Cloth is not a thing I’m comfortable working with. So when I volunteered to assist my friends by making an embellished border for a beloved friend’s Laurel cloak, well…. that was kind of foolish.
However, I decided to go big or go home.
First, gold leaf on cloth was totally done in the SCA period. Linseed oil was used as the sticky part and a sealant was painted over the gold. So I had proof that it was done. (And then Ollilia gave me this great text to help!)
http://www.noteaccess.com/Texts/Cennini/10M.htm
I documented this with lots of photos, so please feel free to look at the Google album, which has all the notes!!
https://goo.gl/photos/whnSJJfXgkeZdJTJ9
Other resources I found that were kind of helpful included:
http://www.joann.com/gold-leafing-sheets-25-pkg-gold/1100106.html?gclid=CJ6qiJXjsNICFUhXDQod-0wCeQ
https://www.brit.co/diy-gold-foil-tote/
https://books.google.com/books?id=LKFgAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA111&lpg=PA111&dq=gilded+textiles+middle+ages&source=bl&ots=69yePE4f_I&sig=AUc_FeV0LIThaZ5XTQ5Xuz3rVvg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwirmN2r4bDSAhWBthQKHewYBUoQ6AEIQzAJ#v=onepage&q=gilded%20textiles%20middle%20ages&f=false