It makes a massive difference. I tried to cut corners by going from sewing the seam to whipping over the raw edges without pressing and it ended up with me taking hours of work out and starting again. If there wasn't the equivalent of an iron, maybe people used their fingers to flatten the seam down...

Hi, about Christmas time I found a website that had loads of examples of ways of joining and finishing wools, linens and silks. There were pictures of pieces of fabric showing the techniques in use (like the Sempster did on FaceBook before Christmas). Does anyone know the name or address of the site...

I do WoTR, but it's all interesting!

I had wondered if warmed stones were used?

I'm hand sewing my new kirtle at the moment and it has left me wondering about how a medieval person would press the seams. Anyone know?

Hi, I'm planning on hand making a new over kirtle for next season. Done lots of research on colour, lining, shape, etc. My last wonder is if it should be fitted with a lace or (like the one I've got at the minute) but loose enough to slip on with no laces. I've not managed to find anything contempor...

Thanks guys.

The copper sulphate to weld ratio is very small, so you don't need very much for a lot a very bright green cloth.

The search will go on, now that I know what it is that I'm looking for!

I've managed to make a lovely colour of green using weld and copper sulphate. The question is, would a dyer in the late 15th century have had access to copper sulphate? I've tried doing some research, but am a bit stumped not being a chemist.

Hi, I'm thinking of buying an Edwardian outfit (hopefully complete with giant hat). As I'm far too unskilled to make it could people point me in the direction of traders who make beautiful things? I've tried googling on t'interweb, but only found patterns. It doesn't have to be entirely authentic as...

I hadn't thought of riding gloves. I'll venture out to the horsey, farm shop tomorrow when I'm out and have a spy.

thanks for the suggestions

I probably should've been clearer - the not-so-small-one is much bigger than she used to be, but is only six! Do they have kids gardening gloves too? That's what I use for shooting on the field, but have only seen plasticy kids gloves

Hi, the not-so-small-one has been bitten by the archery bug. She's got a bow and I'm in the process of making blunts, but I can't find a glove that looks medievalish. As she's going to be shooting blunts with plastic nocks I'm not that worried about it being totally authentic, I'm more concerned wit...

As one of the "rather naff steampunks" we didn't pretend that we could do a proper Edwardian getup so wore outfits that obviously weren't trying to be. We also just wear those as clothes, not costume!

I've got lots of information about how a fleece was turned into woollen fabric in a commercial way in 14th and 15th century, but I'm interested in what, if anything, was done domestically. I don't mean in a cottage industry kind of way, but more along the lines of our old sheep died so we might as w...

I wear my kit at home in the winter as it's wool and is lovely and warm, therefore the heating doesn't have to go on as much. Get your kit worn in and save on your gas bill at the same time!

Is the guy at the bottom of the wall shielding the guy with the crossbow rather than being a foot soldier with a shield?

I'm making a new pair of hose. They're the style with the sole attaching to the main body of the hose under the heel. I was going to hand sew them, but I don't know what type of seam to use so that it's not uncomfortable. They are wool rather than line. Any suggestions would be gratefully received. ...

I have a whole set of drawers full of stuff that I've saved from various places. My 5 year old seems to think it's magic as I dont' think it's failed us yet when we've needed a random something for a project!

It was star gazer chairs that got me started on this. I thought it would be hypocritical to tell someone else that their chair wasn't authentic unless I was sure that mine was! Thanks for those links Karen. The St Thomas guild one is particularly interesting. The stools I'm looking into are the ones...

oooooo.. like the picture. That I'll take as piece of evidence number 1!

thanks for that Guthrie. there's a lovely picture of a seat like the one I've got. I might start exploring hunting or fighting scenes for other folding stools as if they existed they're probably going to be used by people on the move.

I've been doing some research into chairs and stools (WoTR). Having looked at loads of images of lots of different classes of people (posh people dining, all the way through different trades to milkmaids) I haven't seen anything that looks like the folding stools that are so very popular. Are these ...

Considering some of the very fine wire that's survived in other finds it's odd that there don't seem to be any hooks and eyes. I think I might give up that idea and use a different sort of fastening for the moment.

I want to a find or a picture to make sure I'm using the right sort as I'm trying to be more authentic with each garment make.

I've spent a good hour or so looking at pictures on line with no luck. Back to the books on the shelves tonight. Fingers crossed I don't go blind!!

I'm trying to find references to hooks and eyes being used in 15th century. I can find references to hooks and eyes in the medieval tailor's assistant, but I can't find any references to them in the dress and textiles MoL book or the dress accessories one. Can anyone point me to some finds or pictur...

I'd be really interested to hear if you find a source for any appropriate teasels as it would make a really good addition to my textiley living hisotry display stuff.

Busy Mole do a couple of really good books with middle to late medieval tunes. Most of them are the right range for a descant recorder. They also include some explanations as to where the tunes come from and when they were used, ie dancing, religious, etc. They're the best books I've had to date.

I do! (sadly I have no money!)

thank you for a very sensible answer! If there wasn't a "proper" technique then that may explain the differences in period pictures of archers. When I started shooting I was told that the way to make sure that my arrows were the correct length was to put the shaft to my chest, hold it betw...

My interest in archery has been re-kindled recently and I've started to question a number of "truths" that I've been told over the years. One thing that I'm having problems finding evidence for is where medieval archers drew to - their mouths or ears. I've a couple of pictures in books of ...

One of my friends has done loads of research into medieval food in the past couple of months, including sausages. She's found quite a few references to sausages in recipes, but they're not fresh, but more salami like. She's also found references to smoking sausuages in chimneys. The references to sa...