High-necked Hemd (undershirt): The Hemd pattern is actually just a set of instructions since there are no pattern pieces – everything is rectangles based on the wearer’s measurements. I wouldn’t say the pattern is worth the price just for the Hemd but the pattern includes many items needed to outfit a Landsknecht and the period research and construction techniques are very nice. The pattern maker is a historian and bases her patterns on extant garments. A beginner could easily sew this if they do the simple construction with no embellishment. If you’re going to smock the neckline or sleeveheads and/or do blackwork embroidery it is obviously more advanced. I don’t actually recommend doing blackwork over smocking but it sure does look cool…..(we won’t discuss the cursing and gnashing of teeth involved.) The instructions are clear and the illustrations are adequate. If you are making this for a large or xtra-large person definitely use a full width of linen for both front and back instead of a half-width. I used a half-width and it’s fine but I do think it would be better if it were a full width. Definitely two thumbs up.
Rated 4 out of 5
Judith Hollenberger –
Tellerbarett (platter hat): A little challenging because you have to judge what will look good and know how much infrastructure you will need for the hat to look like you want. The Tellerbarett pattern is pretty much a big flat circle. The construction details are amusing but as far as I can tell from period illustrations it is how the hat was made. The pattern maker is a historian and includes lots of background information and even instructions on stitches if you want to sew your hat authentically by hand. You have to love a pattern that comes with a bibliography! The construction is simple and the directions are clear. The lining piece will probably need to be doubled, I had to cut two instead of one to fit around the entire outer circumference. You really do want to cut a trial one out of cardboard to test the size – the original diameter is VERY large. My customer is a peacock but even for him I reduced the diameter. If you are doing a large size hat you absolutely must use both buckram (I used doubleweight) and wire the edge. Even with that the hat was much to floppy for my tastes and I wound up adding wire spokes to give more support and keep the hat flat when it was pinned to the coif. You will need a coif (also in the Accessories pattern) to wear this hat. Although the pattern is fairly expensive I found it was worth it because it includes many items and the construction and historical notes are very thorough. If you are equipping a Landsknecht man or woman this pattern is a good value.
Rated 3 out of 5
Gina Lovin –
I would recommend this pattern. I made both the Tallerberet and the starfish hat. They were both easy enough. I trimmed the black velvet Tallerberet with a white small feather boa. It was stunning and I received a lot of complements and second glances. The starfish hat was pretty cool for how easy it was. I used tan wool coating. Unfortunately there aren’t many choices in colors for wool coating. Then I ran a brown scarf through the holes and it was almost like a liripipe. I’ll make more if I can just find where I put that pattern.
Judith Hollenberger –
High-necked Hemd (undershirt): The Hemd pattern is actually just a set of instructions since there are no pattern pieces – everything is rectangles based on the wearer’s measurements. I wouldn’t say the pattern is worth the price just for the Hemd but the pattern includes many items needed to outfit a Landsknecht and the period research and construction techniques are very nice. The pattern maker is a historian and bases her patterns on extant garments. A beginner could easily sew this if they do the simple construction with no embellishment. If you’re going to smock the neckline or sleeveheads and/or do blackwork embroidery it is obviously more advanced. I don’t actually recommend doing blackwork over smocking but it sure does look cool…..(we won’t discuss the cursing and gnashing of teeth involved.) The instructions are clear and the illustrations are adequate. If you are making this for a large or xtra-large person definitely use a full width of linen for both front and back instead of a half-width. I used a half-width and it’s fine but I do think it would be better if it were a full width. Definitely two thumbs up.
Judith Hollenberger –
Tellerbarett (platter hat): A little challenging because you have to judge what will look good and know how much infrastructure you will need for the hat to look like you want. The Tellerbarett pattern is pretty much a big flat circle. The construction details are amusing but as far as I can tell from period illustrations it is how the hat was made. The pattern maker is a historian and includes lots of background information and even instructions on stitches if you want to sew your hat authentically by hand. You have to love a pattern that comes with a bibliography! The construction is simple and the directions are clear. The lining piece will probably need to be doubled, I had to cut two instead of one to fit around the entire outer circumference. You really do want to cut a trial one out of cardboard to test the size – the original diameter is VERY large. My customer is a peacock but even for him I reduced the diameter. If you are doing a large size hat you absolutely must use both buckram (I used doubleweight) and wire the edge. Even with that the hat was much to floppy for my tastes and I wound up adding wire spokes to give more support and keep the hat flat when it was pinned to the coif. You will need a coif (also in the Accessories pattern) to wear this hat. Although the pattern is fairly expensive I found it was worth it because it includes many items and the construction and historical notes are very thorough. If you are equipping a Landsknecht man or woman this pattern is a good value.
Gina Lovin –
I would recommend this pattern. I made both the Tallerberet and the starfish hat. They were both easy enough. I trimmed the black velvet Tallerberet with a white small feather boa. It was stunning and I received a lot of complements and second glances. The starfish hat was pretty cool for how easy it was. I used tan wool coating. Unfortunately there aren’t many choices in colors for wool coating. Then I ran a brown scarf through the holes and it was almost like a liripipe. I’ll make more if I can just find where I put that pattern.