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Making a (first century AD) tunic
#31
Red flag alert!
Quote:So, does mine pass muster?
Your what?
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)

Saepe veritas est dura.
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#32
I'll refrain from answering that..... :roll:
Visne partem mei capere? Comminus agamus! * Me semper rogo, Quid faceret Iulius Caesar? * Confidence is a good thing! Overconfidence is too much of a good thing.
[b]Legio XIIII GMV. (Q. Magivs)RMRS Remember Atuatuca! Vengence will be ours!
Titus Flavius Germanus
Batavian Coh I
Byron Angel
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#33
Hi

Excellent information thank you. Just a question or two. Would the tunic typically be mde from two pieces sewn at the top and sides or just one folded at the top with the neck slit cut and then sewn at the sides? Would they hem the neck and edges? Did they typically use a particular type of stitching pattern? And what material would the thread be made from?

joel
Joel
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#34
Ave!

You're right, the first couple posts are a little vague. The tunic is made of 2 panels, one front and one back, sewn together at top and sides. Typically they turned the fabric sideways, so that there was a selvedge (finished edge) at top and bottom. Saves a lot of hemming! With 45" wide linen, that can work, but since modern wool is typically 58" to 60" wide it's really too wide for that. So you have to cut off one edge. Generally I go with the selvedge at the bottom, and hem the neck opening. Plus you probably need to hem the armholes.

Linen thread is best for sewing, especially for hand-sewing. I generally stick with simply running stitches, or a backstitch if I need more strength. Pretty sure those are both well documented, though they may not be the only options. I just use a running stitch for the hems, too--no need to get fancy. I may use a whip stitch when sewing on clavi (stripes), though.

Happy sewing!

Matthew
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
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#35
Hi

Quote:Would the tunic typically be mde from two pieces sewn at the top and sides or just one folded at the top with the neck slit cut and then sewn at the sides?

Both of these are documented by finds. In later tunics it seems to have been more common to weave the tunic in one piece, sleeves included.

Quote:Would they hem the neck and edges?

Yes. Sometimes also reinforced with differently colored wool e.g.

Quote:Did they typically use a particular type of stitching pattern?

See http://www.heatherrosejones.com/archaeologicalsewing/ for details

Quote:And what material would the thread be made from?

Wool or linen.
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#36
Great link, Martin. I'd seen this one in times past, but couldn't remember where. Now bookmarked. ++
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)

Saepe veritas est dura.
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#37
Quote:Great link, Martin. I'd seen this one in times past, but couldn't remember where. Now bookmarked. ++

Agreed I have looked everywhere for info on this. Nothing until now. Thank You!
Craig Bellofatto

Going to college for Massage Therapy. So reading alot of Latin TerminologyWink

It is like a finger pointing to the moon. DON\'T concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory before you!-Bruce Lee

Train easy; the fight is hard. Train hard; the fight is easy.- Thai Proverb
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#38
Would that type of tunic be apropriate for a legionair of the first century BC, too?
Lunico/ Megan H.
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#39
If you mean the type of tunic I was describing at the beginning of the thread, before the matter became somewhat confused, then the answer would be a somewhat caution 'yes'. Certainly you should be avoiding sleeves.

Crispvs
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers.  :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
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#40
Yes, that's the type I was referring to. :wink:
Lunico/ Megan H.
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#41
Salvete omnes,

I've been asking myself... Would the tunic of a Roman soldier be sewed with narrow, small stitches, or would it be sewed with rough, unequal and long stitches? I'd like to know for the real sewing as well for the edging.

Gratias et valete,
Valete,
Titvs Statilivs Castvs - Sander Van Daele
LEG XI CPF
COH VII RAET EQ (part of LEG XI CPF)

MA in History
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#42
Hey There,

I usually do mine with small and regular stitches. There are well documented sources of repair businesses locally which would repair clothing of the soldiers on the move. The tunics I have studied have seen a number of repair jobs on them - with patching done in relatively uniform stitches. Darning was common on the finer fabrics, and very expert darning at that, so much so, that the darning is hard to see with the naked eye unless one looks very closely.

As a rule, I do 2mm stitching on all my tunics, this is both strong and durable

Hope this helps

Claire
Claire Marshall

General Layabout

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.plateau-imprints.co.uk">www.plateau-imprints.co.uk
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#43
Hi Claire,

Thanks. I've also done mine with small and regular stitches - I just wanted to make sure I wasn't putting unrealisticly much effort in it, if it was too "refined" for the army, if you understand what I mean.:-) Thank you!
Valete,
Titvs Statilivs Castvs - Sander Van Daele
LEG XI CPF
COH VII RAET EQ (part of LEG XI CPF)

MA in History
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#44
Your welcome,

btw - I really like the effort you put in to your subarmour, looks very professional

They are a lot of work!

C
Claire Marshall

General Layabout

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.plateau-imprints.co.uk">www.plateau-imprints.co.uk
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#45
Thanks! Always nice to get compliments from an expert. Smile I should start working on the pteryges.. Tongue My subarmalis has been finished for over a year now, and I still only finished 3 pteryges. Tongue Busy with exams at the moment, but I plan to work on them after those.. Hmm, but I also have a tunica to finish, and I've got wool for feminalia, and, and... :lol:
Valete,
Titvs Statilivs Castvs - Sander Van Daele
LEG XI CPF
COH VII RAET EQ (part of LEG XI CPF)

MA in History
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