More info

So, I've been talking to people who actually know what they're talking about with sewing, and making myself a kirtle/cotehardie. Yes, it's European, but meh - it's good to learn with.

But there's progress! I now have a toile (look! jargon! I totally know what I'm talking about now) to base an awesome Mughal coat off (see this post.), *and* I have a vague idea of how to fasten the bloody thing. Apparently side lacing, when done carefully, and laced in a matching colour, can be all but invisible. So I think that's what I'm going to try with the coats. But first, cotehardies. Hopefully, I'll have mine done in a week or so, and can post photos.

Quick Persona notes

So, I've been doing a small amount of research, and I think I've found the ideal time period! It's the Maurya Empire, and there's documented examples of Greeks (Selucids) and Indians (Mauryans) intermarrying. So, now, the eternal question... WTF did they wear?

Here are some links, for safe-keeping, and general edification.

Wikipedia

The timeline of Indian history that gave me the idea in the first place.

A different short history of the Maurya Empire.

Useful resources

Here are some useful links I've found for Indian garb:

The SCA_India yahoo group photo gallery.

This blog has some pretty Indian garb, and I'm hoping for a reply to some questions on one of her outfits.

http://www.craftster.org/ is always awesome.

MKV is the best saree place I've found so far - it's actually based in India, not the US or UK.


Irayari Vairavi's website has a lot of useful stuff on it.

I'd do more research, but my housemates used up all our bandwidth, despite me warning them that we were dangerously close to our limit. Grr.

Indian Persona stuff:

On religion in India. Includes the useful idea that people have a family and a personal god, and when a woman marries, her family god changes to that of her husband's.

Oh, what great plans!

So, dusting off the old lab book to record some ideas.

I've decided on an Indian persona, more details to follow. With that in mind, I made a choli using this pattern, with this tutorial. The verdict: mixed success - the pattern had to be altered a lot, and the very front where all the seams come together was messy, but I think it's worth using again, and making more. They're great in warm weather.

But, alas, it's autumn, and I need something warm to wear to College War (you should go to College War!). I'm thinking of something along these lines:

I especially like the green dress with yellow over-dress, and the brown and pattered dress. No clue what they're called, but I should be able to find out. I also need to find out how they're fastened.

I really like the red short-sleeved dress on the left, and the pink dress with stripey pants on the right. And look, shoes! (On the girl in the front with yellow pants.) Alas, despite a back view of the garment, still no idea how it does up. I read a theory about the waist having a drawstring in it on the SCA_India list, but I don't think that'd look right. I love how the skirt flares, though.

That's all Mughal garb, which is rather late period, though. Ideally, I'd prefer earlier stuff. This blog post has some lovely stuff, and I think it's an example of the stuff above.

That's about it for now, stay tuned for a later post on male Greek garb.