Master of the Housebook is an artist who supposedly greatly influenced Albrecht Durer.  I posted a HELP on Meridies’ Costuming Guild, and was gently reminded to go back to Myra’s Costume Pages.

DUH.  Um, remember this?  I love Myra’s work.  She dances/embroiders/paints/knits too, and likes Eunny, and gets to live in Europe…(ending breathless fangirl gush now).  Sorry.

Anyway, here’s a bunch of Housebook images from Myra’s site for discussion about the pleated-bodice dress.  (I’m reproducing thumbnails for visual reference only here, trying to maintain respect for her copyrights while still engaging in Fair Use scholarly discussion.)

Pair of Lovers

Unequal Lovers

Young Man

Lady Radish

Lady Owl

  This is Myra’s reconstruction – I’ve enlarged and touched up her darkish photo.  Although those pleats don’t lie as flatly as the illustrations and Durer’s painting indicate – I know from current pleating experience that I could get those to expand and contract.  Furthermore, this dress is enough like the drawings for this newbie to get’er done and move on to the next piece.  I call this the ‘have I learned enough yet?’ test.  I do need to have something to wear, so that I can have the real garb mavens tell me how I did it wrong.

Check out the vertical seam at the center of the frame, running up under her hands.  Looks like it’s buried in those pleats somewhere…I don’t have one of those yet on my kirtle, but I hope to SOON.

(Also, I can’t find my camera since I downloaded the S. Indy pics…wish me luck in finding it.)