Making a Peasant Man's Costume

Sewing your own garb gives you the freedom to design just the right outfit, just how you envision it, that fits and, hopefully, is a great deal of fun too. It can also be a great deal less expensive than purchasing one ready made (though not always!).

Patterns

Choosing the right pattern is the first step in creating a costume that is both beautiful and historically passable. It can be a difficult choice, as most commercially available patterns are not historically accurate (some are just plain awful!), while patterns from smaller companies can be difficult to sew with. Below is a short list of the best patterns that we've run across. Simplicity, McCalls and Butterick patterns can be seen on their websites, while Period Patterns and Costume Connections patterns can be seen and purchased at Sewing Central.

Costume Connection #1601 - A wonderful basic men's ensemble for a shirt, pants and jerkin. Highly recommended for peasant and lower middle class men.

Alter Years Renaissance Man's Collection - These are individual piece patterns, all of which are reasonably historically accurate. Of particular use for a man's peasant outfit are the easy peasant jerkin, the easy peasant pants, and the easy peasant shirt. All of the above are available at Grand Garb.

Fabrics and Trimmings

All fabrics used in a peasant costume should be solid colors and made of natural fibers. Printed and most patterned fabrics would not be acceptable. Peasants colors included shades of earth tones, such as browns, beiges, greens, russets, deep oranges, and saffrons, as well as medium to dark blues. Pure, snowy white was not commonly available, and neither were bright, vivid shades like scarlet, royal blue, or bright yellow, or black. Very pale pastel shades like petal pink or baby blue were also uncommon. Also, do not wear purple! Purple was reserved for royalty and should never be used for a peasant costume, or any costume other than that of a king or queen.

Jerkins should probably be made from medium to heavy weight fabrics, such as thick wool, canvas, denim (not blue jean), twill, fine-whale corduroy, cotton chamois cloth, duck or even leather. Pants and shirts should be made of flax, linen, cotton broadcloth, cotton muslin, bubble gauze, soft wool, cotton or wool flannel, cotton chamois cloth, or any midweight cotton fabric of a solid color.

Simple trimming can be added to a peasant costumes, such as grosgrain ribbon (never satin, velvet or tapestry), wood or bone buttons, and simple embroidery in cotton thread. Lace is not suitable for peasant costumes.