Scandinavian & Viking Clothing

Descriptio n of a Viking-era woman' s outfit, along with notes on constructi ng a tunic and apron dress.

Discusses the evidence for Vendel and Viking Age Norsewomen wearing shawls, and proposes a method of folding a rectangula r shawl to mimic the look of 'Valkyrie' figures, that matches the folded textiles from a grave find.

This hat is from the later Norse period.

Documentation from a project to recreate, as authentically as possible, an outfit such as might have been worn by a middle-class (free) farmsteader or urban dweller from early 11th century Denmark, based largely on archeological evidence.

The best preserved find of an apron-dres s is from Haithabu (Hedeby harbour), where old garments were used to caulk ships which were subsequent ly sunk. Hedeby is now in Germany, and is near the Danish border. The finds date from approximat ely the 10th century AD. The account of the Hedeby harbour finds has only been published in German. The following article is an annotated summary of Inga Hägg' s report on the Trägerroc k.

During the early Middle Ages, what did people in Northern Europe wear over their feet and under their shoes? I examined some illuminati ons, some archaeolog ical finds, and a study of traditiona l hose manufactur e from Telemark, Norway, and hope to shed some light on how hose were made, what they are, and how they were worn.

A typology and brief discussion of some stitches that have been discovered on extant textiles from the period between the seventh and eleventh centuries in Anglo-Saxon, Viking, and related cultures.

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.

There is considerab le evidence for a fashion of baggy trousers being popularly worn by Norse men in the Viking Age. This is documented in images across Scandinavi a, from Norway in the 9th century Oseberg tapestry and to Sweden in standing picture stones.

A brief survey of archaeological finds of belts and belt hardware in female graves during the Viking age.

Annotated bibliography of sources which discuss archaeological finds of textiles, garment pieces, and/or clothing ornamentation from the Viking Age.

We know quite a bit about how people used to dress at the time of the Tollund Man. We have discovered numerous items of clothing in the bogs dating from the Iron Age and many of them were well-preserved. Several of the bog bodies were dressed when they were discovered whereas others were naked with their clothes simply placed next to them in the bog. In other cases we have simply discovered items of clothing or pieces of clothing in graves from the Iron Age, and based on these discoveries we have been able to form a clear picture of how people used to dress in the Iron Age.

Silkeborg Museum took the initiative to have some of the items of clothing from the Iron Age reconstructed and we display some of them on this page.

Some of the finds related to Huldremose Woman, Emmer-Erfscheidenveen Man, and the bog bodies from Søgårds Mose and Grewelthorphe Moor.

A thesis in Swedish. The English Summary starts on page 324, about 7/8ths of the way through the document.

This article is intended to clear up some confusion about the dress of female Vikings.

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.

Patterns for Viking and medieval armor, clothing, and accessorie s.

Examples, patterns, and illustrati ons of Viking clothing.

Documentation from a project to create a simple cap based on a silk headdress found in Coppergate Viking digs.

Patterns for men's and women' s kaftans, including photos from extant kaftans and photos of kaftans made from the patterns.

A consolidat ed presentati on on the constructi on of Viking-age Scandinavi an garments for men and women.

Descriptions and patterns for Anglo-Saxon and Viking clothing.

An article on Norse Apron Dresses by Lady Nastassiia Ivanova Medvedeva, including her pattern for a four panel dress.

A second article from House Barra on this santa-styl e hat, giving improved instructio ns on how to draft the pattern.

Documentat ion from a project to create a Norse headdress based on the archeologi cal evidence found in York.

Topics include pretty much anything relating to Viking or Norse history, clothing, customs, crafts or culture.

Archeologi cal evidence from the Norse world is limited enough that, to put together a complete outfit, you may have to mix and match a bit from different times and places. This PDF file is from our slide show, depicting various Norse dress accessorie s. While the class is more interestin g in person because of its discussion format, the online version has lots of nice photos. If you like this link, also check out www.jomsb.org/Sunnifa/Accessories/Norsewidgets.pdf.

Clothing in northern Europe in the Middle Ages.

Archaeology, Art, Norse Costume, History and Cultural Overviews, Language (Old Norse, Old Icelandic, Common Scandinavian, etc.), Military, Old Norse and Related Literature, Religion, Runic, Technology, or Modern Offshoots, Falsifications, Controversies and Misconceptions

From study of archaeolog ical material and artistic representa tions, the characteri stic Scandinavi an female attire is understood to be a pinafore dress with a straight top margin across the breast, suspended from shoulder straps which were fastened with a pair of large oval brooches.

Provides guidelines for materials, decoration , men's & women' s clothing, headwear, legwear, and footwear for Viking and Anglo-Saxo n England.

Saxon and Viking rondel embroidery designs suitable for embroideri es for court clothes as worn by the highest classes of English society around the 10th century.

Pattern and documentat ion for a Scandinavi an man's kaftan. Includes a representa tion of trichinopl y chainwork used as cuff trim.

Diagrams of the seams believed to have been used in the Viborg Shirt.

"Being a guide for SCA-folk who desire to clothe themselves in a simple but reasonably accurate Viking fashion."

Prepare d by Duchess Marieke van de Dal

"Being a guide for SCA-folk who desire to clothe themselves in a simple but reasonably accurate Viking fashion"
Prepared by Duchess Marieke van de Dal.

A translatio n from a Norwegian book on the find.