11-05-2010, 02:46 PM
Avete!
Go to the sources! Original tunics from the 1st to 2nd centuries AD are made in 2 panels. It seems to have been typical to weave them sideways, with the clavi woven in horizontally. Then the pieces were turned 90 degrees and put together, and hopefully the clavi met up neatly at the top! In fact, Jewish law states that for a ritually pure tunic, the stripes must line up at the top.
With the Roman method, there were no cut edges to be hemmed. That puts us modern reenactors at a disadvantage if we're using modern fabric! It is still helpful to turn the fabric 90 degrees so that the grain and selvedges run horizontally. If you're really lucky, the original width of the fabric will equal the finished height that you need, and you can use the selvedges at top and bottom. But modern wool is usually too wide for that, so we have to cut one selvedge edge off and use the other one at top OR bottom. Your call!
Valete,
Matthew
Go to the sources! Original tunics from the 1st to 2nd centuries AD are made in 2 panels. It seems to have been typical to weave them sideways, with the clavi woven in horizontally. Then the pieces were turned 90 degrees and put together, and hopefully the clavi met up neatly at the top! In fact, Jewish law states that for a ritually pure tunic, the stripes must line up at the top.
With the Roman method, there were no cut edges to be hemmed. That puts us modern reenactors at a disadvantage if we're using modern fabric! It is still helpful to turn the fabric 90 degrees so that the grain and selvedges run horizontally. If you're really lucky, the original width of the fabric will equal the finished height that you need, and you can use the selvedges at top and bottom. But modern wool is usually too wide for that, so we have to cut one selvedge edge off and use the other one at top OR bottom. Your call!
Valete,
Matthew
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
