Viking Women
I recently researched Viking women to create a semi historically accurate Viking outfit. I have detailed my findings below and method of construction.
The Viking era followed the Germanic iron age and began around 793 to 1066. They left little written evidence so most of what we know about the Vikings is from archaeological digs, evidence from place names and the Icelandic sagas which were written hundreds of years after the events of the Vikings. The modern depictions of Vikings clad in leather and sporting metal helmets decorated in horns is fictitious. This modern depiction is derived from paintings by a 19th century Scandinavian artist who depicted them in this way with no historical basis.
There is little evidence for the clothing of Viking people and even less for Viking women. It is believed lower class women would wear very basic garments made of materials readily available, but little evidence remains. However, we have some evidence for the dress of wealthier individuals, these women would wear a long linen underdress with a wool or linen overdress that is cut straight at the top and bottom. Research shows that Danish Viking women preferred plain undergarments, whilst Swedish Viking women wore pleated ones. The overdress is like an apron dress in construction. The garment would have straps attached to the back with 2 loops at the front that the straps would be fed through and secured in place with brooches. Evidence suggests a string of beads would hang between the brooches and could carry small knives and needle cases.
Like other eras of history, we paint the picture of these people clothed in grey, brown and other earthen tones as highlight a primitive order. However, we have evidence of Viking dying cloth a range of colours. For example, clothing that was dyed red was a powerful status symbol, closely associated with the wealth of kings and their favour. Blue, on the other hand, was associated with death, being the colour that much clothing found in graves was dyed, while Norse sagas often describe those heroes setting out on an act of righteous vengeance dressing in blue. There is also evidence that they would dye animal fur with red pigments that would give them a pink appearance.
Making the dress
To make the dress I measured my bust and waist divided this by 2 and then created the shape from these measurements. The front and back panels are the same shape. I created 2 long straps which can be trimmed later to an appropriate length.
For the front panel I used the material to create two large loops which the straps could be fed through. And along the sides I created smaller loops which cord can be laced through to tie the sides of the dress together. The sides from below the elbow to the waist could be sewed together with the back or tied like I have done. I used a roll hem to avoid any fraying of the fabric. The back panel is the same thing, but the straps are attached where the loops are on the top of the front panel.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have any wool to make my dress, but the undergarment is made of linen. I ordered 2 shell shaped oval brooches to attach my straps and used beads on string to hand between them. I created a belt out of access fabric I had and make 2 daggers and sheaths to hang from them. Check out my next blog to find out how I made the daggers and sheaths.
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