My green bliaut

[frualeydis]

My husband took photos of me in my new green silk bliaut this morning. I promised I wouldn't start working on the web site immediately, we have a lot of other things to do, but I've put up one picture
I'm very happy with the way it turned out. There are some things I need to fix before i wear it, like a better, more gliding lacing cord. I also need to sew hooks and eyes along the lower part of the neck opening. Now it is held closed by two brooches and it is'nt very practical. When I stop nursing I will sew the edges of the lower part of the opening together but for now I need a secure but easy to open fastening.

Comments

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

I really like that dress!

How did you construct the skirt? I've been looking at bliauts lately and wondering what the theories are on the skirt construction.

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

I will write more about this when I make the web page on this dress, but in general there are two types of bliauts, those which only have gores (very common in german, english and scandinavian art) and those who appear to have a pleated attached skirt (only french as far as I know). The latter method is under debate, but I think Janet Snyder has proved that it is at least the most plausible construction method for some of the bliauts seen in french art, in her article in Koslin and Snyder ed. Encountering medieval textiles and dress : objects, texts, images (New York 2002).
More will come on this subject when I get the time to write about it and work on the photos.

Eva

Eva