Gothic Dagges...or Dags...or Dagging
While digitizing some of the patterns I have for garments, I decided to make a quick blog post to accompany this new addition to the pattern archive.
Dagges (or dags, or dagging) is an easy way to embellish your garments. They are essentially shapes cut into the edges of a garment. Dagges can be added to hoods, cloaks, hems, sleeves, etc. Below are just a few of the possibilities for styles and shapes that were seen in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. You can download my full-size templates for them from the pattern archive.
Vertical cuts
These are the simplest dagges to add to your garment. All you need to do is choose how deep and frequent to make your cuts. I find it easiest to mark the placement directly on the garment with tailor's chalk and then cut with my scissors.
Feathering
This style is also very fast to make and creates wonderful fluttering edges. It is all straight cuts into the garment at various angles and no fabric is removed. You choose how deep and close together these cuts are made to vary the effect.
Embattled
Made using straight cuts, but because fabric is removed from the hood it creates a wider spacing and a more prominent appearance that just vertical straight cuts.
Scallops
A versatile shape that is seen on hoods as well as other garments.
Ovals
The simpler cousin of the oak leaf.
Oak Leaves
Creates a fancy look and can be small or large. Cut like an oval, but with the addition of knobs along the edges to give the oak leaf shape. You can see this style of dagging in action here.