Renaissance Tunics Help Please
 

I just got a call from a local men's group that will be needing 70 Men's tunic for the Renaissance Festival in Holly MI. They need a plain muslin (heavier muslin) tunic in various sizes. The kicker is they need them in 1 month. Any idea on how I can help this group of men out. Heck if it were only a few I could whip them up likity-split! I wouldn't even know where to start to find them pre-made on such short notice. I figure this group of quilters might be able to help me find my way through this project. The other part of the project I can handle and that is to make a 4-patch patch for each of them. That will be a simple enough project to make. Your ideas will help me out a great deal.

Anyone else wonder how long they've known they would need 70 tunics?

I was wondering how many wives refused to make a tunic or two for the group. :D Any chance some of the men (or spouses) might be willing to help if there is someone running the show? Assembly style, simple t type tunics could be whipped up pretty quickly.

Here's a site that might help. Who is supplying the fabric? I would suggest you get other wives/girlfriends/daughters involved if you can. Since it's such short notice I would go as simple as possible.


https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-T-Tun...naissance-Fair

Here's another tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7GyyFneg84

I did also. They are expecting production work like a factory from one person.

The local men's group need to volunteer their services. They could cut the tunic out and help iron. Two people minimum to do the sewing. One person with a serger would make quick work of the seams and a second person on a sewing machine to do the hems. If they aren't willing to help, I'd would only offer to do the patch.

Holy cow. That's making at least 2 tunics a day - what were they thinking?!?!!?

All I can say is good luck. :shock:

Knowing these guys it might have been thought of some time ago but never really pursued until Monday evening at their regular meeting. I was playing around in my mind getting together a group of people to do the sewing but the cutting is as big a job if not bigger. I admit I was overwhelmed at the sheer numbers. My dear friend didn't pop the number needed until after I told him making a costume was doable.

JuliaSB ... Operative word "A" ........ not B, C, D, and onwards!! :)
So what was your response when he popped the number??
...... are you into mass production now?


In reply to Peckish .... were they even thinking? :)

Of course, many of us already know that for those who have no concept of sewing,
many have no clue how long anything takes to make.

After all, look at the times we have heard of someone thinking that
a king quilt can be whipped together in an afternoon! *sigh* :)

At least they aren't asking you to make them out of chain maille.

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But seriously... if they want 70 in a month (absurd) It is time for the men to learn to use power tools with needles.

I've done enough demos with Handcranks to know that most can learn. You just need someone around for the ooops moments.

Halloween stores have cheap tunics. Might last a day.

Having sewn various items for a booth at our Renaissance Faire, I can tell you my biggest problem has been trying to decide what sizes to make. Usually, the smaller sizes don't do as well as the XL. Go figure. If your friend can give you a ballpark figure as to how many of each size you might need, that would help out.

That being said, the closer you can get to "one size fits most", the easier for you.

The Wikihow link that osewme posted is a pretty basic pattern for a tunic, but once again you are relying on a T-shirt size to get you started. Also the neckline on a T has stretch and depending on the material you are using, you may find the neckline is not big enough for most guys heads. Making a slit in the back about 4 to 5 inches helps, but cutting larger is better. Of course, finishing off the opening is more time involved on your part. Short sleeves or long sleeves, seamstress choice, depends on the width of fabric you have to work with.

Tabards are some what easier as there are no sleeves and no side seams. They are worn over other clothing and are fastened loosely with a separate belt, not part of the tabard. They can be cut with the fold at the shoulder eliminating a seam, or cut in 2 pieces and stitched at the shoulder. Again, seamstress choice because of fabric size. I did a search "how to make a tabard pattern" and got lots of hits. The PDF from amtgard is a good one, but it's pretty wordy because they are assuming you don't know how to sew.

When cutting, don't worry about being too accurate. Stack as many as you can safely cut, use a new blade in your rotary cutter and go for it.

As far as I'm concerned, all of the above is the hardest part!

If you have a serger, use it. Saves lots of time. I serge the edges and then just fold that over and straight stitch it down. You can finger press to save time. Both sides, hem and neckline, too if it is cut large enough. No facing for the neckline then. Remember this is a costume, you are not really sewing for the king.

Hope this helps you somewhat. Wish I was in the neighborhood, I'd be glad to help you out!

Forgot to add, post a picture when you can. Would love to see your finished project.

Yikes! Maybe you can tell your friend that one top was doable - not 70.

I am sorry this is just wrong. Guys can sew too.

I think that is unfair of them to ask for these tops in a month and that many too!!! Can you recruit some volunteers from a quilt guild or some of the men's wives? Someone can at least cut out the tops and maybe just get an assembly line of sewers and get them done.

Or, to quote Nancy Reagan, "just say no."

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I tweaked a few of the replies here and got back with him last night. Putting the men to work to do both the cutting and sewing. Why shouldn't they? He can probably get about 8 men together over 2 days. He had no concept of the cost of fabric, thread and most importantly scissors! I told him I don't know many quilters that would turn over their scissors to any one. He was serious when he ask me this. "how many of the people on your quilting group do you think would be willing to help?" That is when I turned it back to their membership. He will get back to me.

Good for you!!!

I'm glad you put it back on him to get help! Good job!

I have on question? Do they have to be muslin? If you could make them out of cheap poly felt, it would be much easier. No hemming or seam finishing. Just cut them out and sew them up. I use felt all the time for costumes because of that.

I just finished ordering 45 yards of unbleached muslin (108" wide). This should be enough for all the tunics that this KofC group is going to need. My friend will bring by a single yard so he can visualize just how this will make 2 tunics. I will give them general washing instruction and tell them do not put in the dryer. Hang to dry and opps they will have to iron them. I Will be supervise 8 men cutting 4 men and 2 women in how to get this going quickly. I will put my serger to use on the primary seams that should make short order. I even have a couple extra machines if they have a couple others who want to sew. Now I have to figure out how much thread and how many pair of scissors to cut the fabrics. Believe me it won't be my expensive sheers. The fabric will be here in 6-10 business that will put us almost to the middle of July to prepare for a marathon of sewing. If they can come up with a couple other people to do some sewing I have a couple extra machines that can be used too.

This should be an interesting saga!

Instead of scissors ..... what about cutting with rotary cutters?
Could layer the fabric and cut several at once.

Yes sharp items ... but they can man up!!! :)



I sure hope we keep getting installment updates, along the way! D

This article reminds me of someone wanting a quilt done in a day or two. They should research the requirements, etc., required before they ask anyone to do such a job.

Glad to see your big project is still in the works. Glad to hear that at least some of them are jumping in to help. Nothing like showing a non-sewer just what is involved in the whole process. They will definitely have a better understanding and maybe think twice before asking for something this big again.
But on the other hand, when it's all done and you get a look at the 70 KofC's in their tunics, you are going to smile and say, "I did that"!

How is the project coming along?

Update: 70 Renaissance Tunics for Mens group:
 

So many ideas poured in from here that tomorrow is the day that we implement a few of them. We have rounded up about a dozen people and asked for more to join us. We have 4 women and 2 men to do the sewing and 4 men so far cutting the fabrics. So we are a go for tomorrow morning to cut and sew and lightly press all these tunics. The will be made in much larger sizes so we can account for some shrinkage when washed. We are making big signs to wash in cold water and hang to dry. Then Press. I just hope they guys will remember these instructions. We did not buy tags to put on the neck line. We have large table space to lay things out and to work. Lunch will be served with a snack along the way. We will start at 9:am and hope to have it done before 5 pm. If we just keep moving we will accomplish this. Thanks for all the suggestions and brain power that you have supplied. I will post a pic of the workaholics doing this feat when I get a chance to take a couple pics.

Tunic Sit and Sew Success!!
 

I was amazed at how wonderful the day went. There were some who stayed all day and others that were there a few hours. We completed 54 Tunics for the RenSen. Three of us took took the remainder home to finish. A much lighter load. With coffee and donuts for breakfast, pizza for lunch, and bbq pulled pork sandwiches for dinner with the trimmings it was great. We had 6 men cutting fabrics while we averaged 6 people sewing. We had as many as 9 sewing at one time! About half way through the day I was able to sit down and do some sewing. The best part of the morning I was teaching and supervising things. It was great and everything went pretty smoothly. Two sewing machine I bought with me decided to burp first thing in the morning and buy lunch time I had them working and they were in use the rest of the day. One other machine decided that it was going to act up but the person using it was content to sew with it since she had not been at a sewing machine since junior high school. I offered to change out her machine but she was happy with it. I bought with me 5 machines and as many as 7 others bought their own machines. I should have taken more pictures in the morning but I didn't think if it.
Again without all your feed back it would have not happened. Thanks again.

It was quite the talk this morning. That we finished as much as we did. Now to just finish my last 10 this week

Congratulations for organizing this for your Renaissance Men and making it such a success! :)

It was good to hear all about your sew-fest day ... and to see the photos.

Now, you know what is next? ....
we're all anxiously waiting to see a pic of the 70 men, modelling their new attire!

Please? and Thanks!!

Again ... Congratulations for making it all happen!

So happy that it went from one person beng asked to much to a commuinty event werhe many could learn and enjoy each other. You must have some great poele skills, too. Well done.

I owe so much to this group who brainstormed just how to get the best bang for the buck so to speak. Taking the next to impossible to the very possible and then onto getting it done.
To do 10 in the next week or so is something I can do by myself. I did that many already in one part or another. Many hands make the labor light.

I am told I have pretty good people skills but I am also aware that if you take advantage of the gifts that other people offer and you don't take credit for their part in the whole. Thank you for the kind thought.
I will be sure to get pictures back of the guys wearing these Ren-sen outfits. There were actually 88 made so a few extras were done. That bought the cost down to $8. per tunic. Of course the workmanship on some is not as good as on others. (different skill levels). For this project no one is complaining.

*giggles* ... sitting here and thinking oh oh ....

Now that you have fueled their creative fires and developed a bunch accomplished costumers,
just what will they want to make next year? :D

eeeeeeeeeeks!!!!

That looks like it was a really fun day!

So glad to hear that the sew-fest went off well. It's always good to have help with something of that magnitude. Looks like you had a great room to work in & set up all your tables & machines. I loved seeing the pictures of everyone working like little bees. Can't wait to see the pictures of the whole group in their garb for the Renaissance Festival.

Thank you for the update and I'm so glad that you had so many helpers.

Whooooo-Hoooooo! Way to go!
Glad to see it all fell into place. A real group effort.