Black wool Viking apron dress

Black wool Viking style apron dress (worn over a black linen under dress)

In my attempts to start cutting into some of my “stash” and reduce the endless boxes, I started looking at my groups of fabrics that I’ve already allocated for certain projects – namely my Viking Age costume stash.

I built these groupings around the capsule collections that I already identified, and for the Viking group, I decided that although I have a black linen apron dress, I would like to add a black wool apron dress to this collection as well.

Grey and black open front apron dress- HSM Feb 2018

My black and grey apron dress worn with a new apron panel and my green under dress. Photo ©Mysticus Photography

I made an open front apron dress a while ago (in 2015), and discussed some of my skepticism with the whole open-front apron dress + apron panel combination that I see a LOT of with SCA Viking-Age reenactors online and elsewhere.

Current Viking Age Palette

Still, despite my skepticism on the ‘evidence’ for this style so far, I can’t deny the pretty… I got some grey and black wool-blend fabric from my former teacher, and wanted to make something Viking-inspired from it. It also just happens to work perfectly into my Viking Capsule Collection plans.

It would have made a wonderful coat, but I just finished making a new wool-blend coat and didn’t really need another (my black and red one is now one of three wool Viking coats in my Norse Reenactment wardrobe…) With a coat off the table, I thought an apron dress would work, and specifically an open-front apron dress ( hangerock).  I feel a lot more comfortable using wool blends for these speculative garments; saving my 100% wool fabrics for more documentable designs.

Plaid apron dress – HSM October

New plaid apron dress

In summer 2016 I hosted a supply swap – with the plan for it to be part of a two-event challenge in the SCA, however there wasn’t enough participation so I had to cancel the second part. However, I did come away with some lovely wool plaid fabric from Asny Hafdansdoitter, a SCA player from another kingdom.

The yardage is a medium charcoal grey, with light grey, navy blue, and burgundy plaid. The only challenge for me – it was only 170cm long by 140cm wide – much too small for most of the garments I’d want to make for myself.

Drab grey-green wool apron dress

Drab green apron dress worn with my previously made dark green wool underdress

While making the drab green-grey wool underdress, I noticed how well the drab worked with the dark green underdress I made a while back. I decided to use the remaining fabric leftover from the underdess to make an apron dress too. (I don’t plan on wearing them together, instead I’ll wear the drab grey-green with the dark green.)

Dark green wool apron dress

Dark green apron dress worn over the drab grey-green underdress

While making the drab green-grey wool underdress, I noticed how well the drab worked with the dark green underdress I made a while back. I crossed my fingers, and looked at the remnants leftover from the dark green underdress to make an apron dress with it too!