Making guides

Tudor Tailor printing tool

Ninya demonstrates how to use our specially commissioned handmade tools for carrying out the period technique of embossing permanent designs onto fabric

Tudor hair lacing

Learn how to style a modern haircut for wearing under Tudor headwear.

The full library of Tudor Tailor video tutorials is available on our YouTube channel.

The Tudor Tailor

Since there wasn’t enough room to put everything into The Tudor Tailor that the authors would have ideally liked, it is hoped that this resource will provide useful information to support that which has already been published.

Useful measurements

Currency

A farthing = a quarter penny

1 shilling (1s) = 12 pence (12d)

1 pound (1l, 1li, £1) = 240 pence or 20 shillings

A mark ('money of account') = 13s 4d (2/3 of a £)

Half a mark = 6s 8d (1/3 of a £)

ob = obulu or 1/2 d

d = dimidium or 1/4 d

c16th numerals

1 i

8 viij

60 lx

2 ij

9 ix

70 lxx

3 iij

10 x

80 lxxx

4 iiij

20 xx

90 xc

5 v

30 xxx

100 C

6 vj

40 xl

500 D

7 vij

50 l

1000 M

c16th measurements

A yard = 36 inches

An English cloth yard - 37 inches

A nail - two and a quarter inches or 1/16 yard

English ell - 45 inches (1 1/4 yards)

Scots ell - 37 inches

Flemish ell - 27 inches

di, dim, dimidium = a half

Imperial Female Body Measurements (inches)

Size810121416182022242628
Bust3234363840424446485052
Waist2426283032343638404244
Hip3436384042444648505254
Neck to waist15 ¾1616 ¼16 ½16 ¾1717 ¼17 ½17 ¾18 18 ½