Cloaks & Mantles

A three-quarter cloak based on the effigy of William of Hatfield.

A simple cloak can be recreated without much effort to be worn today, based upon linguistic and literary evidence of the Anglo-Saxon period in England. The men's version of this cloak was rectangle in shape, and clasped by a pin or brooch at the right shoulder. Women are most often shown wearing a cloak that fastens in front, or is left open like a shawl.

This cloak is so easy to make it feels like you're cheating. It matches the cloaks worn in a number of illustrati ons in Anglo Saxon manuscript s, and is an easy and reasonably accurate choice for a Saxon, Viking, or other Dark Ages character.

Discussion of men's and women' s clothing and accessorie s in early medieval Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.

A matching Hlad and cuffs in the Viking style with heraldic decoration , and a cloak in the Viking style with heraldry appliqued on the front and back and trimmed with tablet weaving.

Illustrati ons of men and women wearing cloaks, and extant cloaks from the Middle Ages and Renaissanc e.

Cutting diagrams for An Early-Medi eval Gown, a Simple Open-sided Surcote, a Simple Sleeveless Surcote, a Simple Norman-sty le Gown, a Simple Smock, and a Simple Half-circl e Cloak.

My goal was to make a practical garment from the sheep out. That meant spinning, dyeing, weaving, finishing, sewing, and embellishi ng the garment. It also meant researchin g constructi on and methodolog y - what was done, and how it was done.