How to Make Girls Medieval Costumes for Children

Medieval painting gives clues as to how people dressed. 

MEDIEVAL COSTUMES

There are no photographs from the medieval period, but paintings, stain-glass works and literature tell us about daily life. From these sources historians have gathered knowledge of medieval dress. Often children's clothing followed the same rules as those of adults, but in miniature. In the case of women and girls, however, there were considerably more freedoms for children and young women who had not yet gone through puberty or married. Since these changes meant changes in their clothing, a girl's manner of presenting herself in public differed from that of a grown woman.

Things You will Need

Linen or wool frock or cloth large enough to cover the body

A belt-length thin rope or cord

Strong scissors

Gold coins

Leather pouches or bags to hang from the belt (optional)

A crown-size metal band of string of flowers

Soft heel-less leather or canvas shoes or booties

Bobby pins

Purchase or make a linen or wool frock. Costume shops will carry frocks or people can make them with an old sheet or a large piece of felt. Cut a V-neck in the front and back and allow the material to drape just below the knees. Cut the sleeves mid-length so that they fall just past the elbows. Most medieval cultures preferred pure colors, such as red, sky blue, leaf green or white, and these colors are ideal for the frock.

Tighten the frock with a belt. The belt should be made of rope or cord. Bronze-colored rope may be available in craft or costume stores and coordinate well with a strong-colored frock. Adorn a the belt with a small leather pouch or purse if desired. Children can carry coins in the pouch or purse if they would like to hand them out or use them as props.

Arrange a metal ring or strand of fake or recently cut flowers in the shape of a crown. Place it on the child's head and secure with bobby pins. Medieval girls wore there hair down and it was often long. Leave the child's hair down when putting the crown in place for increased accuracy.

Put on leather or canvas heelless booty shoes. The best shoes will be simple with little or no branding to link them to modern times.