the old people did not make things for the hell of it. we have lost so much knowledge that we could sorely use these days.that wisdom and knowledge is so vital....we need it now
Interesting that I came upon videos coveting tunics and hoods the same week that comments/videos appeared on You Tube suggesting we need to give a second look at how the "wear it once and toss it' attitude is contributing to global warming. While active in Viking Era reenactment I discovered my tunic and hood were producing sweat that was running down my back while taking part in a parade while the temp was 29 degree.
@@thedeathwobblechannel6539 Thanks for letting me know about the name change Bradley! I usually just have short underwear under the leather pants, and a natural fabric, non-wool long-sleeve shirt under the tunic, because sometimes I can be a little sensitive to wool right on my skin =)
Bonus point on wool: even when wool is wet, it still insulates heat. So even if you get your wool tunic wet, it will still insulate you(albeit not as well as when it was dry) wool is far superior to wet cotton. I’d use wool more if I had an easier time finding not-itchy varieties.
Marino wool is incredibly soft, but if it's still too itchy for you I would recommend lining the kjortel with linnen or cotton, linnen is more period accurate but cotton is cheaper and softer! You can recycle an old bedsheet for this purpose, and it will increase the warmth of the garment ^^
@@nocturnal1097 Unforunately cotton under wool totally drafts it’s warming properties. Merino wool is the softest but regular wool blends at 80% wool 20% nylon aren’t too itchy. Being Cold is far worse in any case.
Yes! Wool! I'm a fiber artist and people don't believe me when I tell them that not only is wool naturally water resistant it is also naturally fire resistant! That's why many vikings used felted cloaks. It's a truly magical material. Thanks for the cool video! Can't wait to watch more.
I hadn't heard about its fire resistance, but now that you mention it, I think of the many times coals have popped out of the campfire and landed on the kjortel without a burn, while other fabrics instantly get a hole in them. =) Kenton
There is a group of people called the known world foresters who camp and live in the woods on weekends using only items used in medieval European history. It's a lot of fun. They are just about everywhere in eastern USA and Canada.
Awesome!! I actually made myself a ruana cloak last winter and i replaced my heavy duty winter coat with it. I made it with a 20$ wool blanket and a cheap pair of scissors. The ruana cloak is the classic cloak that you can wear like 10 different ways. You can rock the Gandalf cloak, the jedi tunic, you can wrap it as a poncho, wrap it to make a large hood, so many different things! Its my favorite garment now, by far! Im loving the content man!
I MUST learn more about the ruana cloak! Sounds awesome!!! And super excited to have you on the channel, Zakk. Thanks for letting me know you're appreciating our videos! =) Kenton
The "tail" on your hood is (was) called liripipe. People in later middle ages started developing hoods into more complex and fashionable headcovers ,so with that liripipe and a bit of reserearch, you can create or modify your wearing style into more "advanced" version called chaperon. Just check it online, it's easy and was pretty stylish back then. Two styles, one hat, I use one (or both :) ) for 15th century reenactment.
Nice video, my first time seeing your channel. This reminds me of a sort of historical elitism (I'm not sure that's quite the right way of putting it, but it'll have to do), where in people are soundly convinced that we are now much smarter than people have ever been in the past. And it is obviously true we are much more technically advanced, we are most certainly not smarter. Your tunic is an excellent example of this low tech highly practical solution to a very real and dangerous problem facing those of us in climates that get a proper winter that would simply not occur to us today.
Great point. I hadn't heard of that term before, but it makes great sense. It's easy to believe that our modern lives are 100% improved over our historical lives. They may indeed be improved in many senses, but we've probably also lost out on some amazing things as well. =) Kenton
ReWildUniversity we absolutely have lost many things! I am blessed to work with several people who were raised in an old colony Mennonite area in Mexico, many of whom and no electricity or running water and their simple and effective solutions to many of the problems we face are quite often mind blowing...but they sure do like power and water. And if nothing else one thing we've lost of great importance is attention spans!
My first time on the channel, too... I am kind of a medieval technology&clothing fan, so the algorithm gave me a treat :) Historical elitism as you put it doesn't end at smarter... I have a hard time convincing people, that humans in other times weren't less intelligent, to the point of people thinking that major advanced like Galilei and Newton's were so obvious anyone from our time could have made them. And with much of the historical garment I find that these would still be relevant, if we would suddenly find ourselves in medieval times... Linen is way more resilient than cotton, but nowadays it's way more expensive, so we don't use it that much. Medieval shoes are a treat to wear on soft-ish surfaces like in the woods, on grass or dirt roads, but they would break immediately on an asphalted street (and are more expensive than plastic and rubber). And the list goes on with basically every piece of clothing they wore. [The split pants "Hose" probably being the weirdest one, it sucks to go to a modern toilet with it, but in medieval times, not a problem...And they give more mobility]
I was a bit confused when you mention historical elitism. Because for me historical elitism means those who have the most historical correct made clothing or knowledge of historical garment and customs.
Shackleton and some of his crew climbed over the island they landed on in the Antarctic with their gear. A couple of modern climbers with modern gear had a struggle doing the same thing.
At 6:43 the video also shows why the skirt part over the pants helps to keep you warm as some of the snow you sit on stucked to the back of the skirt part and your body heat slowly warming your pants and then the skirt part melted the sticking snow just enough to make it fall off before it can soak fully through. Thank you for this very informative video.
It is very interesting to find someone else who sees the value in applying ancient clothing into a functional context, rather than just as "costume". This is part of our reason for wearing these garments as well, but in addition, the rectangular shape of the tunic is very economical for us, since we spin and weave much of our own cloth. The shape of the finished garment is not far from as it came off the loom.
A benefit of this clothing that I hadn't thought of! That is wonderful that you are making your own cloth! We need to keep these skills alive. =) Kenton
I'm a tailor/costumer and I've made a few tunics before. I used canvas for the outer layer and a silky synthetic for the inner. I put slits up each side so the legs are not constricted. These were medieval style with decorative trim and multi colored, but they were very warm and functional too. My buddy and I were camping at an SCA event in the winter and we got soaked in the rain. We both changed into our dry tunics as night fell and the temp dropped. We were both amazed at the comfort and warmth of these garments, having never field tested them before. This is making me want to make a survival tunic out of wool with gear pockets and a padded waterproof butt, hah!
That's an awesome idea for a survival tunic. So cool that you were able to test your tunics in real conditions. They really do retain heat well, don't they? =) Kenton
Make it with waterproof knee pads as well. Meaning put canvas on the knees so when you have to kneel down they'll be waterproof and put rubber pads in the knees like 5.11 Tactical pants. Your garment sounds amazing
You can use patches of rubberized fabric for the butt area, and even add quilted cotton padding as a middle layer for added comfort. Tunics typically aren't long enough that you'd be able to tuck them under your knees when knelt over. But I suppose you could make a purpose-built one and have only the front flap extra long and have the whole bottom section reinforced with waterproof material and padding. Might look a little odd, but it would be super functional.
I have never considered this. But I am now. I made a capote from a wool blanket many years ago, and have had a number of people want to buy it from me. Very warm. The kjortël seems very similar. Thanks for the inspiration
I just went to that website. The upper piece can be found at the Home page by clicking on 'Struthättor'. The long thing is the 'strut', and he used it correctly. The page translates 'kjortel' as 'robe' but it must be cognate with 'kirtle'. The kjortel goes for 890 kroner and the struthätten for 390 kroner (both in wool). So $152.35 for the set plus shipping. Not bad for handcrafted wool.
I would say another advantage to this outfit is that it would be more quiet walking thru the forest then a modern snow jacket. I’ve been snowboarding a long time and I’ve always noticed how much noise cold weather clothing could make.
I had made a set for my family, went the Norse direction for the hood style though (has no tail), and we wear them in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism). What I love about participating in the camping events in the SCA is that we are actively engaging in experimental archaeology and so get to field test our equipment all the time, and slowly learn what works and does not and gradually improve the performance of our gear. One interesting thing that we have learned that most people are disinclined to even try, is wearing wool socks in summer. It is amazingly comfortable because it wicks away moisture. And this summer I discovered that it humidity does not get to me if I am wearing wool garments (no sticky icky sensation on your skin). Some people even wear full woolen garments all year round for this reason. I like to do axe throwing and need closed toed shoes anyway, so wearing wool with it keeps things comfy and especially so in edge season camping - when most people are left with cold feet, I have no need to suffer or seek out a change of footwear.
I'm with you 100% on the wool socks in summer. Spent years wearing "work" socks and ending the day with soggy, wet, feet. A couple of years ago I bought some ex-Dutch Army woolen socks and haven't looked back. Hard-wearing (I'm in boots for 10 hours a day, 5 days a week), and they keep my feet comfortable in all weathers!
It's so great to hear you say these things. I've been recreating old Scandinavian garb for about two years now. It's so functional and comfortable. Thank you!
Nice effort, havent seen any of your other videos however it's lovely to see you a) being sceptical and just as importantly b) not dismissing something without giving it a go. I appreciate your gentle and unvulgur attitude and tounge. If getting wet in the cold is an issue, if you can get your hands on some wool that has been bushed and spun without having the oil processed out of it, (sorry this usually means either its expensive or you have to do it yourself) it can help a great deal with keeping dry. If a garment is too much, even a square of material like this makes an excelent blanket that doubles as a cloak if you have a brooch or pin.
Now you really look more like a Forest Monk:) I love your videos...you bring me a tremendous amount of motivation and encouragement, I hope you have a wonderful day.-Austin
That's fantastic. I imagine a merry band of wondering minstrels LOL - The separate "hood" is nice. Take the brunt of snow and light rain and removable to dry keeping the rest of the funky outfit on lol
Absolutely! The removable hood really has been a benefit -- especially when someone in our party is cold, and I can take it off and give it to them for a while . . . =) Kenton
I'm from Norway and i can tell you that its pronounced something like : "Shoortel " almost like you would say "shoot" but with an R in there and an "EL" at the end , "Shoortel"
I'm learning Norwegian. I thought the correct pronuncation was "sh" for kj? I looked it up and the IPA pronuncation includes "ç" I'm not sure what that is.
Like others here I'm in the SCA and I've often gone camping and wear this type of very comfortable and practical clothing. In addition to what others have said I wanted to add that a lightweight linen hood is great in the summer to protect the head neck and shoulders from the the hot sun.
Not unlike a modern hunting coat or shop coat. I see the genesis. I use a long machinists shop coat with 4 pockets the same way. You have a kind, gentlemanly manner about you that is sorely missing in today's world. Thanks!
I agree old school clothing had more function and form. I work outside in the northeast and I swear to use a cape with your rain gear and wool base layer as well as merino wool sock .
Great video! I've worn this fashion often when medieval camping and love it. Here are some uses of the tail of the hood (called a liripipe). Tying the cowl closed Tuck the pipe in your belt to hold the hood down when not in use Storing small items Handy leash on small children Looking awesome
Interesting point you made at the end, about clothing having power on our mind. Reminded me of a blog post on totem animals (a bit lengthy for a youtube comment..) : "(...)Today we might laugh when we see such ‘superstitions’, but at the same time we are still completely dominated by the same ‘superstitions’. The same totemic ideas penetrate all layers of society. We live by the idea that we gain some sort of life force, protective force, or other force, from using or surrounding ourselves with certain brands, symbols or even bits and pieces of others whom we think highly of. By driving a car of a certain brand you gain some sort of force: by wearing the clothes of a certain brand you gain some sort of force: by wearing a certain symbol you gain some sort of force: by putting on a t-shirt with a certain band name on it, you gain some sort of force, etc. You somehow feel that you become what the brand is associated with, you gain the force symbolized by the symbol, you become a part of the band whose shirt you wear, etc. You can always ridicule others who do this, who buy expensive cars of certain brands because they feel better in them, who need to wear clothes of this or that brand, who wears a Thor’s hammer or a crucifix around the neck, who want the signature from artists they appreciate, etc., but the truth is: on some level we all do this. This is how we are built. This is what we are. This is deeply rooted in our human nature. And there is nothing wrong with our nature! Whether we like to admit it or not, we all believe in sorcery. We don’t always understand that we do, but we do. Rather than fight, ignore or ridicule this ‘sorcery’, we should embrace and celebrate it, and try to learn more about it, for the betterment of our species."
That's some good wisdom there. As the author points out, many people can criticize others for doing this, yet it's pretty universal. If it's not clothing, it's some label that we put on ourselves. Whatever the case, we're using something "external" to reinforce our self-image. I like that the author doesn't say it's wrong -- I think the key is that if we're conscious of the process, we can use it wisely -- if not, others will use it to shape and mold us into their own images. It really is like magic! =) Kenton
You ever so slightly touch upon something that that the ancient germanic peoples called "Hámr". Today "apearance" is very simple, but to the ancient germanics, it wasn't. and they had TWO of them. One was how your "lík/lich" (physical body) looked, which is what we still use today, and the other one was your "hámr" which was both the apearance of your lich as well as the apearance of you "soul" (for lack of a better word). I describe Hámr as the external of your internal. Many of the old gods for example, were shape changers, and what they could change was their Hámr. The idea was that people who were "shapestrong" (hámrammr) could change their "apearance" in such a way that they changed into a different form, without actually looking any different. This is also what i experience whith regards to clothing. to explain what clothing CAN do to a person, i think i is best tolet the ancient texts do the talking. Here is a piece about Odin changing chape: "When sitting among his friends his (Odin's) countenance was so beautiful and dignified, that the spirits of all were exhilarated by it, but when he was in war he appeared dreadful to his foes. This arose from his being able to change his skin and form in any way he liked." In our simplified modern times, we use clothing to achieve a similar, though very watered down effect. Dressing is a sort of Ritual that changes our Hámr so that we may apprach a situation differently. I think this is also what Kenton experiences when he goes back to the most simplistic form. him not wearing clothing is the same thing: Its a sort of ritual where he makes his "hamr" take on the form of whatever is beneficial to him at that time. to I can also see a "shapechange" in the "hámr" of my wolfdog hybrid. He changes back and forth from a naive, playful, infantile, dog, to a serious, intence wild wolf according to what situation he is in. In fact, it was my wolfdog that actually showed me what the "hámr" concept actually meant. Long story, i know, but i just love explainging this :P
Anything you identify with will have influence over you. Identify with nothing and nothing will move you. How do you perceive and thus relate also makes a difference. You can talk about the facade of this world.. clothes, cars, tattoos, symbols, artifacts.. but distill them further and you find it's a play of colors, forms and shapes of various lengths and angles in varying relations to each other... or even further everything blurs and becomes vibrations of many degrees... haven't gone beyond that tho'. Each level of perception is useful in its own way. What perceptional shifts taught me is - there is a distinct difference between _you_ and persona/character _you_ wear in this world and identify with. Persona is inherently flawed because it's a mere accumulation of body, thoughts, experiences, labels, and that is never complete unless you'd become all things in the existence. But _you_ are already a complete cosmic being. There's much more than meets the eye... Look with your eyes and the world is what you'll see. Look with your mind and its mechanisms will be unveiled to you. Look with your heart and you'll know the existence and _you_ .
And I love that you've taken the time to share this with us! It's always interesting to see when a culture recognizes an aspect of the world and gives it a name -- then it become "real" to us. You've given us Hámr and lík/lich, and expanded our world in doing so! =) Kenton
When you're at the part wondering about the bit on the hood, what you used it for is EXACTLY what it is there for. My parents were both big into the SCA(Society For Creative Activism) growing up. More so my dad, he is a pretty big medieval history buff and I recall him doing a few demonstrations of medieval garments for people before and that was one of them.
Maybe someone already mentioned this, but the long tail is called a liripipe, and while it was mostly decorative, the use you demonstrated was also exactly what they did. I thought I heard somewhere that it was a place to carry coin, too, while traveling, but I cannot find any information to confirm this.
Mediaeval law allowed peasants to carry home nuts they found, limited by the capacity of their hoods. So if you just happen to have a really large (long, distendible hood) then you can "win" a vast number of nuts - lawfully. Keep knitting
Until fairly recently, clothes did not have pockets, so especially if you were a peasant who rarely carries coin - and so probably have no special coin pouch ready - you would need to improvise.
I do Viking reenactment and wear the clothing very regularly as I too find I can tune into my environment easier in old clothing of my ancestors. I also find most of the clothing very practical!
Thanks! As for the clothing playing a role in our mindsets, that's something I hope all these videos hint at -- that there are many unseen things in our lives that have powerful effects upon us, and if we can become conscious of them, we can begin to enact real change in our lives. I'm glad you saw that in this video! =) Kenton
They have recently dug a tunic like this up from the norwegian glacier. it's from the early medieval period. (500 CE, i think) It was still intact, made from wool, and had a beautiful diamond patern.I'm a early medieval (viking) reenactor and this is the standart tunic everybody wears. It's incredibly simple and very easy to make, but it still looks awesome, is warm, and easy to fix. love it.
I love tunics, vest or jackets that go past my waist, and also found it really cuts down on heat loss. The gap between the shirt and pants really lets in the wind 😄 Also snow, dirt or bark can fall down the pants when I'm in the woods. The overlapp is really great, multi functional. I had guessed they went out of style because of inhibited movement, but I too find it's not really that limiting, and definitely worth it for the benefits. Cool to see that trick with the hood, I never knew what the tassel was for either 😄 I think I will need to start wearing one of those. Seems it is even more practical than I realized. Definitely nice to have a single fitted garment over having to wrap and arrange a scarf that can sometimes not behave the way I need it to, especially in the wind.
I'm right with you in regards to the tunic. Warm! And it's been fun to read through the comments and see how many people gave info on that long tassel. I didn't know it was so multi-functional either!
Awesome piece of clothing, indeed ! I love the color, fits you well. I'm also glad to hear about the energy in the way we dress, I usually wear a turban (almost the same green as your Kjortel !) and was amazed of how good it was at keeping my ears warm and cozy while traveling down the roads in the winter (aside of the energy it gives and radiates) :) Take care, Kenton ! :)
This is one of the reasons I like LARPing here in the Netherlands. The main one I went to for 10+ years didn't have electricity for anything but the organization. And no housing either. So we had to make do with tents, layers of clothing to keep warm, campfires, and other such things. To me it feels great to go 'back to basics' to some extend. And I too noticed that medieval designed clothing is actually very practical and warm when needed if you're outside 24/7. (or at least don't have modern heating) Tunics are comfortable, not too warm when it's warm, and warm enough when it's cold. Those hoods give more warmth than I first thought, especially when you have it over your head. Cloaks are amazing for warmth too, as they can cover your entire body rather than just your torso and arms. And not having such thick soles on your shoes walks more comfortably in the forest or on grass than with modern shoes.
Did a little research. And the word itself helps define why the garment is the way it is. Kjortel translates from Swedish as skirt. So this separates it from 'just' a tunic to a 'skirted tunic', which makes since. Also, google translate says you've got the pronunciation pretty close. A similar tunic was found in the melting glacier of Leenbreen in 2011. It is believed to be from 300AD,so 1700 yrsold. As for the tail on the hood, I think you have that right,also. I've drawings of the hood cinched uptight like that,but no clear way of how,but it looks right.
kjortel from kjörtel ; "kj" is pronounced "sh" in Swedish... I think "shirtel" as you said at the end is accurate. Origin of "shirt" ... and "skirt" )))
The arms should have 12" cuffs so it makes a muffler when cold or sleeping. No gloves in them days. Also the belt has a kind of half blanket looped over the back. Hip wide (16"/20") and 2 1/2 times as long. Made of felt or rough wool. When looped over you sit on it doubled up, at night you sleep on it. Your blanket is carried rolled like a sash.
The atomic frequency measurement of linen fabric measures 5,000! The frequency of wool measures 5,000 The frequency of cotton measures 40 & organic unbleached cotton measures 100, which are not healing materials, but they don’t harm the health. Silk fabric only measures 10 units of energy, which would fail to support health in the human body. Rayon (wood & bamboo fiber) measures at a 15 signature frequency. Plastic materials such as polyester, acrylic, spandex, lycra, viscose and nylon measure zero. I believe this is why you feel so good with the wool on. I bet if you wore wool underoo’s you would be in perfect alignment... yet you would also need wool boots!!! I would love to see what your body energy measures wearing this outfit with no other fabrics or materials... Very interesting. Bless your friend. He is a good man for sharing this with you! My husband loves this! Blessings!
I think you can also get coats like this, after all it's a precursor of coats. That way you could better regulate the isolation (open it, or even wear it like a coat) and it might have pockets too. The hood is really practical on its own. It's heavy, but behaves completely different from modern hoods. First off, they better stay in place, are less noisy in rain and feel more natural. I do like heavy cloth like this and leather, but keep in mind that they won't fold up to a neat little package and that such clothing really weights something (to the point that it can break cheap hooks). It gets even worse when it gets soaked and it takes a long time to dry. On the plus side, these textiles give you also some protection against cuts, thorns etc.
How mutch has it cost, is it water proof, I have warm winter clothing,with multiple useful pockets, water resistant ,modern light material, witch is breathable, and doesn't make me look like a middle age eccentric who needs to draw attention to myself.
John Tunnicliffe if you found something that works for you, then you're in luck. I struggled hard to find a coat that covers enough of my body to keep me dry and it came without a hood. Most modern hoods are no good and the functional material only breathable on paper and the water repellent coating wears off fast.
Robin Hood!! Haha! I've been thinking about ideal wool winter wear I have a wool vintage "flannel" style shirt, and it's great but not perfect for real woods time. I think the tunic is the ideal item, and the length, I agree, is a key feature. The hood on this is interesting and looks super functional. I was thinking about making some wool goods but wool is not cheap! One of these days.... :D :D As always be well my friend! ~Mike
Right on with the tunic etc. observations. Function has always been a place I've disconnected with fashion from. This month I've been patching up a knee length heavy wool cagoule my Mom made for me back around 1979. "Kid's be free. Do what you want to do. Be what you want to be. Just as long as you don't hurt anybody." Rock Musical: "Hair".
really great and valid points you make =) at this time of the year i wear my woolen tunic for basically everything i do in the garden, forest or forge, and it's true - it really is the most practical piece of clothing to have for these activities =) and one more point: it is definitely worth trying to make one yourself - not only because of the challenge of it but also because you learn a lot about the value of a piece of equipment that will serve you well if you tend to it well =) Cheers!
Lars, you use it in the forge as well! Fascinating! I've found that around the campfire it is largely spark-proof, but does that extend to the kind of sparks you get while at the forge? =) Kenton
Hello Kenton! Yes, a few sparks and a little bit of scale here and there are no problem at all, and unless you are doing heavy forgewelding there is seldomly more than just that =) But for general protection (both of your garment and the person inside ;D ) a simple leather apron is always a good idea - and i have not yet managed to set that on fire ;) Cheers!
Hi thorshammer,for hot environment try linnen light weight ample cut with pretty open woven fabric it s perfect to ventilate and stay "less hot " choose light color like sand avoid black fabric and a large woven hat to shade yourself a little and especially when it's super hot drink water ,I mean a lot (between 1and 2 gallons a day ) .I live in France in the south east coast it can be 40+°c in summer and between 5 to minus 20°c in winter depending of elevation ( Alps mountain chain pretty close ) . best regards to you in Australia.
The link here shows a standard clothing item in New Zealand that's as common as belly buttons and has been for over a hundred years.... www.swanndri.co.nz/bushshirts/SSD0103/Swanndri-Men's-Original-Wool-Bushshirt-with-Lace-up-front.html It's roots look to stem from the Kjortel and if not, it's a pretty amazing piece of convergent design evolution.
Indeed! Such a similarity! I do wonder if it has kjortel roots or not. Mary left a comment suggesting a similarity between the kjortel and Inuit Anoraks. So I wonder if it's convergent design evolution . . . that long skirt makes real sense in the cold. =) Kenton
let me just add... people trying to emulate crossings (of 'Norsemen') to Greenland and the Americas have learned that the 'organic' clothing of the Norsemen in no ways fails in comparison to the most modern sailing clothing.
Biggest 23 - I've had a Swanndri Bush Shirt from New Zealand for many years now and it's a great bit of kit, indeed I have one in green and another in navy blue. They are warm and yet very breathable and have a tight enough weave to shed some light rain and showers. Very traditional look that I have worn at Medieval Fairs here in Germany, much like the kjortel.
Skirted tunics are really nice and with a hood and mantle like yours they are very versatile. The hood would also be worn by putting the crown of your head through the face opening and using the tail to wrap up and secure the rest of the fabric on top of your head. Whenever you see a depiction of someone in the middle ages wearing a turban looking head wrap its just a reconfigured hood and mantle.
gerard collins i remember my Dad having those wool swimming trunks. I vaguely remember them but it was in the 1950's when my discoveries about wool and warmth were made. The keeping you cool wasn't discovered until I was a teenager in the 1960's. Wool keeps you warm even when it's wet too.
Slappy Bite me. Poser? Go pound sand. I've been wearing wool all of my life. Take your insulting bullshit elsewhere. I am almost 69 years old and back in the 1950's wool wasn't "miracle wool" like some of the examples of today. Your comment is obviously meant to be insulting so I will just mute your bullshit.
I love it. :) I think that my husband would appreciate something like this. I myself love the simplicity and practicality of the clothing from the medieval times.
That's what that tail is for ! They're great pieces of gear as I know it the tunic is pre Roman times the Egyptian horse men wore them , Scotts wore them horseman all known by different names but same theory ledger says that it was to warm to date pants over there and cloth was for royalty hacking not much it's the best they could make also! Ease of movement ! As I know ? I think that's the first blade iv ever seen on you ! Take care brother
Just because we now have all this modern technology doesn't mean we get things right or make better garments. Our ancestors new a thing or two they had to or we'd not be here, in the medieval paints you'll see this type of garment being worn by the peasants farmers and as during those times the winters and the weather in general was much colder they had to know how to keep as warm as possible. Things change over time obviously though not always for the better. To me it looks like a great piece of outdoor clothing, and I have to say it looked good on you, though that's not a good reason to wear it, I just though I'd mention it lol
I agree completely! It's been interesting to hear so many people praising the benefits of wool here. And thanks for that compliment! It's appreciated! =) Kenton
That is a very well made garment. I wore and loved a similar tunic for many years. It was hand made by a woman I lived with from a wool army blanket, though not like those I see today. That one was a slightly looser weave, thicker, and more flexible. Mine was about the length if yours but with wider sleeves and no hood. A separate hooded cowl like you show would have been excellent, but that was in the early 1970s, and it would have attracted a lot of attention. The larger sleeves had the advantage of being able to put my hands into the opposite sleeve for warmth, but that width also meant quite a bit of heat loss. I wore a belt around this tunic, and I kept two leather thongs tucked into it to wrap the forearms and tighten the sleeves when needed. It was a GREAT garment, and now I am inspired to acquire another. It was on my list, as I am getting back into traditional (primitive) trekking and camping. I also notice you appear to carry a short bladed machete. This is my constant when in the outdoors and especially the back country. My favorite is a Cold Steel 12" Spearpoint machete, now unfortunately out if production, or a Kershaw Camp 14, a 14" Mn65 bladed machete with more of a cutlass-machete hybrid blade shape. I prefer the Spearpoint for my large field knife, as it is a bit lighter than the Camp 14. Both are great tools when coupled with a smaller fixed blade (or even larger folding) knife. I have been a knife dealer, the largest portion of my outdoors-survival equipment business, so I can carry pretty much any edged tools I want. My kit almost always includes the 12" (or 14") machete, a 5" (to 7") fixed blade belt knife, and a lightweight axe, usually a bearded Norse (aka Viking) style. The larger bearded blade has many uses besides chopping when holding the haft (handle) behind the blade's beard and using as a skinning or carving tool or as an ulu. A frog on the back of my shoulder bag keeps the axe handy and the blade in a safe location without a separate blade cover. Traditional kit is often far more serviceable than much of our modern-made equipment, and as you pointed out, it tends to draw our minds and spirits to another time many people seem to find both familiar and comfortable.
Thanks for sharing all of this. It was fun to hear about your kit, especially the knives. You were are knife dealer! That must have been a blast! =) Kenton
If it's a Swedish word, that kj diphthong is kinda pronounced like "shh" in english. Kinda. so it would be sort of like "shor-tel" If its a Danish word... well good luck with that.
In Danish it's pronounced more like kjor-del. The 'd' sound is similar to that in the words dog, duck, deck. As for the liripipe on your hood they were used as you illustrated. But also to symbolize wealth or even to store coins
I have several cloaks, for all the same reasons. The only thing they lack is the super long hood. I may have to incorporate that into my next cloak. That's a nice feature. Thanks for sharing!
Cool stuff , looks exactly like old medieval farmer tunique around 1200 AC period , in europe at least (France, England ,Scottland ....) personnaly i prefer a good alpaca wool bolivian pancho with hood fonctionnal as well and can also be used as blanquet or be used by 2 person and then share body heat in really cold weather .and alpaca wool is one of the warmest wool you can find anywhere! I also much more choice in color and pattern design . But your kjortel is awesome and the color are really tuned for forest environment ,stealthy ! I am going to look at the site you gave for the kjortel to see more of them , fun stuff to make an historic reconstitution as a game or event with a kind of old village life with blacksmith guy , bread cooking in earth oven, basquet weaving , clothe making ......
Stef M Alpaca 4 less (dot) com Is where I get my alpaca stuff. I have several blankets, hats, scarves..... Nice and warm, I have been thinking about cutting one of the blankets up for a “blanket shirt.” I suppose a few extra inches at the bottom makes sense as it warms privates and upper legs...
I have a couple of these in different fabrics. There is truly nothing in the world like real wool for cold wet weather! I'm equally in love with my real flax linen tunic for working in summer- it keeps my extremely sensitive skin from burning but allows me to stay cool. Wool and linen are both hard wearing materials that will last for many years if properly cared for, which is a definite bonus. :) Great video!
I don't think you'll be sorry. Each year I wear it more. People in the woods sometimes give me a strange look at first, but they soon want their own . . . it's so warm and functional. =) Kenton
Having spent a lot of time in medieval re-enactment (SCA, if it matters), the t-tunic is a garment with a long, long, long history. Since it can be made with three squares and a few triangles, the pattern is dead simple, and super functional. The lyre-pipe (the long tail on your hood) functions as a scarf, but since it's hollow, it's also a handy container. I used to carry spare change, car keys, a bit of lunch and a few other odds and ends in mine. It's not _quite_ as handy as keeping stuff in a belt pouch, but it's still pretty convenient, and it's hard to lose things out of. Add a cloak and you've got a super nice outdoor cold weather set up.
I live in rural northeastern calif. i couldnt give a care what others think... its why i spend a lot of time alone in nature... for some, i guess its harder to deal with the thoughts and responses of others.
I didn't know that! If so, it unwittingly created a garment that, in modern times, we're using to great effect in the woods! Cool how history works . . . =) Kenton
I sincerely doubt any clothing (except maybe for royalty) was made for anything but functionality in mind, especially these simpler style clothes. The reason this is long is because of heat conservation, wool is a winter type clothing, and something that goes a fair deal over the pants helps to keep your back warm and thus keep you warmer. Another reason why they might be so long is that (for the traveler specifically) this garment can more easily be turned into a backpack/sling making it a functional piece of kit even during the summertime.
I have heard that the tassels on native jackets were there to wick the water out of the seam. Perhaps the tail pulls the water out of the hat in a rainstorm and helps keep the head dry or at least warmer? Might be a fun experament to test that hypothesis.
I think that applies to the endless cloak mantles and similar robes. I'm from Europe and we were forced in every medieval museum in my country of origins and have been to many cloisters and churches in various other countries. This is a look of a peasant, not a royalty.
I'm not shocked by how effective they are. They're designed for people who spent most of their time outdoors doing manual labor in a colder climate. Plus they didn't have fancy insulation and central heating back then. Just fire and mud huts. Warm cloths were essential. It also served to protect the skin out in the fields and is designed to be manual labor friendly so it won't get in the way. Because peasants/working class did a lot of manual labor. Great for winterwear as well as reenactment. :D And yes that long thingy was indeed meant to be used as a scarf/hood secure mechanism/ heat trap. :D
What a good point, Laura -- I've since learned from many an adventurer that in different lands, they often adopt the native garments, which are often much more functional than our modern day gear =)
You have a very nice and pure charisma. I like this for a human being very much. The world needs that. Thank you, God bless, greatings from Germany :-)
I do a lot of historical reenactment, and this is standard clothing for the dark and middle ages throughout most of Europe. The long point of the hood can be used as a scarf as you show but also can be used as a pouch. The long pointy hoods were popular in the 15th century. You can also roll the hood into a "chaperone" hat. The tunic (this style is also called a kirtle or gown) can be made even longer, with slits of gores to allow for movement. They were made in wool but also (possibly even more often) from linen and could be almost ankle length. The linen ones are quite comfortable and great in warmer weather.
I have a linen tunic that I wear with my greatkilt, and it's wonderful for hiking in the summer. I think I'll have to invest in one of these tunics as well for added warmth in these cold Alaskan winters.
Once heard a guy at a medieval market say that back in the day, the old tail on the hat was used as a purse, since you could feel the weight on your head, you would notice if anyone was touching it. Could also come in handy as a makeshift club should the need arise.
Fantastic. I now want one of these, and you have also been added to my go-to list for book research. You are a fount of great information and knowledge. Great video, and you are so laid back and down to earth. Thank you!
Your pronunciation of kjortel is perfect! And yep, that is what the hood's tail, the snood, is for. Though you can also wrap it around the top of your head and hood, to keep it on when it is windy. If you want to improve your wool enjoyment, wear linnen (flax) underneath - that keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter. Basically the type of long sleeved kjortel you wear starts being seen around 300-500 AD in Northern Europe, particularly in Scandinavia. Before then the short sleeved tunic (roman word) was in wear throughout the Roman empire. To the point it brcame the finest thing to wear in the Byzantine empire! The kjortel continued to be worn until the renaissance, ca. 1600 in Scandinavia. And IMHO the wool/linen combination has never been surpassed by modern fabrics.
Thank you so extremely much for helping me find these high quality kjortlar! I have been looking for it for a while and didn't find any. And now I found this video, and they are even from my own country, perfect!!
I wear something similar during the colder months. It's a 100% Wool Boreal Shirt by Lester River. It's used to keep warm in the Boreal Forest that rings the Northern Hemisphere. It's all I need to keep warm in Northwest Indiana.
The long part on the back of the hood is called a liripipe. In the Middle Ages, in Europe, one wore ones wealth. This would be both in the form of jewelry and ones clothing. Sometimes there was just more of a garment because you could afford to have more, so you showed it. Though the demonstrated use is practical, period art shows that the extra bit, the pipe, was tucked into the belt at the small of the back. The medieval tunic is a very functional and practical garment. Many of us in the SCA wear and do work most weekends and some weeks every year as part of our practice in the living history pursuits within the Society for Creative Anachronism. We also commonly make our own "garb" of this type, some even carding, spinning and weaving the wool to create the needed fabric. The tunic is not a costume. Millions survived hard won lives through many jobs and professions, for centuries, so attired. From the historical point of view the tunics of the day would have an under garment made most commonly of linen or hemp. The under tunic was constructed much the same and the wool outer garment.
I've come to find that the SCA folks, such as yourself, are highly educated in these matters. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us! As you say, this isn't a costume. I've found that it's equal to or more functional than any modern garments I've worn in the woods. And as you might imagine, I'm not easy on my clothing =) -- Kenton
i have a woolen jelaba from Morocco that is similar in many ways. For one, when it rains, the water just runs right off of it. However, this kjortel indeed looks way way better when it comes to being active or actually needing to get some work done. Thanks, again, bro.
The coolest thing about this video is the comments! People are sharing so many stories of clothing from around the world. I've never heard of a jelaba! I'll have to check it out online! =) Kenton
That thing looks awesome! I love historical garments. I would totally wear something like that in the woods! then, I would feel like an adventurer, and not just some dude walking in the woods.
I got more into making my own clothes I just got 4 yards of dark green wool to make some replica imperial Russian uniforms from 1810’s-1820’s I made some early ones from cotton but they were too light and- I was still learning to make clothes, but now I just need the motivation to do it- this helped a lot! I always appreciate coming back to your great videos!
When I was a kid, our boy scout troop was in a very poor area where we lived so we did not have a lot of money. Our scoutmaster got sick of us getting picked on at camps for not having any special badges. One thing we did have was some great donated military grade winter gear. So we did polar bear camping and we were the only troop doing it in Michigan at the time. Was this huge badge. Once we understood how to stay warm it was amazing.
Hi there. I often make and wear these when I go for walks as i do medieval historical reenactment. I have not read the earlier messages but the long part of the hood was called a liripipe. It was a fashion in the 14th century. Normally when travelling a person would wear a kyrtle and wear either hose and braises or trousers and a cloak. The cloak was normally fastened over the right shoulder. Cheers.
Regarding the hoods tail, Its a pocket / pouch meant to store small valuables, like coins and what not. It was originally meant as a utilitarian fashion-choice to ward off pickpockets who bumped in to you and skillfully cut the straps from your money-pouch on the belt or, manage to dip their hands in to any of your bags. The tail of the hood weigh down on your neck and is easily noticable if it gets lighter - making it really hard to tamper with it in order to get to your goodies without you noticing.
If I bumped into someone dressed like that while out hiking, I'd be expecting to be given a quest or offered some potions.
Ha! I supposed I could offer up a quest . . .
=) Kenton
CtrlAltPhreak sidequests! No dungeons filled with unspeakable beasties, please!
After the initial shock, bumping into someone dressed like that would be kinda cool though... lol Be like walking into a timewarp!
CtrlAltPhreak , if so it’s only because you looked like you could accomplish said quest. Lol
Well spoken! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to fetch some relic in exchange for a sweet set of armor.
the old people did not make things for the hell of it. we have lost so much knowledge that we could sorely use these days.that wisdom and knowledge is so vital....we need it now
I agree Bradley. Let's keep it alive!
=) Kenton
The modern world likes to have us by the balls. How can we fight them if we cant survive without them?
Interesting that I came upon videos coveting tunics and hoods the same week that comments/videos appeared on You Tube suggesting we need to give a second look at how the "wear it once and toss it' attitude is contributing to global warming.
While active in Viking Era reenactment I discovered my tunic and hood were producing sweat that was running down my back while taking part in a parade while the temp was 29 degree.
@@ReWildUniversity Bradley here again with new name and computer. my question? how did you dress under this garment? thank you
@@thedeathwobblechannel6539 Thanks for letting me know about the name change Bradley! I usually just have short underwear under the leather pants, and a natural fabric, non-wool long-sleeve shirt under the tunic, because sometimes I can be a little sensitive to wool right on my skin =)
Bonus point on wool: even when wool is wet, it still insulates heat. So even if you get your wool tunic wet, it will still insulate you(albeit not as well as when it was dry) wool is far superior to wet cotton. I’d use wool more if I had an easier time finding not-itchy varieties.
Great point -- that wool has incredible heat-retention properties.
=) Kenton
Marino wool is incredibly soft, but if it's still too itchy for you I would recommend lining the kjortel with linnen or cotton, linnen is more period accurate but cotton is cheaper and softer! You can recycle an old bedsheet for this purpose, and it will increase the warmth of the garment ^^
I would highly recommend merino wool. Incredibly soft and I don't find it irritating at all.
You can wear a linnen/cotton baselayer and put the itchy wool on top of that and boom
No more itchiness
@@nocturnal1097 Unforunately cotton under wool totally drafts it’s warming properties. Merino wool is the softest but regular wool blends at 80% wool 20% nylon aren’t too itchy. Being Cold is far worse in any case.
Yes! Wool! I'm a fiber artist and people don't believe me when I tell them that not only is wool naturally water resistant it is also naturally fire resistant! That's why many vikings used felted cloaks. It's a truly magical material. Thanks for the cool video! Can't wait to watch more.
I hadn't heard about its fire resistance, but now that you mention it, I think of the many times coals have popped out of the campfire and landed on the kjortel without a burn, while other fabrics instantly get a hole in them.
=) Kenton
There is a group of people called the known world foresters who camp and live in the woods on weekends using only items used in medieval European history. It's a lot of fun. They are just about everywhere in eastern USA and Canada.
Cool! I want to learn about this more! I'll check it out!
=) Kenton
Im a Scotsman and i can tell you the ancient big kilt was perfect is perfect for the northern hemisphere
I was hoping to hear from some Scotsmen about the kilt! What a marvelous piece of clothing that is!
=) Kenton
Awesome!! I actually made myself a ruana cloak last winter and i replaced my heavy duty winter coat with it. I made it with a 20$ wool blanket and a cheap pair of scissors. The ruana cloak is the classic cloak that you can wear like 10 different ways. You can rock the Gandalf cloak, the jedi tunic, you can wrap it as a poncho, wrap it to make a large hood, so many different things! Its my favorite garment now, by far! Im loving the content man!
I MUST learn more about the ruana cloak! Sounds awesome!!! And super excited to have you on the channel, Zakk. Thanks for letting me know you're appreciating our videos!
=) Kenton
A simpler time, .....when existence was literally horrible! 😄your a cool guy. Nice video.
The "tail" on your hood is (was) called liripipe. People in later middle ages started developing hoods into more complex and fashionable headcovers ,so with that liripipe and a bit of reserearch, you can create or modify your wearing style into more "advanced" version called chaperon. Just check it online, it's easy and was pretty stylish back then. Two styles, one hat, I use one (or both :) ) for 15th century reenactment.
I like how you blend right into you're environment with those colours.
Thanks David -- one of my favorite things about it!
=) Kenton
Nice video, my first time seeing your channel.
This reminds me of a sort of historical elitism (I'm not sure that's quite the right way of putting it, but it'll have to do), where in people are soundly convinced that we are now much smarter than people have ever been in the past. And it is obviously true we are much more technically advanced, we are most certainly not smarter. Your tunic is an excellent example of this low tech highly practical solution to a very real and dangerous problem facing those of us in climates that get a proper winter that would simply not occur to us today.
Great point. I hadn't heard of that term before, but it makes great sense. It's easy to believe that our modern lives are 100% improved over our historical lives. They may indeed be improved in many senses, but we've probably also lost out on some amazing things as well.
=) Kenton
ReWildUniversity we absolutely have lost many things! I am blessed to work with several people who were raised in an old colony Mennonite area in Mexico, many of whom and no electricity or running water and their simple and effective solutions to many of the problems we face are quite often mind blowing...but they sure do like power and water. And if nothing else one thing we've lost of great importance is attention spans!
My first time on the channel, too... I am kind of a medieval technology&clothing fan, so the algorithm gave me a treat :)
Historical elitism as you put it doesn't end at smarter... I have a hard time convincing people, that humans in other times weren't less intelligent, to the point of people thinking that major advanced like Galilei and Newton's were so obvious anyone from our time could have made them.
And with much of the historical garment I find that these would still be relevant, if we would suddenly find ourselves in medieval times... Linen is way more resilient than cotton, but nowadays it's way more expensive, so we don't use it that much. Medieval shoes are a treat to wear on soft-ish surfaces like in the woods, on grass or dirt roads, but they would break immediately on an asphalted street (and are more expensive than plastic and rubber). And the list goes on with basically every piece of clothing they wore.
[The split pants "Hose" probably being the weirdest one, it sucks to go to a modern toilet with it, but in medieval times, not a problem...And they give more mobility]
I was a bit confused when you mention historical elitism. Because for me historical elitism means those who have the most historical correct made clothing or knowledge of historical garment and customs.
Shackleton and some of his crew climbed over the island they landed on in the Antarctic with their gear. A couple of modern climbers with modern gear had a struggle doing the same thing.
At 6:43 the video also shows why the skirt part over the pants helps to keep you warm as some of the snow you sit on stucked to the back of the skirt part and your body heat slowly warming your pants and then the skirt part melted the sticking snow just enough to make it fall off before it can soak fully through.
Thank you for this very informative video.
Great observation!
=) Kenton
It is very interesting to find someone else who sees the value in applying ancient clothing into a functional context, rather than just as "costume".
This is part of our reason for wearing these garments as well, but in addition, the rectangular shape of the tunic is very economical for us, since we spin and weave much of our own cloth. The shape of the finished garment is not far from as it came off the loom.
A benefit of this clothing that I hadn't thought of! That is wonderful that you are making your own cloth! We need to keep these skills alive.
=) Kenton
Dane here. Your pronunciation is pretty much spot on :)
Thanks!
=) Kenton
I'm a tailor/costumer and I've made a few tunics before. I used canvas for the outer layer and a silky synthetic for the inner. I put slits up each side so the legs are not constricted. These were medieval style with decorative trim and multi colored, but they were very warm and functional too. My buddy and I were camping at an SCA event in the winter and we got soaked in the rain. We both changed into our dry tunics as night fell and the temp dropped. We were both amazed at the comfort and warmth of these garments, having never field tested them before. This is making me want to make a survival tunic out of wool with gear pockets and a padded waterproof butt, hah!
That's an awesome idea for a survival tunic. So cool that you were able to test your tunics in real conditions. They really do retain heat well, don't they?
=) Kenton
Prepared Survivalist if you start making these I'd like to buy
Especially a waterproof but.
Make it with waterproof knee pads as well. Meaning put canvas on the knees so when you have to kneel down they'll be waterproof and put rubber pads in the knees like 5.11 Tactical pants. Your garment sounds amazing
You can use patches of rubberized fabric for the butt area, and even add quilted cotton padding as a middle layer for added comfort. Tunics typically aren't long enough that you'd be able to tuck them under your knees when knelt over. But I suppose you could make a purpose-built one and have only the front flap extra long and have the whole bottom section reinforced with waterproof material and padding. Might look a little odd, but it would be super functional.
I have never considered this. But I am now.
I made a capote from a wool blanket many years ago, and have had a number of people want to buy it from me. Very warm.
The kjortël seems very similar.
Thanks for the inspiration
Similar indeed! Those long wool garments are incredibly warm.
=) Kenton
I just went to that website. The upper piece can be found at the Home page by clicking on 'Struthättor'. The long thing is the 'strut', and he used it correctly. The page translates 'kjortel' as 'robe' but it must be cognate with 'kirtle'. The kjortel goes for 890 kroner and the struthätten for 390 kroner (both in wool). So $152.35 for the set plus shipping. Not bad for handcrafted wool.
Craig, thanks for looking this up! Could I post this information in the description for anyone who would be interested?
=) Kenton
I would say another advantage to this outfit is that it would be more quiet walking thru the forest then a modern snow jacket. I’ve been snowboarding a long time and I’ve always noticed how much noise cold weather clothing could make.
Definitely -- much quieter than the modern stuff! Good observation Andy!
=) Kenton
Love tunics. As a Shepherd I love hearing that you enjoy wool
Nice!!!
I had made a set for my family, went the Norse direction for the hood style though (has no tail), and we wear them in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism).
What I love about participating in the camping events in the SCA is that we are actively engaging in experimental archaeology and so get to field test our equipment all the time, and slowly learn what works and does not and gradually improve the performance of our gear.
One interesting thing that we have learned that most people are disinclined to even try, is wearing wool socks in summer. It is amazingly comfortable because it wicks away moisture. And this summer I discovered that it humidity does not get to me if I am wearing wool garments (no sticky icky sensation on your skin). Some people even wear full woolen garments all year round for this reason.
I like to do axe throwing and need closed toed shoes anyway, so wearing wool with it keeps things comfy and especially so in edge season camping - when most people are left with cold feet, I have no need to suffer or seek out a change of footwear.
Nice! You speak from actual experience, which is always appreciated!
=) Kenton
I'm with you 100% on the wool socks in summer. Spent years wearing "work" socks and ending the day with soggy, wet, feet. A couple of years ago I bought some ex-Dutch Army woolen socks and haven't looked back. Hard-wearing (I'm in boots for 10 hours a day, 5 days a week), and they keep my feet comfortable in all weathers!
It's so great to hear you say these things. I've been recreating old Scandinavian garb for about two years now. It's so functional and comfortable. Thank you!
Thanks for keeping this clothing alive, Robert!! =)
Nice effort, havent seen any of your other videos however it's lovely to see you a) being sceptical and just as importantly b) not dismissing something without giving it a go. I appreciate your gentle and unvulgur attitude and tounge. If getting wet in the cold is an issue, if you can get your hands on some wool that has been bushed and spun without having the oil processed out of it, (sorry this usually means either its expensive or you have to do it yourself) it can help a great deal with keeping dry. If a garment is too much, even a square of material like this makes an excelent blanket that doubles as a cloak if you have a brooch or pin.
Thanks much! I'm glad you l like my approach. I haven't been able to experience the unprocessed wool, but I hear it's amazing.
=) Kenton
Apologies, typos: *attitude and tongue,
*brushed and spun.
Now you really look more like a Forest Monk:) I love your videos...you bring me a tremendous amount of motivation and encouragement, I hope you have a wonderful day.-Austin
Thanks Austin! I love your fox, by the way -- in the "old days", my woods-name was "Red Fox".
=) Kenton
That's fantastic. I imagine a merry band of wondering minstrels LOL - The separate "hood" is nice. Take the brunt of snow and light rain and removable to dry keeping the rest of the funky outfit on lol
Absolutely! The removable hood really has been a benefit -- especially when someone in our party is cold, and I can take it off and give it to them for a while . . .
=) Kenton
I'm from Norway and i can tell you that its pronounced something like : "Shoortel " almost like you would say "shoot" but with an R in there and an "EL" at the end , "Shoortel"
That's what my friend Olof from Sweden told me, too!
=) Kenton
I'm learning Norwegian. I thought the correct pronuncation was "sh" for kj?
I looked it up and the IPA pronuncation includes "ç" I'm not sure what that is.
many english dialects have something like a sh sound at the beginning of "human". I think thats what kj/ch is supposed to sound like.
I've never heard of such dialects.
Listen to these: www.dict.cc/?s=human. Both Lime and canofcider do it.
Thanks for the compliment on the burl pipe. Man that stuff is hard. Stem is common reed. Love your channel. Have a happy and safe new year...
Such beautiful wood! Difficult to work, but well worth the effort!
=) Kenton
Great channel.. this has been my introduction to it. All I can say is “thank you!” for making such inspirational content!
Thank you! I hope you find the rest of the videos equally inspirational!
=) Kenton
that looks so warm and cosy im really thinking about buying one
I've just loved it. If you can make or buy one, I'd definitely recommend it!
=) Kenton
Like others here I'm in the SCA and I've often gone camping and wear this type of very comfortable and practical clothing. In addition to what others have said I wanted to add that a lightweight linen hood is great in the summer to protect the head neck and shoulders from the the hot sun.
Great thought! I haven't actually tried clothes of this nature in the summer (I'm usually running around half-naked =), but this is such a great idea!
Not unlike a modern hunting coat or shop coat. I see the genesis. I use a long machinists shop coat with 4 pockets the same way. You have a kind, gentlemanly manner about you that is sorely missing in today's world. Thanks!
I had never thought of the similarity to a machinists coat! And thanks for your kind words. That means a lot.
=) Kenton
I agree old school clothing had more function and form. I work outside in the northeast and I swear to use a cape with your rain gear and wool base layer as well as merino wool sock .
You know, those wool socks are the best -- nothing like them. Pretty cool that you're using old school clothing when you work!
=) Kenton
Peter Kuris function of capes, elaborate
Great video! I've worn this fashion often when medieval camping and love it. Here are some uses of the tail of the hood (called a liripipe). Tying the cowl closed
Tuck the pipe in your belt to hold the hood down when not in use
Storing small items
Handy leash on small children
Looking awesome
Ha! A leash for small children! That's great!
=) Kenton
Interesting point you made at the end, about clothing having power on our mind. Reminded me of a blog post on totem animals (a bit lengthy for a youtube comment..) :
"(...)Today we might laugh when we see such ‘superstitions’, but at the same time we are still completely dominated by the same ‘superstitions’. The same totemic ideas penetrate all layers of society. We live by the idea that we gain some sort of life force, protective force, or other force, from using or surrounding ourselves with certain brands, symbols or even bits and pieces of others whom we think highly of.
By driving a car of a certain brand you gain some sort of force: by wearing the clothes of a certain brand you gain some sort of force: by wearing a certain symbol you gain some sort of force: by putting on a t-shirt with a certain band name on it, you gain some sort of force, etc. You somehow feel that you become what the brand is associated with, you gain the force symbolized by the symbol, you become a part of the band whose shirt you wear, etc.
You can always ridicule others who do this, who buy expensive cars of certain brands because they feel better in them, who need to wear clothes of this or that brand, who wears a Thor’s hammer or a crucifix around the neck, who want the signature from artists they appreciate, etc., but the truth is: on some level we all do this. This is how we are built. This is what we are. This is deeply rooted in our human nature. And there is nothing wrong with our nature!
Whether we like to admit it or not, we all believe in sorcery. We don’t always understand that we do, but we do. Rather than fight, ignore or ridicule this ‘sorcery’, we should embrace and celebrate it, and try to learn more about it, for the betterment of our species."
That's some good wisdom there. As the author points out, many people can criticize others for doing this, yet it's pretty universal. If it's not clothing, it's some label that we put on ourselves. Whatever the case, we're using something "external" to reinforce our self-image. I like that the author doesn't say it's wrong -- I think the key is that if we're conscious of the process, we can use it wisely -- if not, others will use it to shape and mold us into their own images. It really is like magic!
=) Kenton
You ever so slightly touch upon something that that the ancient germanic peoples called "Hámr". Today "apearance" is very simple, but to the ancient germanics, it wasn't. and they had TWO of them. One was how your "lík/lich" (physical body) looked, which is what we still use today, and the other one was your "hámr" which was both the apearance of your lich as well as the apearance of you "soul" (for lack of a better word). I describe Hámr as the external of your internal.
Many of the old gods for example, were shape changers, and what they could change was their Hámr. The idea was that people who were "shapestrong" (hámrammr) could change their "apearance" in such a way that they changed into a different form, without actually looking any different.
This is also what i experience whith regards to clothing. to explain what clothing CAN do to a person, i think i is best tolet the ancient texts do the talking. Here is a piece about Odin changing chape:
"When sitting among his friends his (Odin's) countenance was so beautiful and dignified, that the spirits of all were exhilarated by it, but when he was in war he appeared dreadful to his foes. This arose from his being able to change his skin and form in any way he liked."
In our simplified modern times, we use clothing to achieve a similar, though very watered down effect. Dressing is a sort of Ritual that changes our Hámr so that we may apprach a situation differently. I think this is also what Kenton experiences when he goes back to the most simplistic form. him not wearing clothing is the same thing: Its a sort of ritual where he makes his "hamr" take on the form of whatever is beneficial to him at that time.
to I can also see a "shapechange" in the "hámr" of my wolfdog hybrid. He changes back and forth from a naive, playful, infantile, dog, to a serious, intence wild wolf according to what situation he is in. In fact, it was my wolfdog that actually showed me what the "hámr" concept actually meant.
Long story, i know, but i just love explainging this :P
Anything you identify with will have influence over you. Identify with nothing and nothing will move you.
How do you perceive and thus relate also makes a difference. You can talk about the facade of this world.. clothes, cars, tattoos, symbols, artifacts.. but distill them further and you find it's a play of colors, forms and shapes of various lengths and angles in varying relations to each other... or even further everything blurs and becomes vibrations of many degrees... haven't gone beyond that tho'. Each level of perception is useful in its own way.
What perceptional shifts taught me is - there is a distinct difference between _you_ and persona/character _you_ wear in this world and identify with. Persona is inherently flawed because it's a mere accumulation of body, thoughts, experiences, labels, and that is never complete unless you'd become all things in the existence. But _you_ are already a complete cosmic being.
There's much more than meets the eye...
Look with your eyes and the world is what you'll see.
Look with your mind and its mechanisms will be unveiled to you.
Look with your heart and you'll know the existence and _you_ .
Perkele Wow, that's deep! This deserves 1,100 likes instead of just 11.
And I love that you've taken the time to share this with us! It's always interesting to see when a culture recognizes an aspect of the world and gives it a name -- then it become "real" to us. You've given us Hámr and lík/lich, and expanded our world in doing so!
=) Kenton
I love the hood! That thing is insane. Looks so badass.
Ha! Glad you think so!
=) Kenton
When you're at the part wondering about the bit on the hood, what you used it for is EXACTLY what it is there for. My parents were both big into the SCA(Society For Creative Activism) growing up. More so my dad, he is a pretty big medieval history buff and I recall him doing a few demonstrations of medieval garments for people before and that was one of them.
Wow -- so great to hear that I got it intuitively! That must have been pretty cool to have parents who were in the SCA.
=) Kenton
“What we wear has a power on our mind. “. Powerful statement. And so true. Great video.
Thanks much!
=) Kenton
Maybe someone already mentioned this, but the long tail is called a liripipe, and while it was mostly decorative, the use you demonstrated was also exactly what they did. I thought I heard somewhere that it was a place to carry coin, too, while traveling, but I cannot find any information to confirm this.
I have indeed heard this Carol. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
=) Kenton
Mediaeval law allowed peasants to carry home nuts they found, limited by the capacity of their hoods. So if you just happen to have a really large (long, distendible hood) then you can "win" a vast number of nuts - lawfully. Keep knitting
In Swedish it’s called struthätta, an other English name is gugel.
I would not carry currency in such a hood, it is much too easy for any competent thief with a knife.
Until fairly recently, clothes did not have pockets, so especially if you were a peasant who rarely carries coin - and so probably have no special coin pouch ready - you would need to improvise.
I do Viking reenactment and wear the clothing very regularly as I too find I can tune into my environment easier in old clothing of my ancestors. I also find most of the clothing very practical!
So good to hear from people who wear these clothes! It really does create a feeling of connection with the environment, doesn't it?
=) Kenton
You forgot to mention how beautiful the tunic is :P
=)
Awesome!!! I'm so glad you had one made! May it see you through many adventures!
=) Kenton
thanks for sharing! i like what you said about how clothing plays a role in our lives and mindsets.
Thanks! As for the clothing playing a role in our mindsets, that's something I hope all these videos hint at -- that there are many unseen things in our lives that have powerful effects upon us, and if we can become conscious of them, we can begin to enact real change in our lives. I'm glad you saw that in this video!
=) Kenton
They have recently dug a tunic like this up from the norwegian glacier. it's from the early medieval period. (500 CE, i think) It was still intact, made from wool, and had a beautiful diamond patern.I'm a early medieval (viking) reenactor and this is the standart tunic everybody wears. It's incredibly simple and very easy to make, but it still looks awesome, is warm, and easy to fix. love it.
Fascinating! They have indeed been around for a very long time, then! Thanks for this additional information!
=) Kenton
I love tunics, vest or jackets that go past my waist, and also found it really cuts down on heat loss. The gap between the shirt and pants really lets in the wind 😄 Also snow, dirt or bark can fall down the pants when I'm in the woods. The overlapp is really great, multi functional. I had guessed they went out of style because of inhibited movement, but I too find it's not really that limiting, and definitely worth it for the benefits.
Cool to see that trick with the hood, I never knew what the tassel was for either 😄 I think I will need to start wearing one of those. Seems it is even more practical than I realized. Definitely nice to have a single fitted garment over having to wrap and arrange a scarf that can sometimes not behave the way I need it to, especially in the wind.
I'm right with you in regards to the tunic. Warm! And it's been fun to read through the comments and see how many people gave info on that long tassel. I didn't know it was so multi-functional either!
Awesome piece of clothing, indeed ! I love the color, fits you well.
I'm also glad to hear about the energy in the way we dress, I usually wear a turban (almost the same green as your Kjortel !) and was amazed of how good it was at keeping my ears warm and cozy while traveling down the roads in the winter (aside of the energy it gives and radiates) :)
Take care, Kenton ! :)
I am a real believer in the power of clothing. Perhaps my favorite is the loincloth -- it makes me feel truly wild!
=) Kenton
Loincloth and ashes ! :) I wonder if I'd have problems if I go to the supermarket wearing one.. haha !
This is one of the reasons I like LARPing here in the Netherlands. The main one I went to for 10+ years didn't have electricity for anything but the organization. And no housing either. So we had to make do with tents, layers of clothing to keep warm, campfires, and other such things. To me it feels great to go 'back to basics' to some extend. And I too noticed that medieval designed clothing is actually very practical and warm when needed if you're outside 24/7. (or at least don't have modern heating)
Tunics are comfortable, not too warm when it's warm, and warm enough when it's cold. Those hoods give more warmth than I first thought, especially when you have it over your head. Cloaks are amazing for warmth too, as they can cover your entire body rather than just your torso and arms. And not having such thick soles on your shoes walks more comfortably in the forest or on grass than with modern shoes.
You've used this sort of clothing outdoors! Awesome! It really does function well, doesn't it? I'd agree about cloaks -- I love them!
=) Kenton
Did a little research. And the word itself helps define why the garment is the way it is. Kjortel translates from Swedish as skirt. So this separates it from 'just' a tunic to a 'skirted tunic', which makes since. Also, google translate says you've got the pronunciation pretty close. A similar tunic was found in the melting glacier of Leenbreen in 2011. It is believed to be from 300AD,so 1700 yrsold. As for the tail on the hood, I think you have that right,also. I've drawings of the hood cinched uptight like that,but no clear way of how,but it looks right.
Thanks for doing that research, Kathryn! I hadn't heard of that one found in the glacier. Amazing how ice can preserve things . . .
=) Kenton
kjortel from kjörtel ; "kj" is pronounced "sh" in Swedish... I think "shirtel" as you said at the end is accurate. Origin of "shirt" ... and "skirt" )))
Second this, I like in Norway and the Kj is pronounced Sh
Huva = Hood
The arms should have 12" cuffs so it makes a muffler when cold or sleeping. No gloves in them days. Also the belt has a kind of half blanket looped over the back. Hip wide (16"/20") and 2 1/2 times as long. Made of felt or rough wool. When looped over you sit on it doubled up, at night you sleep on it. Your blanket is carried rolled like a sash.
Kenton ,Ive been trying to find something like this ( hand made in wool) with no luck, then I see this . You're Awesome ! Thanks
Perfect! So glad it came at the right time!!
=) Kenton
looks nice and is functional, reminds me of Robin Hood - lets explore Sherwood Forrest!
Right on!
=) Kenton
Yes, very Anglo-Saxon though the lichen dyes would have made the green more like US army Drab.
The atomic frequency measurement of linen fabric measures 5,000!
The frequency of wool measures 5,000
The frequency of cotton measures 40 & organic unbleached cotton measures 100, which are not healing materials, but they don’t harm the health.
Silk fabric only measures 10 units of energy, which would fail to support health in the human body.
Rayon (wood & bamboo fiber) measures at a 15 signature frequency.
Plastic materials such as polyester, acrylic, spandex, lycra, viscose and nylon measure zero.
I believe this is why you feel so good with the wool on. I bet if you wore wool underoo’s you would be in perfect alignment... yet you would also need wool boots!!!
I would love to see what your body energy measures wearing this outfit with no other fabrics or materials...
Very interesting. Bless your friend. He is a good man for sharing this with you! My husband loves this! Blessings!
Interesting! I hadn't heard of this before! I must say I've always felt that the fabrics we wear do have health impacts upon us!
I need one. Be blessed my wonderful friend
Magus, my friend, I think it would fit your personality quite nicely =) I am still loving your videos . . .
=) Kenton
it's nice to see someone else wearing one they are greatly overlooked I was introduced to mine in reenactment and fell in love with them
I think you can also get coats like this, after all it's a precursor of coats. That way you could better regulate the isolation (open it, or even wear it like a coat) and it might have pockets too. The hood is really practical on its own. It's heavy, but behaves completely different from modern hoods. First off, they better stay in place, are less noisy in rain and feel more natural.
I do like heavy cloth like this and leather, but keep in mind that they won't fold up to a neat little package and that such clothing really weights something (to the point that it can break cheap hooks). It gets even worse when it gets soaked and it takes a long time to dry. On the plus side, these textiles give you also some protection against cuts, thorns etc.
How mutch has it cost, is it water proof, I have warm winter clothing,with multiple useful pockets, water resistant ,modern light material, witch is breathable, and doesn't make me look like a middle age eccentric who needs to draw attention to myself.
John Tunnicliffe if you found something that works for you, then you're in luck. I struggled hard to find a coat that covers enough of my body to keep me dry and it came without a hood. Most modern hoods are no good and the functional material only breathable on paper and the water repellent coating wears off fast.
An excellent and informative presentation. Thank you
Thank you!
=) Kenton
Robin Hood!! Haha! I've been thinking about ideal wool winter wear I have a wool vintage "flannel" style shirt, and it's great but not perfect for real woods time. I think the tunic is the ideal item, and the length, I agree, is a key feature.
The hood on this is interesting and looks super functional. I was thinking about making some wool goods but wool is not cheap!
One of these days.... :D :D
As always be well my friend! ~Mike
Making your own would be so awesome! I know your crafting skills would do a kjortel justice!
=) Kenton
Right on with the tunic etc. observations. Function has always been a place I've disconnected with fashion from. This month I've been patching up a knee length heavy wool cagoule my Mom made for me back around 1979. "Kid's be free. Do what you want to do. Be what you want to be. Just as long as you don't hurt anybody." Rock Musical: "Hair".
Beautiful, Oliver. Those are words to live by.
=) Kenton
Thank you for sharing this Kenton. Very cool piece of clothing! -Mark
Thanks Mark! Glad you like it!
=) Kenton
Oh hi mark
really great and valid points you make =) at this time of the year i wear my woolen tunic for basically everything i do in the garden, forest or forge, and it's true - it really is the most practical piece of clothing to have for these activities =) and one more point: it is definitely worth trying to make one yourself - not only because of the challenge of it but also because you learn a lot about the value of a piece of equipment that will serve you well if you tend to it well =) Cheers!
Lars, you use it in the forge as well! Fascinating! I've found that around the campfire it is largely spark-proof, but does that extend to the kind of sparks you get while at the forge?
=) Kenton
Hello Kenton! Yes, a few sparks and a little bit of scale here and there are no problem at all, and unless you are doing heavy forgewelding there is seldomly more than just that =) But for general protection (both of your garment and the person inside ;D ) a simple leather apron is always a good idea - and i have not yet managed to set that on fire ;) Cheers!
Love it. However I live in Australia so dealing with cold isn't a problem, its the 45 Celsius days that is the problem.
Ah, quite the opposite of our weather, I suppose!
=) Kenton
wool is exelent for venting heat its perfect for warm climates too. The desert peoples whos not black use wool
Feffnirsbane wool ? Ok. Love to learn new stuff. I had thought a light cotton. But i guess it makes sense with the freezing nights.
Hi thorshammer,for hot environment try linnen light weight ample cut with pretty open woven fabric it s perfect to ventilate and stay "less hot " choose light color like sand avoid black fabric and a large woven hat to shade yourself a little and especially when it's super hot drink water ,I mean a lot (between 1and 2 gallons a day ) .I live in France in the south east coast it can be 40+°c in summer and between 5 to minus 20°c in winter depending of elevation ( Alps mountain chain pretty close ) . best regards to you in Australia.
Stef M Thanks mate.
Looking good brother!! Superb choice for camo color! And well spoken as always.. / P
Thank you my dear friend. Ever grateful =)
With love,
Kenton
The link here shows a standard clothing item in New Zealand that's as common as belly buttons and has been for over a hundred years.... www.swanndri.co.nz/bushshirts/SSD0103/Swanndri-Men's-Original-Wool-Bushshirt-with-Lace-up-front.html
It's roots look to stem from the Kjortel and if not, it's a pretty amazing piece of convergent design evolution.
Indeed! Such a similarity! I do wonder if it has kjortel roots or not. Mary left a comment suggesting a similarity between the kjortel and Inuit Anoraks. So I wonder if it's convergent design evolution . . . that long skirt makes real sense in the cold.
=) Kenton
let me just add... people trying to emulate crossings (of 'Norsemen') to Greenland and the Americas have learned that the 'organic' clothing of the Norsemen in no ways fails in comparison to the most modern sailing clothing.
love it...
Biggest 23 - I've had a Swanndri Bush Shirt from New Zealand for many years now and it's a great bit of kit, indeed I have one in green and another in navy blue. They are warm and yet very breathable and have a tight enough weave to shed some light rain and showers. Very traditional look that I have worn at Medieval Fairs here in Germany, much like the kjortel.
First thing I thought of when I started watching this, a medieval Swanni. Good onya mate.
Skirted tunics are really nice and with a hood and mantle like yours they are very versatile. The hood would also be worn by putting the crown of your head through the face opening and using the tail to wrap up and secure the rest of the fabric on top of your head. Whenever you see a depiction of someone in the middle ages wearing a turban looking head wrap its just a reconfigured hood and mantle.
Thanks for the info, Richard!
=) Kenton
Even my pants are very tightly woven heavyweight wool. Wool is cool in the summer warm in the winter.
Absolutely -- wool rocks =)
swimming pants made of wool in 50s made you sink till learned to swim.
gerard collins i remember my Dad having those wool swimming trunks. I vaguely remember them but it was in the 1950's when my discoveries about wool and warmth were made. The keeping you cool wasn't discovered until I was a teenager in the 1960's. Wool keeps you warm even when it's wet too.
If you don't wear wool underwear then you're just a poser. And I don't mean that silky Merino stuff either.
Slappy Bite me. Poser? Go pound sand. I've been wearing wool all of my life. Take your insulting bullshit elsewhere. I am almost 69 years old and back in the 1950's wool wasn't "miracle wool" like some of the examples of today. Your comment is obviously meant to be insulting so I will just mute your bullshit.
I love it. :) I think that my husband would appreciate something like this. I myself love the simplicity and practicality of the clothing from the medieval times.
Me too. Without being filled with zippers and pull-strings, it somehow functions just fine -- even better, in my opinion! Go medieval!
=) Kenton
Watching u I couldn’t help thinking of Legolas from Lord of the Rings. Nice outfit!
Ha! Thanks, my friends!
=) Kenton
Thanks for taking the time, i love outdoors, survival and found your channel very educative, greetings from Colombia in south America
Thank you Cesar! It's great to connect with fellow lovers of survival and the outdoors! Greetings back from Wisconsin, USA!
=) Kenton
That's what that tail is for ! They're great pieces of gear as I know it the tunic is pre Roman times the Egyptian horse men wore them , Scotts wore them horseman all known by different names but same theory ledger says that it was to warm to date pants over there and cloth was for royalty hacking not much it's the best they could make also! Ease of movement ! As I know ? I think that's the first blade iv ever seen on you ! Take care brother
I got it right! Thanks for sharing this, my friend!
=) Kenton
You pronounced it perfectly. Best regards from Denmark. :-)
Thank you Jens, and regards back from Wisconsin, USA!
=) Kenton
Just because we now have all this modern technology doesn't mean we get things right or make better garments. Our ancestors new a thing or two they had to or we'd not be here, in the medieval paints you'll see this type of garment being worn by the peasants farmers and as during those times the winters and the weather in general was much colder they had to know how to keep as warm as possible. Things change over time obviously though not always for the better. To me it looks like a great piece of outdoor clothing, and I have to say it looked good on you, though that's not a good reason to wear it, I just though I'd mention it lol
I agree completely! It's been interesting to hear so many people praising the benefits of wool here. And thanks for that compliment! It's appreciated!
=) Kenton
i think this is a outdoor working man's garment. for the colder climates of course
That is a very well made garment. I wore and loved a similar tunic for many years. It was hand made by a woman I lived with from a wool army blanket, though not like those I see today. That one was a slightly looser weave, thicker, and more flexible. Mine was about the length if yours but with wider sleeves and no hood. A separate hooded cowl like you show would have been excellent, but that was in the early 1970s, and it would have attracted a lot of attention. The larger sleeves had the advantage of being able to put my hands into the opposite sleeve for warmth, but that width also meant quite a bit of heat loss. I wore a belt around this tunic, and I kept two leather thongs tucked into it to wrap the forearms and tighten the sleeves when needed. It was a GREAT garment, and now I am inspired to acquire another. It was on my list, as I am getting back into traditional (primitive) trekking and camping.
I also notice you appear to carry a short bladed machete. This is my constant when in the outdoors and especially the back country. My favorite is a Cold Steel 12" Spearpoint machete, now unfortunately out if production, or a Kershaw Camp 14, a 14" Mn65 bladed machete with more of a cutlass-machete hybrid blade shape. I prefer the Spearpoint for my large field knife, as it is a bit lighter than the Camp 14. Both are great tools when coupled with a smaller fixed blade (or even larger folding) knife. I have been a knife dealer, the largest portion of my outdoors-survival equipment business, so I can carry pretty much any edged tools I want. My kit almost always includes the 12" (or 14") machete, a 5" (to 7") fixed blade belt knife, and a lightweight axe, usually a bearded Norse (aka Viking) style. The larger bearded blade has many uses besides chopping when holding the haft (handle) behind the blade's beard and using as a skinning or carving tool or as an ulu. A frog on the back of my shoulder bag keeps the axe handy and the blade in a safe location without a separate blade cover. Traditional kit is often far more serviceable than much of our modern-made equipment, and as you pointed out, it tends to draw our minds and spirits to another time many people seem to find both familiar and comfortable.
Thanks for sharing all of this. It was fun to hear about your kit, especially the knives. You were are knife dealer! That must have been a blast!
=) Kenton
If it's a Swedish word, that kj diphthong is kinda pronounced like "shh" in english. Kinda. so it would be sort of like "shor-tel" If its a Danish word... well good luck with that.
Thanks much!
=) Kenton
In Danish it's pronounced more like kjor-del. The 'd' sound is similar to that in the words dog, duck, deck.
As for the liripipe on your hood they were used as you illustrated. But also to symbolize wealth or even to store coins
HE SAID IT CORRECTLY.
Faen ta danmark! xD
I have several cloaks, for all the same reasons. The only thing they lack is the super long hood. I may have to incorporate that into my next cloak. That's a nice feature.
Thanks for sharing!
Cloaks! I love them! What a versatile piece of clothing.
=) Kenton
Cool stuff , looks exactly like old medieval farmer tunique around 1200 AC period , in europe at least (France, England ,Scottland ....) personnaly i prefer a good alpaca wool bolivian pancho with hood fonctionnal as well and can also be used as blanquet or be used by 2 person and then share body heat in really cold weather .and alpaca wool is one of the warmest wool you can find anywhere! I also much more choice in color and pattern design . But your kjortel is awesome and the color are really tuned for forest environment ,stealthy !
I am going to look at the site you gave for the kjortel to see more of them , fun stuff to make an historic reconstitution as a game or event with a kind of old village life with blacksmith guy , bread cooking in earth oven, basquet weaving , clothe making ......
I'm a fan of those ponchos too! I have a couple that I've found at thrift stores . . .
=) Kenton
I have one without a hood. It's a fantastic price of gear.
I commented above about my new found fondness for the wool poncho I'm glad I'm not alone to appreciate their usefulness.
Stef M v
Stef M
Alpaca 4 less (dot) com
Is where I get my alpaca stuff. I have several blankets, hats, scarves.....
Nice and warm, I have been thinking about cutting one of the blankets up for a “blanket shirt.” I suppose a few extra inches at the bottom makes sense as it warms privates and upper legs...
I have a couple of these in different fabrics. There is truly nothing in the world like real wool for cold wet weather! I'm equally in love with my real flax linen tunic for working in summer- it keeps my extremely sensitive skin from burning but allows me to stay cool. Wool and linen are both hard wearing materials that will last for many years if properly cared for, which is a definite bonus. :) Great video!
Hi Lynn,
I have a lot of experience with wool, but less with linen. It sounds like I'll have to find a summer kjortel to try as well!
=) Kenton
Im getting one
I don't think you'll be sorry. Each year I wear it more. People in the woods sometimes give me a strange look at first, but they soon want their own . . . it's so warm and functional.
=) Kenton
Having spent a lot of time in medieval re-enactment (SCA, if it matters), the t-tunic is a garment with a long, long, long history. Since it can be made with three squares and a few triangles, the pattern is dead simple, and super functional.
The lyre-pipe (the long tail on your hood) functions as a scarf, but since it's hollow, it's also a handy container. I used to carry spare change, car keys, a bit of lunch and a few other odds and ends in mine. It's not _quite_ as handy as keeping stuff in a belt pouch, but it's still pretty convenient, and it's hard to lose things out of.
Add a cloak and you've got a super nice outdoor cold weather set up.
Carl, thanks for sharing this info -- it's great to hear from people who have worn these sorts of clothes!
=) Kenton
earth mage
Great compliment =)
Dude I know its not for fashion, but you look freaking awesome
Ha! Thanks!!!
=) Kenton
Great for the woods and Monasteries but not so much a hit in town. But who knows give it time.
Ha! I actually haven't tried wearing it into town yet. I think you just gave me a great idea to try it . . .
=) Kenton
I live in rural northeastern calif. i couldnt give a care what others think... its why i spend a lot of time alone in nature... for some, i guess its harder to deal with the thoughts and responses of others.
Love it there. Spent time stationed there at the MWTC Sonora pass.
Looks like you're back in the medieval days and thank you for the share
Thank YOU for taking the time to comment! That was a cool compliment =)
Roots,
Kenton
Here is another way to use the 'tail' on the hood- ruclips.net/video/XK0T8mQiSTI/видео.html
Awesome! And it's even a video by urda, who makes this one!
=) Kenton
Cool as heck. Thanks for sharing. The older I get, the more I appreciate the older ways.
Me too, William. Me too.
=) Kenton
Extra long things in medieval cloting was just to show of that people were rich and they could afford to waste.
I didn't know that! If so, it unwittingly created a garment that, in modern times, we're using to great effect in the woods! Cool how history works . . .
=) Kenton
The length of the tunic is functional. The extra long stuff the royalty would wear dragged behind them and they had servants carry it.
I sincerely doubt any clothing (except maybe for royalty) was made for anything but functionality in mind, especially these simpler style clothes. The reason this is long is because of heat conservation, wool is a winter type clothing, and something that goes a fair deal over the pants helps to keep your back warm and thus keep you warmer. Another reason why they might be so long is that (for the traveler specifically) this garment can more easily be turned into a backpack/sling making it a functional piece of kit even during the summertime.
I have heard that the tassels on native jackets were there to wick the water out of the seam. Perhaps the tail pulls the water out of the hat in a rainstorm and helps keep the head dry or at least warmer? Might be a fun experament to test that hypothesis.
I think that applies to the endless cloak mantles and similar robes. I'm from Europe and we were forced in every medieval museum in my country of origins and have been to many cloisters and churches in various other countries. This is a look of a peasant, not a royalty.
I'm not shocked by how effective they are. They're designed for people who spent most of their time outdoors doing manual labor in a colder climate. Plus they didn't have fancy insulation and central heating back then. Just fire and mud huts. Warm cloths were essential.
It also served to protect the skin out in the fields and is designed to be manual labor friendly so it won't get in the way. Because peasants/working class did a lot of manual labor.
Great for winterwear as well as reenactment. :D And yes that long thingy was indeed meant to be used as a scarf/hood secure mechanism/ heat trap. :D
What a good point, Laura -- I've since learned from many an adventurer that in different lands, they often adopt the native garments, which are often much more functional than our modern day gear =)
You have a very nice and pure charisma. I like this for a human being very much. The world needs that. Thank you, God bless, greatings from Germany :-)
Thank you for your kind words, and God bless you as well, Isabell!
=) Kenton
I do a lot of historical reenactment, and this is standard clothing for the dark and middle ages throughout most of Europe. The long point of the hood can be used as a scarf as you show but also can be used as a pouch. The long pointy hoods were popular in the 15th century. You can also roll the hood into a "chaperone" hat. The tunic (this style is also called a kirtle or gown) can be made even longer, with slits of gores to allow for movement. They were made in wool but also (possibly even more often) from linen and could be almost ankle length. The linen ones are quite comfortable and great in warmer weather.
Thanks for all the info Brian!
=) Kenton
I have a linen tunic that I wear with my greatkilt, and it's wonderful for hiking in the summer. I think I'll have to invest in one of these tunics as well for added warmth in these cold Alaskan winters.
Nice, David! It will serve you well when the winter winds blow . . .
=) Kenton
Once heard a guy at a medieval market say that back in the day, the old tail on the hat was used as a purse, since you could feel the weight on your head, you would notice if anyone was touching it. Could also come in handy as a makeshift club should the need arise.
I've heard this as well! Pretty cool . . .
=) Kenton
I love the outdoors! Nothing like spending a few nights in the woods. We live awfully sheltered lives. It's nice to get back to it once in a while.
Yes it is!
=) Kenton
The long tail was used for EXACTLY what you used it for. Just goes to show the subtle ingenuity of people back then.
It does! That I could figure it out intuitively does indeed speak to the wisdom of those old designers, doesn't it?
=) Kenton
Fantastic. I now want one of these, and you have also been added to my go-to list for book research. You are a fount of great information and knowledge. Great video, and you are so laid back and down to earth. Thank you!
What a compliment, Geanie! Thank you! I do hope I can live up to your kind words =)
Roots,
Kenton
Your pronunciation of kjortel is perfect! And yep, that is what the hood's tail, the snood, is for. Though you can also wrap it around the top of your head and hood, to keep it on when it is windy. If you want to improve your wool enjoyment, wear linnen (flax) underneath - that keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter. Basically the type of long sleeved kjortel you wear starts being seen around 300-500 AD in Northern Europe, particularly in Scandinavia. Before then the short sleeved tunic (roman word) was in wear throughout the Roman empire. To the point it brcame the finest thing to wear in the Byzantine empire! The kjortel continued to be worn until the renaissance, ca. 1600 in Scandinavia. And IMHO the wool/linen combination has never been surpassed by modern fabrics.
What a great bit of history! Thank you!
=) Kenton
Thank you so extremely much for helping me find these high quality kjortlar! I have been looking for it for a while and didn't find any. And now I found this video, and they are even from my own country, perfect!!
That's awesome, James! I'm sure you'll love yours as much as I love mine.
=) Kenton
I wear something similar during the colder months. It's a 100% Wool Boreal Shirt by Lester River. It's used to keep warm in the Boreal Forest that rings the Northern Hemisphere. It's all I need to keep warm in Northwest Indiana.
I've heard good things about that shirt! Looks great, too!
=) Kenton
You are pronouncing it correctly. I totally want one.
It really is an amazing piece of clothing!
=) Kenton
And it looks frikken great, brother. :)
Thanks!
=) Kenton
The long part on the back of the hood is called a liripipe. In the Middle Ages, in Europe, one wore ones wealth. This would be both in the form of jewelry and ones clothing. Sometimes there was just more of a garment because you could afford to have more, so you showed it. Though the demonstrated use is practical, period art shows that the extra bit, the pipe, was tucked into the belt at the small of the back. The medieval tunic is a very functional and practical garment. Many of us in the SCA wear and do work most weekends and some weeks every year as part of our practice in the living history pursuits within the Society for Creative Anachronism. We also commonly make our own "garb" of this type, some even carding, spinning and weaving the wool to create the needed fabric. The tunic is not a costume. Millions survived hard won lives through many jobs and professions, for centuries, so attired. From the historical point of view the tunics of the day would have an under garment made most commonly of linen or hemp. The under tunic was constructed much the same and the wool outer garment.
I've come to find that the SCA folks, such as yourself, are highly educated in these matters. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us!
As you say, this isn't a costume. I've found that it's equal to or more functional than any modern garments I've worn in the woods. And as you might imagine, I'm not easy on my clothing =)
-- Kenton
i have a woolen jelaba from Morocco that is similar in many ways. For one, when it rains, the water just runs right off of it. However, this kjortel indeed looks way way better when it comes to being active or actually needing to get some work done.
Thanks, again, bro.
The coolest thing about this video is the comments! People are sharing so many stories of clothing from around the world. I've never heard of a jelaba! I'll have to check it out online!
=) Kenton
That thing looks awesome! I love historical garments. I would totally wear something like that in the woods! then, I would feel like an adventurer, and not just some dude walking in the woods.
Right on! It really does give you a great feeling of adventuring!
=) Kenton
I love your channel sir, enjoy your Thanksgiving.
Thank you Brad! A happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
=) Kenton
I got more into making my own clothes I just got 4 yards of dark green wool to make some replica imperial Russian uniforms from 1810’s-1820’s I made some early ones from cotton but they were too light and- I was still learning to make clothes, but now I just need the motivation to do it- this helped a lot! I always appreciate coming back to your great videos!
That's super exciting! Especially traditional clothing like you're making -- and of wool!
@@ReWildUniversity I always appreciate your amazing work and your inspiring comments! I hope you have a lovely day!
I would like to record that sound of stillness of a forest in the winter. I forgot how much I loved it.
It really is amazing, isn't it? Such soft quiet with the occasional chickadee or raven . . .
=) Kenton
When I was a kid, our boy scout troop was in a very poor area where we lived so we did not have a lot of money. Our scoutmaster got sick of us getting picked on at camps for not having any special badges. One thing we did have was some great donated military grade winter gear. So we did polar bear camping and we were the only troop doing it in Michigan at the time. Was this huge badge. Once we understood how to stay warm it was amazing.
Hi there. I often make and wear these when I go for walks as i do medieval historical reenactment. I have not read the earlier messages but the long part of the hood was called a liripipe. It was a fashion in the 14th century. Normally when travelling a person would wear a kyrtle and wear either hose and braises or trousers and a cloak. The cloak was normally fastened over the right shoulder. Cheers.
Thank you!!
=) Kenton
Regarding the hoods tail,
Its a pocket / pouch meant to store small valuables, like coins and what not. It was originally meant as a utilitarian fashion-choice to ward off pickpockets who bumped in to you and skillfully cut the straps from your money-pouch on the belt or, manage to dip their hands in to any of your bags. The tail of the hood weigh down on your neck and is easily noticable if it gets lighter - making it really hard to tamper with it in order to get to your goodies without you noticing.
Thanks for the info Mattias!
=) Kenton