Tailors and Seamstresses of Marrach

Page 2 - Introduction
Page 3 - Novice Colors
Page 5 - Apprentice Colors
Page 8 - Senior Apprentice Colors
Page 11 - How to use Base Colors
Page 14 - Festive Wear

Upon reaching the first level of dyeing skill, many find that the colors offered to them are difficult to work with. Even upon learning the next set of dyes, difficulties can continue. But all hope is not lost. Rarely will you be asked to dye a compete outfit for anyone other than a newly awakened (who is often quite happy with beige and brown clothes). Rather, you will find yourself dyeing individual items upon request.

Never the less, I will attempt in these pages to discuss a method of Base colors which might the beginning dyers so that the resulting outfit is pleasing and wearable without approaching gaudy and clashing colors.

Novice level Colors: natural, brown, grey, ochre, olive, beige, tan

As plain as these colors are, you will find as you advance that you will still use these colors the most. Firstly, these are the cheaper dyes in the castle and therefore available to all ranks. Secondly, these colors of some of the main bases for nearly any outfit you might create. Simply summed up, combining a red and green together in an outfit takes a great degree of skill and an eye for color, but combining grey and red is a much easier task.

Novice Base Colors:

Grey: With the stone coloration of the castle, grey is a very common color in the castle as well as a very common color for clothes of all types. Many dyers find that grey is a perfect base color upon which to add more colors. For example, an outfit of grey pants, grey boots, and grey cloak can be quite nicely set off with a red tunic.

Brown: Much the same applies to brown as it does to grey, except that brown is much heavier color and darker in hue, which much be considered when evaluating the balance of an outfit, which we will discuss later.

Natural: This is also an incredible base color, but it cannot be used as often as grey or brown. An outfit made entirely of natural tones is really quite plain. But a pair of pants or an apron or a cloak of natural tone can be used against other garments of beige or tan combined with a brighter color such as red or mustard.

Apprentice level Colors: russet, ivory, white, auburn, red, mustard, sage

These second colors are much nicer, but still limited. It is difficult to mix sage and red and mustard all into one outfit. While the result would be much brighter than the dyes you have previous mastered, the result will be quite garish and unseemly. The use of base colors must continue.

Apprentice Base Colors:

White, Ivory: Either of these lovely hues is quite appropriate for any outfit. Some seras in the castle do enjoy wearing massive amounts of white. While you can caution them against the stains and dirt that will ensure, especially if they work in one of the crafts or practice with the sword, some will insist on pure white dresses. The fortunate aspect is that both white and ivory can be used with any other color that you will learn to dye.[NOTE: No white belts are allowed, as these are reserved for KNIGHTS ONLY]

Russet: This color is much more vibrant than brown but can certainly be used as a base color in many situations where brown might have been previously used. An outfit of russet skirt and slippers can easily be topped off with an ivory shirt or blouse and a bodice of a more striking color. A russet cloak would tie together the entire outfit.

Sage: While sage itself is not the most appropriate base color, it has one advantage over red and mustard. Because sage is a very light hued green, it often can be used in abundance without approaching gaudiness. In addition, it also coordinates with many of the other dyes that you have access to at this level of skill.

Senior Apprentice level Colors: ebony, sable, saffron, green, sepia, ecru, pumpkin

With the senior apprentice dyes, you will find that your ability to create full outfits of a tasteful nature is greatly enhanced. But you must be careful, as the addition of many more colorful dyes at this level can quite easily lead into gaudiness and clashing of ill suited colors. If outfits can be properly dyed at this level, then you will have learned the most important lesson, since most of the base colors exist in the first three levels.

Senior Apprentice Base Colors:

Ebony, Sable: As with white and ivory, ebony and sable fill out the other end of the color spectrum of base colors. Dark in nature and nearly black themselves, these are excellent base colors for darker outfits. As with white and ivory, there are many who wish to wear all sable or ebony outfits. Although there are no restrictions on senior apprentice level dyes, it is recommended that those of no rank or status in the outer bailey should not own outfits of everyday wear dyed entirely of these higher level dyes.

Sepia: This is the last of the colors that might be considered a base color at this level of skill. It is lighter in color than the novice brown dye but can be used in much the same way. As a base color, the same considerations must be given to the recipient as with sable or ebony. Only those of some status might request an outfit that contain numerous garments of sepia.

As always, use your own discretion when dyeing with the senior apprentice level dyes. Newly awakened should not be walking around with outfits dyed entirely of these dyes, even for special occasions such as the Winter Balls.

How Do You Use Base Colors?

The entire idea of base colors is that they are a building block for any outfit you dye.

Outfit #1: Red pants, green shirt, white vest, brown boots
Outfit #2: Russet pants, russet boots, white shirt, olive vest

Can you visualize and see the differences in these two outfits? Outfit #1 is merely a tossed together collection of whatever colors the dyer felt like doing or whatever garments the wearer asked for. Outfit #2 has a wonderful base color of russet.

A base color for everyday wear is often most successful when it is dark in color, such as brown. Lighter base colors, such as ivory, are more appropriate for more festive occasions, although much of this depends upon the preferences of the wearer. The base color should ground the entire outfit and tie it together. This is why they are frequently used to dye several items in the outfit, such as boots, pants, cloak or skirt, slippers, pouch.

As noted above, base colors are most successful when used on lower garments, such as footwear and leg wear. In this fashion, they are quite literally the base of the outfit upon which choices can be made in dyes for the upper garments such as shirts, bodices, and vests.

One advantage of using this system of base colors is the versatility that it allows the wearer while also decreasing our own workload. A ser with a nice pair of russet pants and leather russet boots can easily wear them with a variety of shirts (red, pumpkin, ivory, green). This allows him to vary his outfit without requiring different pants and boots for each outfit change.

For seras, the base colors are used in the same manner, although some do prefer lighter colors, depending upon their nature. For those who prefer to wear dresses instead of skirts, color can be added in the girdle, a scarf, a pouch, or cloak. Those of higher rank of course have more options available to them.

Festive Wear

Previously I have written specifically about everyday wear. This is wear that any ser or sera might wear for dueling, crafting, dancing, or any other activity that they participate in during their everyday life in the Outer Bailey.

I shall now attempt to speak upon this concept of base colors as it pertains to festive wear, appropriate for a semi-formal dance or even the Winter Ball for those of low rank who cannot procure the finer items.

The concept of base colors is quite useful in creating more vibrant outfits for special occasions. Brighter colors can be used more freely, as the danger of dirtying a white outfit decreases when it is not worn on a daily basis. There is a certain degree of freedom in these festive outfits that allows the dyer to use a base color, but not restrict it to lower garments as previously discussed.

As an example, the logic behind keeping boots and pants the same color (or ideally dark colors similar in hue) is to not attract any attention. Red skirt with white sandals would be quite noticeable and quite inappropriate for everyday wear. In a festive outfit, this sort of contrast can work to your advantage, as residents usually wish others to notice and look at their clothes for festive occasion.

Within these pages, I have attempted to put forth a theory of balancing dyes in clothes that I hope can be clearly understood by others of this craft. I will state here that there are no absolute rules. Combinations that I might advise against can be dyed, as I only express my own preference in my advice.

I put forth my theories here in hopes to assist those who have just started upon the path of dyeing and find the myriad choices of colors to be overwhelming, especially when they are asked to create an entire outfit.

Respectfully written,
Sera Tamora, Apprentice to Mistress Ermengarde