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Three ruffs

September 27, 2023

‘… my love was crafty love’ - King John, act IV scene 1

Michaelmas at the end of September was a traditional quarter day in the Tudor calendar. It was when rents were paid and people were given their wages. It was a good time to plan food for the winter and Christmas expenditure.

Melanie putting on Farthingale sleeve

August 29, 2023

‘Look upon that sleeve; behold it well’ - Troilus & Cressida, act V, scene 2

Jane and Ninya are pleased to announce that thanks to the interest and excitement over their discovery of an original 16th century farthingale sleeve, The Tudor Tailor will soon have kits for making them available.

Mackenzie pinking sleeve

July 27, 2023

‘A trunk sleeve ... curiously cut’ - Taming of the Shrew, act IV, scene 3

The Tudor Tailor’s recent ‘forensic’ investigation of the farthingale sleeve and its silk oversleeve has provided fascinating new information about their construction.

Hanna Zimmerman (centre) with ‘The Tudor Child’ author Jane Huggett (left) and Ninya (right) discussing textile finds in ‘Textiel in Context’

June 29, 2023

"You must translate; 'tis fit we understand" - Hamlet, act IV, scene 1

Translating Groningen's textile treasures The Tudor Tailor online shop now has its very last 15 copies of the late Hanna Zimmerman’s book Textiel in Context. It reports the discoveries made when the city of Groningen

Jane and Ninya launched the new patterns for men’s jerkins and women’s smocks at the recent Artisans and Reenactors Market

March 23, 2023

'Behold this pattern' ... Richard III, act 1, scene 2

The Tudor Tailor team has been hard at work producing new sewing patterns to make it easier to reconstruct two typical 16th century garments: men’s jerkins and women’s smocks. The patterns showcase the new,

Dr Kathy Davies, wall painting expert: readers of 'The Typical Tudor' will recognise some of the figures

February 23, 2023

Better than 'fly-bitten' tapestries: the story of the prodigal - Henry IV, part 2, act 2, scene 1

Dr Kathy Davies was scheduled to speak at the Missing Persons conference in October 2022 but she unfortunately caught Covid and couldn't come to the courtroom to give her witness statement. The Tudor Tailor has

December 8, 2022

The Typical Tudor: Reconstructing Everyday 16th Century Dress

The Typical Tudor is now available to buy online in The Tudor Tailor’s Etsy store at £58 plus P&P. The good news is that readers in the UK and US still have a chance to

Ninya (left) and Jane (right) enjoying the splendid gardens at Holme Pierrepont Hall

August 21, 2022

‘I entreat you ... rest here in our court some little time’ - Hamlet, act 2, scene 2

Jane and Ninya met last week to work on details for the courtroom drama and gala evening in Nottingham on Sunday 23 October 2022. The big news is that for any would-be attendees who are

Nottingham’s historic courtroom hosts an investigation into evidence for typical Tudor clothing

July 25, 2022

‘Come, begin ... And you the judges, bear a wary eye’ – Hamlet, act 5, scene 2

Plans have been progressing for the Missing Persons conference in October. News from Nottingham is that a mystery witness has been summoned to appear in front of the judge, jury and spectators on Sunday 23

French hoods came in a wide variety of styles - composed of many separate elements pinned together (The Tudor Tailor, 2006: 28)

May 19, 2021

'Old fashions please me best; I am not so nice to change true rules for odd inventions' - The Taming of the Shrew, act 3, scene 1

French hoods are international television Starz ... The Tudor Tailor’s French hoods are set to star in a forthcoming television series focusing on Queen Elizabeth’s early life. Becoming Elizabeth is currently in production for Starz,

There are details of more than 1,000 garments provided for poor people in the database

April 7, 2021

‘Our purses shall be proud, our garments poor, For 'tis the mind that makes the body rich …’ - The Taming of the Shrew, Act 4, Scene 3

More dress for your dollars! The findings from The Tudor Tailor’s database of 55,000 items of dress and accessories have proved more wide-ranging and more detailed than Jane and Ninya anticipated. It has been possible

Michael Anderson features in 'The Soldier's Tale' in the latest episode of 'Who do you think you were?'

December 5, 2020

'I will pinck thy flesh full of holes with my rapier for this' - Ben Jonson 1601

Work continues apace on The Typical Tudor: reconstructing everyday 16th century dress, which is set for publication early in 2021. This month Jane and Ninya are excited to launch the second episode in the accompanying