Medieval/renaissance/fantasy Pattern Pack

[Michael Guest]

I downloaded your patterns, and while I haven't yet made anything from them, I am very much grateful to you for saving me the hours of headaches trying to pattern from scratch.

[silverbullet]

Kool add me to the list , I love to try new things . Keeps me interested in learning even at my age. Life is good. Gary

[roxannelovelace1974]

I would be interested also. Thanks for all your hard work and sharing

[RavenAus]

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=46571&st=60#entry307806 - Go to that post for details of the currently available patterns

[Pip]

I'm just finishing up the full suit patterns. I'll have them up tomorrow possibly.

The hardest part is determining if a beginner will understand what to do. I'm still unsure, so I'll answer any questions that members may have about the patterns. There are some parts where forming is optional. These parts will work either way, but they will look better when formed. There is very minimal forming required in these patterns. Mostly, the parts just wrap around the body and buckle.

My stepson's birthday is coming up and he's outgrown his old armor, so as I use these patterns to make his armor, I will post pictures here to help get a better idea of how they all come together and how you can modify them to make them unique.

I don't write leather instructions but often do instructions for other aspects of work, I always aim at the age of 8 - 10 years, with some technical stuff explained happy to read through and critique if that helps.

Apologies got over excited and saw this post wanted to help, lesson to self read all posts before quoting one mid way!! d'oh

Edited August 7, 2014 by Pip

[Lividya]

Can't wait to see!! It's always interesting to find new armor patterns

Thanks!

[byggyns]

The upper layers should always go outside of the lower layers. That way as a weapon (sword, axe, mace, etc) is swung it will not catch on the edges of the pieces. Weapon swings are almost all in a downward direction (overhand). Typically, only thrusts come up from underneath. Underhand swings are not a very natural movement, and because of the muscle groups used to execute, are weaker blows. They also leave the warrior more open to counter attack.

[anhurset]

Actually, while that sounds logical it doesn't hold true when compared to original pieces. Faulds, the lower banded skirt seen on some armors, can be seen in original pieces to overlap both upwards and a downwards. The same can be said of articulated breastplates, tassets (hanging thigh armor) and cuises (non hanging thigh armor).

Do an image search for 14th or 15th century articulated breastplates, while a few will exhibit a downward overlap the vast majority will be seen to overlap with the upper edge exposed.

Also check out Brian Price's "Techniques of Medieval Armour Reproduction", it's a great reference which shows both originals and reproductions and gives some explinations as to why armors were built the way they were.

[billybopp]

It's so darned convenient having our own resident anthropologist/archaeologist. The things you learn!

Bill

[anhurset]

Not an actual archaeologist yet, I've still got a couple of semesters to go. Degrees and titles mean little though, some of the most knowledgeable people I've met have had nothing more than a highschool education. Passion, the ability to research and the willingness to critically examine ones opinions are far more important than a piece of paper.