Faire Ladies, Faire Lords

Quality, American-Made Renaissance Costumes

linen doublet

Doublet and sleeves special order

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Gentlemen! Come one and all – I’m taking requests for doublets and removable matched OR coordinated sleeves.

I can create an ‘off the rack’ doublet/sleeves set with ties and aiglets for you in 4 to 6 weeks on average. If it is ‘faire season’ (spring and fall) it may take longer – I will for sure let you know how long it will be to build. If you wish to order a set please contact me HERE and provide the following information:

  • I need your doublet size mens size chart
  • the length of your arm from your shoulder point to your wrist bone
  • do you want it open or closed
  • if open, wood or metal buttons?
  • what type of aiglets? I have plain and super fancy too

I usually have all the ‘basic’ colors of linen on hand. I also have a selection of brocades and wools. Be sure to confer with your costume director before ordering.

I will send you an invoice for your doublet and sleeves special order when its finished. Please keep in mind that the cost of the sleeves can be more than the doublet itself depending on details. 

 

sketch of a removable sleevea human wearing a doublet with removable sleeves

 

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Huzzah to the 2026 Renaissance Faire Season, I’ll see you all out under the canvas!

Martina

Laundry care for your costume

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I just today got an email from a customer who needed some laundry care help. They had run their partner’s doublet through the wash, and the dryer too. The doublet came out looking like a tangled mess and they were understandably upset that the garment was ruined. It was not, thankfully. It just needs proper laundry care to be fully awesome again.

That got me thinking however; in this age where most everyone wears knits and tshirts, that laundry care for woven and lined garments isn’t well known. Most clothing in 2024 is cheap and disposable, many people have never had to think about this stuff. The items you purchase from me are neither cheap nor disposable, wrecking them in the laundry is traumatic and costly. And so this post is I hope, helpful and reassuring.

The Basics:

This is the Good Stuff. All the clothing I make is pre-shrunk. The fabric goes into the wash and the dryer before I cut it. Unless specified, the costume pieces are made of linen or a linen blend. I do make cotton shirts and bodices from cotton twill, but the advice remain the same. The biggest note here is that you will need an IRON for best results. Natural fibers like linen, linen blends, and cotton relax a bit when you wear them. Its part of the comfort. So when its washed it will constrict again, like your jeans do. Part of this expansion/contraction is that steam and heat will bring things together and correct any inconsistencies.

The Care:

If a garment is not stained, spilled on, or grungy you can turn it inside out and put it on a hanger outside for a day. The sunlight will literally disinfect the smelly bacteria from your sweat.  This is for garments that are not touching your skin. Like a doublet or a bodice or a skirt. Optional: Give it a nice light steam iron when you fold it to put it away.

For garments that touch your skin like breeches or shirts, wash them. Cold/cool gentle cycle in the washer machine. If its really icky hot water is okay. Then hang dry. Once dry a little shake out, fold and put away. Again Optional: Maybe a light iron for tidy collars or cuffs.

If you need to wash something out of your garment, lunch or a spill of some kind, and its got a lining you will for sure need to IRON it. If you toss it in the dryer this will be even more needed because its getting tossed around and jumbled. Try to avoid this by gentle or hand wash and hang dry. Yes, you will still need to iron, but not as much.

If your garment has boning or extensive trim, do not put in a machine. Ever. Air it out or hand wash is mandatory. Hang dry and steam iron to get the garment back in shape.

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Thanks for reading! I hope this info will give your costume garments a longer life and you’ll love them like I do. Please share this with your friends and family, your guild mates, your cosplay people. And as always if you need help or just want to get in touch, I’m on Facebook and you can email me here.

Faire Season is Upon Us!

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Like the title says, Faire season is upon us! Out here on the west coast, The Renaissance Pleasure Faire is about what, 5 weeks away? Build starts in about 2 weeks. Here online its time for sneak peeks and teasers. This year like every year, is a mix of new styles and everyone’s ‘favorites for a reason’. I think we can all agree there is never too much of a good thing.

Favorites for a Reason

First up, those amazing linen shirts are back in offwhite, stone, black 100% linen, and red. PLUS there is a selection of them loaded on the website already. Because showing up to faire already looking fine is awesome. Mens doublets, YES. I’ve changed sewing teams and I am really pleased with the quality of these doublet vests. Likewise the buttonfly Venetian Breeches are back too – I made a few tweaks to the pattern and I’m sure everyone will be thrilled.

a child's renfaire dress on a hanger

Ladies, this year is about more bodices, more gowns! I’ve got a small selection of bodices already online, and more coming. If you haven’t seen the plaid Irish Dress online yet,check this out!  Also, plans for closed front gown are underway, in a bold blue and the infamous Goose Turd Green. March is going to be busy for sewing! I’ve got new colors of Bloomers one of which is a black 100% linen, and a stash just for the website.

Bringing forgotten styles back to the booth:

martina in the studio Styles from years past that come and go, and are back in the booth inventory! Flat caps! Because you’ve been asking me to bring this back and I finally was able to make time and get them cut in LINEN. I’ve even got childrens sizes. Which leads me to CHILDREN’S RENFAIRE COSTUMES. Its been a while since I had a large selection, so I brought a few pieces back to the booth inventory last year. Things went well. This year I’m doing much more. These are not on my website – yet. Little Irish dresses, skirts, pants and shirts, biggins and hats!

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And so, if you have questions about the faire or any of the items in my online shop, please reach out and get in touch. I’m here to help, so use this link and shoot me an email. I can also be found on Facebook. I’m slogging it out in the studio cut cut cutting. Though, I will respond to you within 1 business day usually. Better yet, drop in to say HI at the booth this coming April and May. I will post updates about my precise location after stakeout/build weekend.

 

Meet my booth manager trainee!

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RenFaire opens this weekend at Casa de Fruita outside of Hollister, CA this weekend! Anticipation is high, there’s more stuff to do than hours in the day to do them. Me, I am out the door this Friday morning. Putting the last touches on my booth and filling the shelves with my awesome renfaire costumes. But I am not taking this all on alone. I have a manager trainee for the booth! Everyone, meet my booth manager trainee, Alicia!

headshot of AliciaAlicia is new to me, but not new to faire. She has worked a solid 12 seasons so far. In food booths, even in the reptile zoo. Perseverance! She came to me in response to a post I made about needing help, and let me know she wants to learn. To be trusted to do things like handle money. To be more than just a body. I’m thinking this is just about perfect. I have been hoping for someone I can train up and rely on.

Opening weekend is our big training opportunity. She’ll be learning all the things, from merchandising to setup to closing. Its a lot, but she’s smart and I’ve got a lot of confidence in her already. Alicia is getting a bit of a ‘trail by fire’ during this first season. I’m going to be offsite the 2nd weekend and that means she’s In Charge. Yes, she’s taking the helm and going for it. Solo, baby!

So, please do stop by the booth and meet my booth manager trainee. Come out and show her what a great, kind group of customers and patrons I’ve got. It will be a good time. My booth is placed on Costumer’s Row, between Tickle Thy Fantasy and Heart’s Delight. I could not ask for a better spot. Bonus, my neighbors are really great people. Bonus Plus, I’ve got garden produce to give away.

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You know that I appreciate your reading and your patronage, yes? Did you also know its pretty easy to keep up with my writing if you Get the Insider’s Newsletter? Anybody who reads so thoroughly deserves a nice reward, like a discount coupon for my website. Hint, Hint. You can also find me on Facebook.