SNAPPY SOLDIER TUNIC PLEAT

[Tarbicus]

Here's another photo with a lot more messing about trying different methods of pulling the tunic under the cingulum. I found pinching layers up and poking them at their corners up and under to be the most effective. Start from closer towards the middle and grab the next pleat a bit further towards your sides. TOnce you have some pushed under the cingulum you can then adjust them fairly easily by tucking and pulling them about, both below and above the belt.


I suspect it's something like knotting a bow tie - practice makes perfect.

I've only used an everyday waistbelt for the strap going from uder the right armpit and over the left shoulder, as suggested by Graham, and it works a treat to tidy up the right 'sleeve'. I've yet to widen the neckhole so it can be tied up at the back of the neck which help will get rid of the baggy left 'sleeve'.

Common sense would suggest that tunics of this size must have been altered to fit the wearer. Tertullian wrote that tunics should have been made shorter in the first place to avoid the need to gather up all the loose folds! De Pallio V

I have to say, although they obviously may well have been shortened, I find the tunic incredibly comfortable to wear. Perhaps Tertullian was a trend setter and thought the Rhineland was "so yesterday" :wink: However, it would serve as a nice large layer of extra blanket when under leather on campaign, with a sagum wrapped about you. More air would be trapped in the folds to help stay warm when the temperature dropped.

As you are in London Jim I would recommend a visit to the V&A. However a lot of other museums in Britain have collections of Roman period tunics or textile fragments and you will be surprised at how many there are hidden away.

Cheers Graham, I certainly shall.

One thing I'm wondering is whether the wool fabric I have is actually thin enough, as the sculptures do suggest that more folds might be possible.