I am going to start working on garb for my family, as we just connected with SCA locally and are so excited...

I think I am going to start with tunics for everyone, then elaborate from there as we create our persona's and such...

but eager for suggestions and guidance. I am hopeful that I can make tunics without a pattern..but wanted ideas on fabric choices.

I suspect that the initial tunics for myself and my daughter will become undergarb for other stuff, so I want it light enough to wear a smock or long apron over..

Just point me in a direction! :)

I dunno if the weather where you're at permits it, but the best thing I ever found for making tunics was heavy cotton gauze. Not the lightweight bubble gauze stuff (that makes pretty chemises but isn't up for much else) but the heavier stuff that's meant for making summerweight women's suits.

For winter/cold spring wear, I used to make tunics out of poly/rayon gabardine. I know you're not supposed to use poly, but for the sort of 'entry level' garb you're talking about, it's really not a bad compromise. It's usually fairly inexpensive, it holds up to a beating (when I was in the SCA I was sewing for two adolescent boys) and it's yummysoft and warm.

For trimming basic tunics, my favorite thing was bands of 100% cotton twill tape (Denver Fabrics (http://www.denverfabrics.com/)sells it in lots of colors, some fabric stores carry it but some only have poly/cotton). It's cheap, it's forgiving to apply, and it's a lot more authentic on a peasant-ish tunic than the beautiful jacquard trims that are so tempting and spendy...

Also, if you're thinking of going to a later-period persona (specifically if you and/or your daughter want to wear those nifty bodices), I have a set of instructions (http://www.tamson.net/costuming/instagarb.pdf) for making up a non-authentic but quick and easy chemise, skirt, and hat set.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

Basic T-Tunics are really very easy. They are, well, a "T". LOL Do you have the Known World Handbook? It gives a rundown of basic garb. If you don't have it, see if someone can loan it to you.

Stick with natural fibers. Linen and silk would have been the fabrics of period but they're very expensive now. So, stick with cotton. Look for things that look more hand woven or are in colors that could have been dyed during your period. No blacks. Black dye was very rare. Stick with more natural looking colors.

Have fun!