Crafting Kit
Fabricate your Kit, Clothes, Props, & Related Items.
418 topics in this forum
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- 16 replies
- 2.2k views
Ok, not really a "Thieves Market" item but not really sure if this should go t' Capt'n Twill either This is a question for those who have experience with needle 'n thread: When working with LONG threads, how do ye avoid 'twists'? I mean, I an needle stitching a bamboo needle case and using 4-ply hemp. Th' length I cut from th' ball be 3+ times me arm's length as notes state "always cut longer for it is better then coming up short" - I have also read of sailors 'pulling long length' when sewing in period...but th' issue I am running int' is that this long length tends to 'Twist' sorely as I pull it though. As I said I am using 4-ply hemp sail twine with a sailor's need…
Last reply by MadL, -
- 16 replies
- 2k views
Any good recommendations, for GAOP wigs and styles? Are There different styles as to yer status in society? Did all people wear wigs? or only the higher classes for social meetings/balls/church/ and other type of public outings? Wanting to know if anyone knows the price range of wigs, and need good source of traders/sutlers to purchase a wig? What color, Natural or White? Does yer Occupation or Status matter what color one would of wore? need help!
Last reply by jendobyns, -
- 16 replies
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Ahoy Mateys, I've newbie questions about seabags. I've located later period seabag illustrations of the "USS Congress (1842-1862) -- Embroidered Seabag". I also like the individuality of that seabag. It would help the owner to quickly find it among gear stowed about the ship. So - Are seabags period correct for pyrate/age-of-sail reenactors or living history? If - yes - Does any one have a pattern or more illustrations of what period seabags looked like? Fair Winds, thunderbuster
Last reply by adam cyphers, -
- 16 replies
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Here my shoes 18th manufactured strarting from hold boots. Say to me what in thought you:
Last reply by casketchris, -
- 15 replies
- 994 views
So a friend has commissioned me to build a leather map frame to protect a map and which rolls up and fits into her map case. map size is approx 16 X 22. essentially it will be like a picture frame, with the back tooled with a similar map. so here are the humble beginnings: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/R1jYmTuiId6Mc3UKcJl5YIsHQv063_3yt8uZINcLaKo?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sMYcf0dj8toRZ8T3S6USo4sHQv063_3yt8uZINcLaKo?feat=directlink Remember measure twice cut once? Well, half the challenge in leather is a good plan and accurate measurements. For the map to fit and have the frame stitched around the edge to hold it in place, I added 3…
Last reply by Captain Jim, -
- 15 replies
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As some of you know(and helped with) i recently got my first pair of leather pc shoes (though i still want the loyalist shoe.....) They were all fine and confy after they got soaked on friday..but now that they are intirly dry, not so comfy. :/ is there anything i can do to soften them up(i believe someone suggested alcohol?) and also is there anything else i may need to do to make them last longer. i ran accros some stuff in the wal-mart thats used to soften leather catching gloves, but id like the opinion of more knowlegable folks. I think mink-oil was suggested but i dont want to ruin a good investment if i remember incorrectly. I already am ordering metal plates to sa…
Last reply by blackjohn, -
- 15 replies
- 2k views
after seeing a few people over the weekend at fort de chartres wearing wide brimmed hats to help combat the sun, i decided to purchase one... the hat needs a little reshaping ... i want to make a more pronounced edge where the brim meets the crown... hope this makes sense !!! that way it won't slope down so much like the pic shows.. i am thinking that a bowl of the correct size to hold the shape of the crown while flattening the brim and maybe even something wrapped aroung the base of the crown ( a belt, rope ?? ) to help define the edge better... i dunno... any advice would be appreciated :)
Last reply by Grymm, -
- 15 replies
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So this is the latest project Kate and I have put together... It is based off the pattern Found on the top of this web page. It is the second one of these I have made, the first having been abandoned in Canada when I moved to the US (it was just another of those things there was not the time or space to move). The second one was a huge improvement over the first as it is actually made from hardwood rather than craft quality pine, which splits out badly when you do load bearing mortis and tenon joints. We used poplar as it was the cheapest hardwood we could find locally. It cost almost $200 in wood using poplar, it was going to come closer to $350 to make it in red oak. W…
Last reply by Red-Handed Jill, -
- 15 replies
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I'm going to a fest this weekend,and thinking of doing a mid-1600s buccaneer look: sleeveless short doublet, petticoat breeches, etc. It's going to be hot, and am wondering about the appropriateness of a straw hat for the occasion. Working men have been depicted in straw hats since the Middle Ages, and in the Caribbean slaves, planters, etc. must have worn them as well. What about seamen of the period? Anyways, I have one similar to this (not quite so wide a brim) that I added a black twill tape hat band to: It looks pretty good on, but somewhat 'cowboy-ish.' What do you think..?
Last reply by jendobyns, -
- 15 replies
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I am trying to find some good photos of extant clothing for the 1690-1720 ( Actually, closer to 1720) with good shots of the buttons. I would settle for paintings etc. Most of my books don't have good photos of Gentleman's clothing in this period.... I know that later in the century the buttons were buttons that were moulds covered in fabric with designs embroidered into them but the earlier ones seem to be a wooden mould wrappedwit thread and have designs woven into that.... What do you guys think?
Last reply by Slopmaker Cripps, -
- 15 replies
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I know a magician never tells the secret to his tricks, however, can anyone help me with the last and final bit to my period outfit. I am having trouble trying to figure exactly what material the neck scarf ideally should be and how to wear it, if it is ever worn. I see some period photos with, and some without.
Last reply by kass, -
- 15 replies
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The following images are garments all constructed from Reconstructing History patterns.... and the patterns are splendid indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!! I highly recommend them!!! First our crew does NOT consist of lady pirates. If you be a woman and want to play a pirate you need to pass inspection and be able to fool other men! Therefore the women in our group play period correct female roles... and there are a ton of those available to portray, and thanks to Kass's brilliant new patterns, Ladies can now be wonderfully attired and need not walk around in the wrong stuff any more. The first image is of our crew's Actress, Mistress Lilly McKinney. She is a prominent figure on …
Last reply by Capt. Sterling, -
- 14 replies
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over in the armory, there wasa thread on refinishing a gun. it got me to thinking about various finish preparations. Sanding- sand paper as we know it didn't come to be until the early 1900's. while convenient, sanding scratches the surface of the wood and leaves a fine powder, which fills back into the scratches. no matter how fine the grit, these scratches can be seen under low level magnification. to achieve a nice finish, lots of cleaning must be done before treating and even then often produces a low luster shine. Oddly enough, sanding was done aboard ship prior to the GAOP and fore quite some time after in the form of holystoning. a square soft stone, usually a san…
Last reply by Iron Hand, -
- 14 replies
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So I have a really nice London Fog four button full length dress longcoat madeof black wool with a silken type lining. I have cut off the collar, removed the shoulder pads but still have to figure out what to do with the lapels. I have another wool coat the same color that's tooo small and damaged so I've cut it up to make bigger sleeves to stich on the original jacket but I still can't get the fit right. Has anyone ever tackled a project simular to this? Any advice?
Last reply by captscurvy_nc, -
- 14 replies
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A picture of the whole kit laid out Interpretive style ( iknow the quality isn't great but the close ups are better) Close up of the extra cloaths in the pack, cut or cloath hose, work frock, spare pair of woolen breeches, and thrum cap and blue linen neckcloth Then a closeup of the afore-picture parcels, laid out on display Closer shot of the bowl / The Far side of the hammock which includes my working gear Close up of my rigging belt( Made by Hawkyns) my knife and marling nail, they are laid out on a proclamation for the gathering up of wandering sailors and sea-faring men Close ups of my other working tools, sailmakers palm, fid, twines, needles, & s…
Last reply by William Brand, -
- 14 replies
- 1.5k views
Some backstory first: I do stage combat and one thing required is a decent pair of leather gloves. The leather protects the hands should a blade slip past the hilt. Most stage combat weapons develope burs on the blade that can also cause injury. That said I found a beautiful set of long leather rose gloves that will fit my needs very well. The problem is that the gloves have a nasty logo on the back of the hand. So I'm considering disguising the logo. I thought maybe some lace. Yeah it's foppish but I am a fancy fellow. Any ideas?
Last reply by Dread Pyrate Greyhound, -
- 14 replies
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until recently, i have been using plastic tarps from the hardware store ,and covering it with canvas drop cloths as a ground cloth... recent rains have shown that water still bleeds through the woven plastic tarps... i think it was patrick hand that mentioned cnavas treated for an effective ground cloth is heavier than you would believe, which makes it close to impractical ( for him on an airplane ) short of using plastic sheeting, what else is available as an effective h2o barrier ??
Last reply by Iron Jon, -
- 14 replies
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OK so I found a traditional recipe on the interweb for making oilskin canvas. Two parts linseed oil, one part beeswax, one part burnt umber oil paint, boiled. So I made it, rolled it on the canvas and hung it up to cure. I am hoping this works. Anyone ever try this? The claim is it will be waterproof, just don't sleep too close to the fire...
Last reply by Cap'n Black Jack, -
- 14 replies
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Started a sailor jacket. It is based on Reconstructing History pattern 704 - 1700s-1730s Sleeved and Sleeveless waistcoats. The medium weight wool is more a cross between royal blue and navy blue than it shows. The lining is a striped linen tablecloth from the local Goodwill store. oatmeal and light brown stripes. I decided I needed a blue sailor coat to portray a british sailor at some point in time. this color is very flexible for other things as well. No outside pockets, one inside the lining. thinking plain brass buttons at this point. mP
Last reply by madPete, -
- 13 replies
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I saw an interesting post in the Muzzleloader Forum about friction Knives. A friction knife is basically a pocketknife with the knife blade, riveted to the grooved wooden handle; the blade stays open because of the tight fit " or the friction". I have a bunch of high carbon steel kitchen knives that all have their tips busted off (I had a roommate that didn't know about can openers...) So I got out my grinder and started to make one. Before anyone tells me about getting the blade too hot and destroying the temper... I took my time, and when the blade started to get warm, I'd let it cool.... The kitchen knives that I have, all have stamped lines along the blade, so I …
Last reply by Shipwreck John, -
- 13 replies
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The Fontange or Fontage is a very unique headdress of the 17th Century. From 1690–1710, originating in France then making its’ way to England by the early 1690s. A fontange was a lady's headdress named after Marie Angélique de Scorailles de Roussille, duchesse de Fontanges (1661–1681), mistress of Louis XIV of France and worn by women of the late 17th century and early 18th century. It is said that the Duchess tied her hair up with a ribbon after losing her cap while horseback riding. The king liked the look and it soon became fashionable. Though this fad started around 1680, when relatively low, ribbon-trimmed caps appeared (e.g. the "fontange à la sultane", worn with …
Last reply by LadyBrower, -
- 13 replies
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I have a gray coat that is not finished yet. It started out as a old west style coat but Ive been looking at it and I'm thinking of changing the lapels and making it more into the style of coat Tim Curry wore in Muppet Treasure Island. Having a hard time finding pics or references to exactly what style they were going for or basing the design off of. Anybody have pics or links that would help?
Last reply by peglegstrick, -
This may be an item of interest for those doing a buccaneer impression or inland raider- http://www.southernrangers.org/snapsack.htm It's much easier to put together than the instructions make it out to be. I hand sewed one up in about six hours last night. Used heavy canvas from Wal Mart and a length of cotton webbing from JoAnn fabrics. The snapsack was used in the English Civil War period, albeit made of hide- http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/histor...e/snapsacks.htm There is a 1672 dated picture in Angus Kostam's "Pirates, Terror on the High Seas (Osprey)" showing a soldier wearing either a snapsack or blanket roll (page 87). Exquemelin's "Buccaneer…
Last reply by Patrick Hand, -
- 13 replies
- 1.4k views
Interested in producing period correct Winter/Foul Weather kit for the crewe... can anyone point me in the proper direction, share what they already know or is there a thread already covering this? Thanks, as always, JH Sterling
Last reply by kass, -
- 13 replies
- 3.8k views
So my friend Brian, aka 12-Pound Richard, whom many of you met at PiP last year (or not), made me a pistol box based on the design of the lovely and talented Mary Diamond’s pistol box. Here is Brian (in the ticken and military hat) in his natural environment. Wow! What a nice-looking box! It isn’t discolored. I just had something on the lens. Why, it opens, too! But what’s under the linen? Gosh! Them’s pistols! But how do they stay in there so comfortable? Ingenious! That’s the talented Mary Diamond’s design! She is also lovely. Dovetails? Who needs dovetails? This sucker is rabbited and nailed, like smaller boxes of the period. Even the nails are ri…
Last reply by silas thatcher,