#fabricproblems

This past Saturday the Medievalisms class I am undertaking my gown project for visited the Cloisters in NYC. It was a truly wonderful experience, absolutely gorgeous, and created this awe-some sense of immersion within the Middle Ages (which has its own problems, too, at least with the stern historian. But that’s why my class traveled there to begin with, to discuss how it was problematic but still important.). For me though, it also created a lot of #fabricproblems.

There were barely any extant garments, and those that were were ecclesiastical, so that wasn’t the problem. What really caused my doubt regarding the fabric I had purchased for my gown were the tapestries. The tapestries often didn’t get into patterns (who wants to embroider that? not me!), but when they did we’re talking large-scale, repeating, plant motifs. Think a traditional damask pattern, but a little more spaced out. In other words, not my all over scroll print.

One tapestry got somewhat closer to my fabric, which can be found here: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/70007567#fullscreen . Play with the zooms to focus on those ladies in the right bottom corner, the one in the tan dress pointing and the one in blue behind her to the right. That’s as close as I could find to the pattern I’m now stuck with.

“The Unicorn is Killed and Brought to the Castle (from the Unicorn Tapestries)”
1495–1505 , South Netherlandish (from the Met online)

Sigh. This is where I learn to live with it. I still like it, and honestly, the store I shopped at didn’t have the greatest selection of
upholstery fabrics and I was short on time. It’ll be fine. Just more #costumerproblems , right?

at least I bought the right amount of fabric! yay!

keep on truckin’,

Sammie