Renaissance Doublet Diary

This is a working diary for a men's renaissance doublet that could have been worn during the later part of the 1500's. Pictures will be posted shortly.

June 4th, 2004

Went fabric shopping today. Purchased some black silk dutchess satin for the outer layer of the brocade. Some white silk dupioni for the interlining and some heavy weight black cotton twill for the interior lining. I already have some black gimp which I plan to use for the trim. Decidied not to purchase buttons with the idea that I might order some over the internet, might turn out to be a mistake because it would have been better to have them on hand.

June 5th, 2004

Worked on different pattern ideas for pinking. Spent a few hours looking through various books for ideas and also drafted the pattern that I wanted to use.

June 6th, 2004

Spent more time trying to decide on a pattern for the pinking. part of the long decision making process was that I while I had a pattern in mind, it tunred out that I would have had to cut the fabric on the bias for that to work. A point that I didn't realize before I cut the doublet. On this particular piece of fabric the cut must be made on the warp and the weft and not on the bias, or the fabric would unravel too much. Particuly because the slashes were to be large. I had apparently forgotten the last time I used this fabric for a cut and slash technique it was cut on the bias. Oh well. Finaly I decided on the pattern and made a stencil. After the season finale of the Sopranos, and the latest Deadwood were over I went ahead and chalked in the cut marks for the doublet fronts and the back.

June 7th, 2004

Spent hours cutting the small holes in the dutchess satin. Made me slightly blind, but I did get to watch 10,000 Bedrooms a movie staring Dean Martin and Gina Lolabrigita. Cut the sleeves and drew the chalk marks for the pinking pattern.

June 8th, 2004

Spent the AM pinking the sleeves. Had some lunch and cut the shoulder wings, drew the pinking pattern on them, and pinked them. I then cut the skirting for the waist and the pieces that I intend to slash for the shoulders and the waist. Also cut the white silk dupioni interlining. Next step was to draw the pinking marks for the waist treatment and slashing the pices for the waist and shoulders.