Resurrecting a Bog Dress: A Comparative approach to Medieval Textile Construction

In this article we recreated garment 38 from the fourteenth century garments preserved in a graveyard in Herjolfsnes, Greenland to explore the reasons behind the stitching techniques used. Using experimental methodologies, previous knowledge of patterning, and hand stitching techniques, we constructed one half of the garment using modern hand stitching techniques and the other using period techniques. We focused on the stitching, seam finishing, and tablet-woven edges, and evaluated each half on fit, drape, shape, and durability. Performing each step by hand allowed us the opportunity to become intimately acquainted with the medieval processes of construction and gain a better understanding of the experience of construction. Based on our final product, we concluded that the stitching techniques are particularly suited to make a sturdy and attractive garment from a relatively loose-weave fabric, allowing for the easy insertion of gussets and the performance of alterations and repair.