Myth Busting Elizabethan Ruff Collars: How They Actually Were Made and Worn

Ruffs might be my favorite part of making historical clothing from the 16th and 17th centuries. There’s something almost magical about taking a flat piece of fabric and turning it into a three dimensional, gravity-defying garment! Ruffs are an extremely iconic part of Elizabethan fashion, and most people probably picture Queen Elizabeth wearing a huge lace ruff when they think about that time period. But most people also assume ruffs were incredibly stiff and horribly uncomfortable to wear--which just ins't the case! Similar to how dress historians and historical costumers have been helping to dispel myths about corsets, I want to try to do the same for ruffs.

I must thank my ruff mentor, Noel Gieleghem, for being so generous with sharing his research and sending me starch and fine linen to start my on my ruff journey so many years ago.

Hand Sewing Tutorials

Felled seam:
   • Hand Sew A Backstitched Flat-Felled S...  

Hem stitch:    • Historic Fashion Tutorial Series: Hem...  

Eyelet:    • Historic Fashion Tutorial Series: Eye...  

Music:

Crunk Knight by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Village Consort by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Folk Round by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license