Workshops  

The Barony of Settmour Swamp will host the following workshops in order to help guests ready themselves for the event in February.
More will be announced as guests bring their questions. Fabric shopping expeditions are planned in both NYC and Rahway, NJ.
All workshops are at the Great Swamp Watershed Association unless otherwise noted. Please consider bringing cash or making donations online to the Great Swamp Watershed Association to thank them for their generosity in making this space available to us.

* 568 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown NJ 07960

All workshops are potluck refreshments. Please bring something lunchy.

July 13, 2025:  Introduction to Italian games of the sixteenth century
Instructors: Fearghus Mac Cailin & Elizabeth Talbot

1:00pm                Introduction to Italian games

2:30-5:00       Sixteenth century clothing consult table, presented by Elizabeth Talbot & Vika Grigina z Prahy

4:00     Demonstration of men's doublet fitting, presented by Elizabeth Talbot 

August 24, 2025: Women's dress layers (gamurre, sottane, veste, and zimarre)
Instructors: Vicereine Sofya Gianetta di Trieste & Maestrina Chiaretta di Fiore 

12:30 Consulting with books and examples for people to look at

1:00 Basic underwear patterns and details

2:00 Women's garments: the pieces, characteristic shapes, and fashionable details and colors

3:00 Putting the muslin of a pattern on a person and fitting it

September 14, 2025: Constructing the Feminine in 16th Century Venice (VIRTUAL CLASS)
Instructor: Magnifica Fede di Fiore
12:00-2:00    Magnifica Fede di Fiore (mka Dani Zemba) will present her research on lift in Venice for women in the sixteenth century. The first part of the class will be about women's status and occupations. Then she will speak a bit about her recent research project for Ice Dragon which detailed different layers of women's clothing. 

The recording of this event is available here. 

September 28, 2025: Late 16th century men’s fashion

Instructor:  Abu-Duruz Ibrahim ibn Musa bin Sulayman al-Rashid 

This workshop will provide an overview of men’s fashion in the second half of the 16th century.

     12:30 - 2:00 Get dressed with me

          - Watch me get dressed in an outfit typical of 1580s fashion. As I get dressed, we will discuss each item of clothing, how it is made, how it fits into the overall   outfit, and some of the options for mixing and matching of garments.

     2:00 - 2:30 Visual review

        - Looking through books, websites, and other sources of images from the late 16th century showing people wearing clothing.

     2:30 - 3:00 Lunch break

     3:00 - 4:00 Decoration and embellishment

       - Looking at some of the decorative details on clothing of the late 16th century: fashionable colors, fabric embellishments, jewelry

     4:00 - 5:00 Patterns and drafting

        - Looking at pattern shapes and the Modern Maker drafting method.

November 16, 2025: Garment layout and cutting workshop

Instructor: Elizabeth Talbot

Beth will cut out all the fabrics for her Venetian gown while leading the assembled through her cutting process and planned construction techniques.

- The goal of this workshop is to empower attendees to get started on their own Venetian outfits.

- Attendees are encouraged to bring their fabric, proposed linings and interlinings so that we can consult and (depending on demand), get you started cutting out your own stuff.

- NO SEWING will take place here.

     1:00 - 3:00 Beth will start laying out fabric and talking you through her cutting process.

     3:00 Lunch break

     3:30 - 5:00 Beth will consult with others on their projects

December 7, 2025: A Traveler's Tale: Visit to Venice, c. 1598
Instructors: Luke Knowlton & Elizabeth Talbot

EDIT: This will be a VIRTUAL PRESENTATION with time for questions afterwards.
-  It will run 12-noon - 1:30pm

• The video is available here. Passcode: D6Y*UWC? 

-IN PERSON OPTION: We will hold a watch party/stream the class at the Great Swamp Watershed Association. 

The in-person day will begin at 12-noon and end at 5:00pm

    12:00 - 1:30  Master Luke Knowlton will be your tour guide for your visit to Venice. Drawing on the travels of Montaigne and others, he will acquaint you with everything to know about visiting the serene city from his 1598 journey: how to get there, where to stay, what to see, and where to meet the citizens of the city on the lagoon, from the point of view of their contemporaries. Then Luke will talk about the sixteenth-century eyewitness accounts that are accessible today.

    1:30 - 5:00 Elizabeth Talbot and will consult on clothing construction questions

    [2:30-4:30 Elizabeth has committed to fitting Teresa Ana Perez. She can answer some questions during this fitting.]

December 14, 2025: CANCELED DUE TO WINTER WEATHER (we're trying to reschedule)

Roman Cosplay: Write Like Those Hipster Humanists & Clothing Support-Hang out
Instructor: Cassia Carataca & Elizabeth Talbot

1:00 - 2:00  Cassia Carataca will present a hands-on calligraphy workshop where participants will learn a bit about the Italic script and its origins, then learn and practice the letterforms. She will work with anyone who wants to practice with her afterwards.

2:00 Lunch break, festive schmoozing

2:30-5:00 Beth will be available to help with fittings or questions or consulting. 

December 21, 2025: 16th Century Underwear & Venice (VIRTUAL CLASS)

Instructor: Magnifica Fede di Fiore
Link will be provided several days before the workshop.
- We will record the event for internal/by-request use only.

1:00 - 2:00 Magnifica Fede will lecture on the cultural significance behind clothing underlayers, as well as, how to make them! We will have time for questions after her talk.

January 18, 2026: Period Mask Construction & Clothing Consultation: Rescheduled at last!

Instructor: Lord Antonius Grachus ("Twyg")

Antonius "Twyg" Gracchus has prepared a class for us on the history of Venetian masks, complete with images, and then he will teach us how to make our own.

     12:00-1:00 Introduction to the history and meaning of Venetian masks (esp. 16th century)

      1:00-4:30 Twyg will teach the basics of mask-making materials: papier-mâché (cartapesta), gesso, paints, and simple finishes

     * Participants can either:

           -Start their own mask base (papier-mâché over a mold), or

           -Decorate a pre-made blank (ready-to-paint mask).

He will provide a clear take-home guide so they can continue independently.

     2:00-4:30 Beth will be available for consulting on people's Venetian clothing as needed

Wear clothes that can get messy! 

February 1, 2026: Cutting Out the Camicia Layer & Clothing Consultation

Instructor: Elizabeth Talbot

Elizabeth will show you how to take basic measurements, your linen, a yardstick and tape measure, and cut out the lovely flowing shirts of the late 16th century

1:00-2:30 Elizabeth will begin by showing the high-necked version with collar and cuffs, worn most often by men

2:30-3:00 Lunch

3:00-4:00 Elizabeth will demonstrate the lower necked women's version of the camicia or shirt

   Project consultation will be available after the demonstrations