medieval fair

Söderköpings Medieval Fair 2017

Published on September 21, 2017 by fashionthrougherstoryLeave a comment

It’s almost been a month since the yearly Medieval fair in Söderköping, and I just now gotten round to post about it, but better late then never right:-).

I’ve been attending this fair with my sister for a few years now (2014, 2015, 2016) and this year was no exception, only this year I didn’t joined the dance recital, but instead had my hand full taking care of my 1 year old son.

As always I had a bit of a trouble deciding on what to wear, but finally settled on the Elizabeth I dress l made last year.

My sister borrowed my red renaissance kirtle.

And baby Charlie wore the Henry VIII coat from last year, pared with an old red velvet hat to match.

I promised my fiancé I wouldn’t dress him to weird, and in my defence I can only say I (partially) held that promise. Besides from the coat and hat (which he needed for head covering), he wears a regular gray long sleeved t-shirt and pants pared with his autumn boots.

*Disclaimer: This post will be full of cute (faceless) “Henry VII” baby pics – so consider yourself warned;-)

**I’m sorry about the “Floating ruff”, but the partlet was simply to hot to wear, and I’ve forgotten to bring my necklace and/or black-worked smock, so I figured it was better then nothing…

We begun the day by touring the market place.
And I got a beautiful feather fan, and a book about medieval clothing that I’ve never seen before.

Then we walked the 500m or so to the camp and Medieval playground.
There was a lot of “follow the toddler” happening.

Then we meet up with the dancing team and baby C got introduced to the whole gang for te first time.

My sister joined the dancing

And me and C watched(At least for a little while), then he was of agin… I do think we made for quite a sight.
Lots of people commented on how cute he looked, and some even wanted our picture.

After the dancing we went to get some food, and encountered the knights on our way to the restaurant.After lunch we stopped to take a break and to play a bit in the parks playground. The slide is by far his favourite.
The we did even more exploring the townHa ha, I love that my sister tries to play with him and how he’s much more interesting in the gravel:-D Trying to get some nice photos together… It’s harder then you’d think
Before we headed home we took another round of the market and listened to some music, Met a knight of the crusades and looked at some more pretty things (that we didn’t buy). Renaissance ladies.
It was such a fun day, and a perfect “first event” for C (who was in the best of moods during the day, and then slept the whole car ride home). What more could you wish for 🙂

Medieval Fair Söderköping 2016

Published on October 17, 2016 by fashionthrougherstory1 Comment

A few days after I finished my “Borgia dress” it was time for it’s first outing – To the yearly medieval fair in Söderköping.

This year I had a hard time deciding whether or not I should go, and if I did, then in what way would I attend.
Because of the new baby…
The first thing I needed to decide was If I should go at all, and should I then take him with me?
And If I took him, should I breastfeed or give him the bottle (this is the million dollar question when it comes to clothing decision), and would it be better to wear something old and easy to wash (because, baby spit) instead of my new princess gown?

I had three dresses that I could wear to the event:

1. Italian renaissance
Pros:
New dress!
Never worn
Soo pretty

Cons:
“Booberella”
Difficult to wash and thous breastfeed in
Never worn….

2. Medieval Cote
Pros:
Comfortable and opportunity to wear a whimple
Perfect for the Fairs time period
Easy to breastfeed in
Well tested and trusted

Cons:
Thick wool = super hot
Difficult to wash
Worn a lot

3. Tudor Peasant sidan-sol Pros:
Easy to wear
Easy to wash and to breastfeed in
Cons:
Simple on the verge to boring

In the end the choosing was made easy by my boyfriend insisting he take the baby for the day and I go alone (well not alone, my sister was to come to).
This was to be the longest time away from Charlie I ever been, so lets just say I was les then focused when dressing in my gown (New Borgia gown for the win, because – New dress :-)) and kissing my boys goodbye.

The familiar scenery of Söderköping.

We meet up with the dance team and participated in the show (with only a handful of on-lookers)

I really need to do something about that neckline (or work a bit more on my posture)…

Ha ha, love this picture.
Some people do take the dancing a lot more serious 😀

After the dance recital me and my sister took a walk around the market.

Mmmm fabric….

We also took a few minutes to take some pictures by the big church (while trying our best to ignore the other visitors taking our picture).

Medieval selfie 🙂

Before heading hoe we did a pit-stop at the fabulous fabric store, where I got lots and lots of cute baby fabrics.

Söderköping’s Medieval Fair 2015

Published on September 1, 2015 by fashionthrougherstoryLeave a comment

This weekend it was once again time for the annual medieval fair called “Söderköpings Gästabud”.
And just like last year I talked my sister into going with me, to watch and help with the dance recital.

And of course she needed something to wear…
So after a week of intensive sewing we were finally ready for the fair.

Sis and me in our Medieval garb:
Blue Burgundian (24 hour) dress, and g reen wool cotiehardie .

Once at Söderköping we hurried to find the rest of the dance team to get some last minute practice before we were to perform.

My sister also got to partake in the dancing (even though she only watched the performance once before, (a task she performed perfectly, of course).“OMG – how I’m I to keep my hats on while dancing?”

Medieval dancing…

Othilia and Maria (sis) catches their breath after the performance.

Since we then had a 3 hour break until next dance-performance, me, Clara and Maria headed of on our own.

First stop, “Jofotex fabrics” – the by far best fabric store in our area.“Price the lords for fabrics”

You could clearly see the influence the Medieval fair had on the store (and the well dressed clientele), with special prices on wool, linens, and everything slightly medieval. And the staff didn’t even bug an eye at our walking in in costumes.
A for effort but some what lower scores for historical accuracy…

Once again out of the store, somewhat poorer, (I bought some lovely ivory lace and fabric for a new skirt to my 17th century bodice) we headed back to the market to see everything. We found:

Knights practicing their fencing.

Maria and Clara listening to lovely music.

Knights and horses.

And a coffin…

The town of Söderköping really is the perfect place for this kind of events, with the rivers, cobblestones and old houses it looks so beautiful.

I managed to get some pic of the new gown:

The market place lay beside the old church in the middle of the city.

There was lots of great things to shop for any historic/fabric nerd:Natural Furs

Colored furs – note the leopard and zebra colored ones.

Ribbon bonanza

Linen fabrics

Silk and velvet

And of course rows and rows of lovely wool.

Then we returned to the place for or next dance performance just in time to enjoy a great band playing medieval music.

Karin and Dan relaxing in the grass enjoying the music.

Sis in a sea of dress.

I didn’t get any pics of the dancing itself (since both me and my photographer was dancing), but it went really well and we had lots of folks looking and clapping.

Afterwards we had some final chat before it was time to say goodbye for this time.

The musicians Lena and Eric and dance master Sievert.

Maud and Othilia having a cozy moment.

Karin and Solveig both looking great in their dresses and headwear.

And that’s all folks…

Medieval Fair (and Dance)

Published on August 30, 2014 by fashionthrougherstoryLeave a comment

Today me and my sister visited the annual Medieval Fair in a town near by. I was there as part of the dance group doing our routine, and my sister followed as our photographer and general cheer on.

I wore my green cotehardie, and my sister borrowed my tudor Peasant outfit.

Right now I’m to tired to write a lot about the day so instead I will let the pictures speak for them self (for the most part…).

Unexpected on lookers.

Oh, swoon – that knight looked at me…

What, Is God, up there?

Oh swoon, another knight…

Published on May 24, 2014 by fashionthrougherstory4 Comments

Two weeks ago I attended my first medieval fair.

I wore my green Cotehardie paried with the separate beige sleeves, faux braids and headcloth.

The weater was terrible, the rain had been goning on for days, turning the gras and gravel at the fair to a muddy brown mess. Everywere you looked people wore capes or umbrellas.Some stylish gentlemen.

As it was my firs time, I tried to take it all in and got very exited walking around amongst the stals, taking picures.

There was food…

…Horses and knights…

…Great music…

…More music…

…Familys living in the camp…

…Friends resting on a bench…

…a girl gambeling using a mouse to earn some coins…

And of course lots of stalls with costuming wares. Like:

Juwelry…

…clothing and headwear….

..leather items like bags, and wrist bands…

…more leather and fur items…

…Childrens items (helmets, swords and shirts)…

I also found this strange set. A boar posed as a sign.

I did stop longer at some boths then other, and one I found especialy interesting was the both from “Svarta kattens handelshus“.

They sold juwelry and knifes…

… lovely woll fabric…

…and nice linnen fabric…

…medieval patterns…

…linnen thread, ribbons and yarn…

…and some realy soft furs.Sadly I’ve forgot to bring my purse. Or perhaps it was a good thing, since I surley would have spent a lot more then I should have, if I had had my purse.

Anyhow, I did’nt go to the fair to shop.

But to dance…Some of the members of the historical dance group.

We did some of our dancing in the mudd.

The weater and location made the few on-lookers even fewer,

So we took our line and danced ourself onto the jousting arena.

Where we got company from the jesters who tried to get the wet public in good mood before the knights arrived.

Then it was time for the high point of the day – the jousting.The knights saluting the audience.

Full speed ahead.

It was realy fun to wach the talented knights and horses performing there tricks.

But the best thing must have been when the “mystery knight” rode out, picked a lady from the audiense and propsed. To think he arranged the performance and dressed as a knight to porpose in a way he knew his medivel loving girlfriend would realy appreciate. She sad yes.

When I got home I was cold, wet, and muddy literary up to my knees.Natural agenig of my costume.