Hospitaller Soft Kit

[Mike W.]

According to the Hospitaller Statue of 1206, the knights were forbidden from wearing colored clothes. Everything they owned (with the exception of the black robes, surcoat, and mantle) had to be white. I had attempted to sew a soft kit, but sadly my results were quite sub-par. Historical Enterprises does not sell tunics or hose in white, nor does Revival Clothing. Anyone know of a place where I can get a white linen tunic and white wool hose without having to fork over the cash for custom made items?

[Sir Wolf]

i made my own.




Shield




black wool gown/garnache



leather turn shoes



white linen breeches



white linen cotta



white wool hosen



black wool mantle with hood



linen coif and wool cap



white linen under shirt

[Don Jorge]

I have heard great things about Linen Garb. Maybe ask and see if they can make you something?

http://www.linengarb.com/shop/

[Sir Wolf]

http://www.merchantadventurers.com/ ask my friend. give her specifics on how period you want stuff. she can make it for ya too

[Sir James A]

I'd also check with Revival and/or Historic and ask if they are willing to do it in white as a one-off. They already have the pattern, so it's worth a try.

[Mike W.]

I tried making my own. The hose seem quite baggy and pull the braies down, rather than the brais holding them up. I screwed up the tunic by making the neck hole way too wide (amateur mistake). Sadly I do not have the time, the patience, or the funds to keep practicing on white linen (the materials were expensive the first time around). So if I can get them pre-made, that would be great.

[Sir James A]

Ah! Practice on muslin, not the final material. It's only $1 or $2 a yard. Once you have a working pattern, transfer to the final material. You may be able to salvage some of the linen.

[Sir Patrick]

+1 on Sir James's advice. If sewing your own kit, muslin is your best friend.

[Sir Douglas]

Another +1 on Sir James's advice. If I had to make multiple test garments out of $30-per-yard wool before I got it right, I would probably cry.

[Ian]

Yes, never ever prototype on expensive fabric.

As Sir James said, muslin is the inexpensive go-to fabric for testing out patterns.  I cut up muslin to a pattern, and then tweak the muslin until I get the garment how I want it.  Then I lay the tweaked muslin pieces over the pattern and adjust the pattern to whatever adjustments I made... then I check it again... and then and only then do  I cut in to linen or wool!  But once you've got that pattern how you want it, you've got a garment for life that you know will fit so long as you stay the same.  Someone else making something, even to your measurements is always a shot in the dark if there are no fittings done in person.