Three years ago I finally decided to make my own national costume. Being  both a folkdancer and seemstress it was long over due to return the one I’ve been borrowing for the past 5 years and start on my own.

As part of a folk dancing team it was not hard to find the right person to help me get the project started by letting me buy some home woven fabrics at a good price.

All the pieces of clothing are hand sewn with waxed linnen thread.

Starting with the shirt in a white cotton fabric I quickly got used to the handsewing way of  pleating, fellseaming and hemming. The construction was relatively simple with only squares, rectangles and underarm gores.

Next up was the skirt in a striped, rather corse wool. It consisted of one big rectangle which was pleated to a waistband and closed with hooks and eyes.

The apron in a striped cotton fabric was constructed the same way: a rectangle pleated to a waistband which ties in the waist.

The neck-cloth consisted of one squared piece of checkered cotton which only needed hemming.

The only piece of the costume which really needed some thinking and fitting was the bodice. I bought the pattern and got some help figuring out the right measurments and fitting for the mock-up.

The fabric is a red wool fabric (kind of like brothcloth), natural linnen for the linnig and some green ribbon for trimming.

For this costume I also needed some accessories which I could not or would not make.

Some jewelry – a brooch and a pair of cuff links.

And a bag worn at the waistband of the skirt.

You will also need some red wool stockings, some kind of petticoat or bloomers and a red ribbon for your hair – if you are unmarried. Married woman wear their hair in a headcloth or a coif.

Here is my finished folk costume on my dressform taken three years ago. You will get some pictures of it in action next time.