Provincial ladies kit - based on Loenne Hedde

[Cheyenne]

Hi All,

Here is a set of ladies kit made for a customer based upon the Loenne Hedde dress and overskirt from Denmark. The original finds are thought to date between the 1c BC to 3rd c AD - it is similar to the Huldremose dress and overskirt with a cloak, and also the interpretion of the Loen Hedde dress, overskirt and cloak. Here however, I have dyed the cloth to compliment the cloak which is made from the yarn of a primitive breed of sheep thought to have originated in the Scandinavian iron age.

The skirt and dress are 100% fine wool, the dress is a worsted 'verring' type yarn and the skirt is a pleated an folded herringbone. The stitching is madeto match the cloak and I used yarns teased from the fringing process as the decorative stitching on the skirt and dress. The garments are held together with small plain fibula pins and I have finished the set off with a set of melon/eye/spacer set of beads. The inkle braided belt along with the pin keeps the skirt in place.

[Peroni]

Very nice Claire! Something you could wear for your Batavian lady impression! :wink:

[Cheyenne]

I'm doing something similar for 2012 for my own kit... my current dress is a bit 'Northern' - ie: too thick for the summer

[Yurko]

Greetings Dearest Claire,

A beautiful ensemble! It was absolutely wonderful to see the stunning smile on Basia's face when I showed her the images. Though she knows very little of the period, as a Salon owner, she readily appreciates beauty and quality. And all your creations have both in acute abundance... Because of my constant badgering, she's beginning to have an eye toward authenticity as well.

Well done dear. I think Basia will possibly be the best dressed 1st AD woman at the annual Military History Fest. And many thanks for your efforts. I only hope the parcel arrives in time tomorrow. :roll:

Once again, a very happy American client, and I look forward to more Claire creations in my collection.

Cheers and my highest regards,

[Robert]

Wow, Claire. That is a fine looking outfit. For my understanding, it comprises of three garments, the dark fringed stola, a dress and a pleated overskirt in the same color? I can see the (cardwoven?) waistband, but is that all that keeps the overskirt in place? I am struggling to figure out how it all stays put when one wears it. The armholes look to be simply turned down pieces of fabric, the dress being very wide.

Most wonderfull!

[Cheyenne]

Hi Robert, thanks for the kind words. Yes, this is a three peice outfit. The underdress and overskirt (in a different weave) are separate and it can be worn with the underdress on its own as a slightly later impression. The skirt is secured by using both the belt and a brass pin. I have sewn pleats into the skirt which also gives it more shape and ability to sit better on the hips. According to NESAT 8 (Priceless inventions of humanity, J Maik (eds) 2004), fragments of pleated fabric had been found in Czech republic and were thought to be part of a ladies dress or overskirt. So I used this reference in addition to the danish interpretation of the reconstruction of the Loene Hedde finds (which also show some pleating and gathering of the overskirt) to put this set together.

I'd be interested to know how the skirt holds up under normal use - it's quite heavy due to the pleating and it might need an additional pin as is shown in the Loene Hedde reconstruction

[Tim Edwards]

Great work - it's good to see people reconstructing from extant finds. Here's some of the original pieces:

[attachment=2972]Loenne-Hede-tekstiler-ny.jpg[/attachment]

My fiance finished her interpretation of the loenne hede undress a couple of years back, though she has gone for a deeper blue and included the 'crenallated' red and white tablet weave.

[attachment=2971]roman_ramona_by_woekan-d46lrtk.jpg[/attachment]

She is yet to make the skirt as the starting border is very chunky, she has used 31 weaving tablets to emulate the original - which may have been still wider.

Here is a Danish interpretation of the full set:

[attachment=2973]danish20ironage20fem.jpg[/attachment]

On the skirt suspension, I'm sure I have read somewhere that there as an integral draw cord in a hem on the waist on Loenne Hede, which would gather the material in a slightly different manner. I will see if I can find a reference.

We will be at least one of the UK Batavian events this year - may see you there!

[Cheyenne]

I was chatting with your lady at Chester and we talked about the dress then. There is some more up to date research that JP wild said he would let me know when the publication is out with reference to the dress - something on there about the construction and fastening of the overskirt.

I said I'd send it to her when I have it through the email

[Robert Vermaat]

My fiance finished her interpretation of the loenne hede undress a couple of years back, though she has gone for a deeper blue and included the 'crenallated' red and white tablet weave.
[..]
We will be at least one of the UK Batavian events this year - may see you there!

Great looking work indeed! Any shows on the continent I hope?