charles I was her godfather. Due to the deaths of her brothers, father and uncle (the latter two in battles defending the King) she personally inherited the vast Hamilton estates in 1650….

The Renaissance Dancers are based in Southwark, London, site of historic Tudor theatres such as the vanished Rose and the rebuilt Shakespeare’s Globe. Originating from the Shakespeare’s Theatre Friends Association the group was founded in 1999. They regularly stage stunning displays of elaborate period dances. Although the members are amateurs they have been trained by…

Whether you need a costume for a renaissance fair or a Celtic festival, Scottish and Irish clothing is a versatile choice. There are a few key differences in the costumes worn by the Celtic people as compared to the English style clothing seen at many fairs. Among the Celts, there are also a few noteworthy…

It’s impossible to even consider attending a Romantic era re-enactment without first understanding the importance of linen in Romantic era clothing. Linen, made from the flax plant, has long been an important fabric. Throughout history it has been know for its versatility. In the romantic era, from 1825 to 1835, linen was used in many…

Linen was a very important fabric, in Edwardian times. So, if you are planning to attend an Edwardian re-enactment any time in the near future, you should understand a bit about linen and its Edwardian uses, first. Linen has been around for a long time. It was even used in ancient Egypt. It is one…

If you are planning to attend a Tudor era re-enactment, you will want to have the proper costume.  Before you search for suitable costumes for your Tudor re-enactment, you need to decide exactly what it is you’re looking for, though.  You might start by thinking about linen.  It was a very important fabric in the…

If you sew, you probably know how frustrating it is to have the fabric slip through your fingers, fray every time you touch it and just make it nearly impossible to sew a neat seam. Well, what if I told you that I know a secret fabric that won’t try to wiggle away from you?…

What if I told you, you could own a designer quality dress, without having to pay designer prices? Well if you don’t believe me, let me tell you about something that happened to me yesterday. Yesterday afternoon, my wife and I decided to go look around at the different brands and see which designers are…

Not too long ago I got a hold of a very passionate creator, Pedro Altamirano. At 68 years old, Pedro has been doing embroidery for over 30 years, has work in all seven continents, and has no plans on stopping any time soon! Since the Summer of 1977, Pedro Altamirano has focused his embroidery talent…

Are you interested in American Civil War re-enactment? Are you wondering where to begin, as far as getting an authentic costume for the occasion? Well, if so, you should first learn a bit about the importance of linen during the American Civil War. During the American Civil War, linen fabric was used for clothing for…

Whether you are just starting out in the world of Middle Ages era re-enactment or you have been doing re-enactments for years, the one thing that should stick out in your mind is authenticity.  There is nothing worse than showing up at a re-enactment in inappropriate clothes.  It can ruin the entire mood of the…

A glance into the past. Patchwork has been known for centuries. It has been used together with other methods to create clothing and home décor. Some of the oldest patchwork pieces are dated as long as 3000 years ago. (I bet it was linen, that lasted that long 🙂 ). However the technique itself started…

Have you heard of our Doggie Bag Section? If you haven’t yet discovered this little oasis for bargain aficionados, let me point the way to additional savings on all in stock fabrics! Regular stock fabrics – sold right on the next page at regular price – here in the Doggie Bag Section are sold at…

Are you planning to attend a Renaissance re-enactment? If so, you should know a bit about Renaissance dress. A lot of clothing, during the Renaissance period, revolved around the use of linen. In the early part of the sixteenth century, dress was actually similar to medieval times. Early Renaissance women often wore a linen chemise….