Pleated viking dresses

[the_power]

I was reading Thor Ewing's book on viking clothing, and I came across a load of images of pleated dresses. I'm pretty sure they are over-dresses, as they are visible on multiple carvings.

He mentioned that in some finds the dresses had "2mm to 3mm pleats". How....how the heck do you make something like that? Has anyone tried to make something that .... ridiculously fine ?

John

[brendan]

it does seem excessive...almost impossible - how wide are the threads?

[kerstin]

I've read about pleated silk dresses in the Norman period. They did that with pieces of hot iron. Not sure this helps with the Viking stuff.

One can also create pleats by cutting and laying the cloth accordingly and then sewing the whole thing. There are different techniques, it all depends on the look one wants to achieve.

[oldrat]

Iron in the Viking Age? =)
Look publication "Straps and trains in the Viking Age: Birka's Femail Costume in a New Light"

[pajo]

was talking to the missus about this after I saw it mentioned (coz she has my copy of the book), seemingly it is a style of doing pleats, evn now like, and theres a name on it.. but I cant for the life of me remember what she said its called....

[Andrea L Redden]

was talking to the missus about this after I saw it mentioned (coz she has my copy of the book), seemingly it is a style of doing pleats, evn now like, and theres a name on it.. but I cant for the life of me remember what she said its called....

Smocking?

Andrea

[pajo]

that could be it... I'll have to ask her again... my memory aint the best at all...