Where possible measurements are taken while in the gambeson, jack or padding that the person is wearing under the coat of plates, including maille.

Day one sees the pattern cut from cardboard, the main leather parts cut, dyed, sewn and tested against the pattern to ensure a snug fit. Fittings for the straps in the back and buckles were made, leaving just enough time left in the day to cut, deburr, clean, wax and hole punch the metal in preparation for final fitting.

Day two began with the main leather parts being hand sewn together with the small detailing added to the stiching around the chest line. Final dying was added to the details and newly adjusted surfaces. All leather strapping was cut and prepared at this time.

The Coat of Plates quickly begins to take shape with the plates shaped and rivetted to the leather. There is a question over the material that the metal plates were originally attached to. None of the Wisby finds have any surviving material fragments attached, however the gaps sometimes found between the rivet heads and the metal plates indicate that the material, what ever it had been was relatively thick, to date we have always been asked to use leather of varying thicknesses.

To date we have built multiple Coat of Plates that range from historical versions based upon the currently understood/favoured research through to ones based more upon the customers designs than owing directly to a historical counterpart. All smiliarly follow the above process.

The pictures below are from a number of different builds, but help illustrate the process.