Alcega: Women’s Kirtle/Vasquine
This is a low neckline gown. Literally translated as ‘skirt and bodies’ of silk. It requires 5 yards of 22 inch wide silk.
It has become my assumption of the years of working with this book that this is the layer which is intended to give all the support. I believe that corsets were less common than we assume.
It is logical to assume that the front skirt would be cut to shape during construction. In the Pfalzgrafin gown in Arnold’s <em>Patterns of Fashion</em>, they have simply folded back the excess and left it hanging inside. In later manuals, Burguen, for example, the shape of the center front of the skirt is shown with the point shape trimmed out already.
It’s also clear from the way it’s laid out in the book that there is a seam at CB and at CF…you could have the opening at either location.
White brocade low-necked gown
Made by Mathew Gnagy
A gown with the low bodice of this pattern and the trained skirt of the Women’s High-bodied trained gown with hanging sleeves pattern.
Nice back view of the skirt
Black and White Kirtle
Made by Mathew Gnagy
This bodice and skirt were cut from the ‘vasquina y cuerpo’ pattern.
The original is NOT cut on the bias…I just added a bias detail for my own artistry
Red Kirtle
Made by Mathew Gnagy
Another version of the Vasquina y cuerpo
The underbodice / cuerpo to the right is made from this pattern (though the dress form doesn’t fit it–it is meant to be closed in the front
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