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Recipe for baked ruff a la 1590s

Posted on December 28, 2008 by Trystan
Patterns of Fashion 4 by Janet Arnold

Ingredients:

  • 4 yards cotton or linen, tightly cartridge-pleated
  • 4 yards lace trim*** (optional, but recommended)
  • cotton or linen neckband to fit
  • sturdy thread
  • 2 cups liquid starch
  • 2 cups water
  • metal safety pins

Assemble first four ingredients into ruff. Mix liquids in bowl, and soak ruff in liquid thoroughly. Wring out liquid and let drip-dry for a few hours.

Use safety pins to hang ruff by neckband from oven rack at highest position. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes, or until you smell something burning. Remove mostly-dry ruff.

Serve warm with a side of frizzed hair and pearls.

***Note: Metallic lace may crisp.

Baking really does stiffen the starched fabric, omg, yes. But the metallic lace? Um, obviously has a little plastic in it. Stinky kitchen! The lace curled up a touch, but it’s uncurling as I iron it (I’m about halfway thru). The ironing and setting the figure eights is gonna take for-f-ifng-ever tho!

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Posted in 16th Century | Tags: 1590s ruff, historical research, ruffs |
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