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Before the Mast


Patrick Hand

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We already have enough Pyrate Captains, Fop, and Fancy Dans...

This thread be fer th' Rum Swillin', Scratchin' war it itches, Belchin' Fartin', Common Pyrate Crewmen...

Post yer picture showin' ye in yer common Pyrate garb, How ye made stuff, or just shoot th' breeze about being one O' th' unwashed masses.

NOTE: This isn't Twill, so we don't have to be 100% period about this... BUT if ye show up werin' a pair O' bucket boots or a fancy Coat, we're goinna wonder if yer some Fancy Dan or Captain spyin' on us...

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This picture shows me at the Northern California Pyrate Festival... I need to take a newer photo to show my new trousers, and waistcoat...but it gives a good idea on how common Sailors and Pyrates dressed...

The shoes are Fungwees, I just wish that I'd bought the straight last ones, and not the crooked last... Drat I'll wear them until I can get a better pair. But they have a pair of the shoe buckles that Gentleman of Fortune was selling...

I like the red socks... it's about the only color in my garb. I have to get a better pair tho, those are a pair of soccer socks.

I finished making a pair of Hemp canvas trousers, so this pair of cotton canvas slops will be going to the Tales of the Seven Seas loaner gear.

I also finished a blue wool, linen lined waistcoat, so the pillow ticking one in the photo will also be going into the loaner gear.

Under the waistcoat is a blue-checkered linen shirt.

The short "slops contract jacket" was made from a wool blanket. I have to replace the cotton lining with some "Welsh red" wool. I might make a lighter weight sleeved waistcoat... The Blanket one is too warm for Summer events...

I'm almost finished hemming (with itty bitty tiny stitches) a black silk scarf. The one in the picture is cotton.

Then a simple felt cocked hat.

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Sterling looks down at Brand lying in the gutter and tries not to laugh...too hard...


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

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Can a pub wench or trollop post here?

I figure the only females that would be before th' Mast would be dressed and acting like men.... Or be trollops, doxies, wenches, strumpets or Working women.... ;) Girly-girl Pyrates, or Zina The She Pyrate Princess , would be in for a rude awakining if they were hanging around wit' a buncha scummy Pyrates..... ;)

Pyrates wern't Politicaly Correct, nor were Ruffians noted fer thier "sensitivity"......... :blink:

Ladies and "nice" women would be with th' Captain or Fancy Dans... th' Fun women would be wit th' crew.....

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Yeah the captains get all the ladies, nice women and all those skilled, experts in the bedroom ... courtesans...


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

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http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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I should point out that this thread wasn't ment to be a "Role-Playing Game"... Sure there will be some of that...

Some of the post should go in Plunder (such as how to make basic garb)...

And because it in not concerned with 100% authintisity, it wouldn't fit in Twill...

This thread is intended to provide a place for discussions and information on how to portray a common Sailor/Pyrate from the Golden Age of Pyracy (1700-1725 ish) :lol:

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Here's a hint we learned from Foxe... a proper "scummy" pirate, as Patrick would call them, should smell the part as well...

after every event...don't wash your clothes, pack them away until your next event in a Rubbermaid bin along with a sample of tar... of course you may wish to tar some of yer kit as well, as they did. This helps your clothing stink like tar, or as young Merriweather likes to say, really rotten bacon (??) and thus more like an actual sailor...

I believe, for those that are interested in authenticity, that there is a thread over in Twill regarding tarring methods...

*** and the scummy crew would hardly be associating with high class courtesans..


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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One of the advantages of being a common Sailor/Pyrate Crewman, is that the clothing is simplier, cheaper, and more comfortable than what Fops, Captains, and Fancy Dans wear....

All you need is a head covering (a Hat of Scarf), A Shirt, Slops or Trousers, and something for your feet....

A Waistcoat, Short Jacket and Weapons can come later.....

And we may smell of tar and good honnest sweat.....But we don't have the HUGE Dry Cleaning Bills that Fops, Capatins and Fancy Dans gotta pay.... :lol:

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One of the advantages of being a common Sailor/Pyrate Crewman, is that the clothing is simplier, cheaper, and more comfortable than what Fops, Captains, and Fancy Dans wear....

All you need is a head covering (a Hat of Scarf), A Shirt, Slops or Trousers, and something for your feet....

A Waistcoat, Short Jacket and Weapons can come later.....

And we may smell of tar and good honnest sweat.....But we don't have the HUGE Dry Cleaning Bills that Fops, Capatins and Fancy Dans gotta pay.... :lol:

PC Patrick... I do NOT dry clean my clothes... simply brush em off and put in a clothes press with the tar sample.... as captains would be around tar just as much as the crew.... Of course the lace hankies might reek of something else... :lol: Also remember tobacco smells and fire smoke, black powder etc.... and not knowing if it would be pc or not, just going by the naval blokes somewhat later... I do have work clothes as well as dress "uniform" a term I would use lightly


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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come to think on it...some of my outfits have not been washed in over two years... :lol: ..and some...the best ones (my favorites)...havnt been washed.... :lol: ..well ever....an i been doin this since 1990......

i am now trying to see if i can make cheese from my shirts... ;) sounds better than from my pants ;)

th_SunsetSpyGlass_edited-1.jpg
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Yeah you and Gunner would get my vote for scummiest pirates ever... :lol:


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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Right...

Patrick, do I count?

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Truly,

D. Lasseter

Captain, The Lucy

Propria Virtute Audax --- In Hoc Signo Vinces

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Ni Feidir An Dubh A Chur Ina Bhan Air

"If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me." Deuteronomy 32:41

Envy and its evil twin - It crept in bed with slander - Idiots they gave advice - But Sloth it gave no answer - Anger kills the human soul - With butter tales of Lust - While Pavlov's Dogs keep chewin' - On the legs they never trust... The Seven Deadly Sins

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Dorian Lasseter, see that's what I'm looking for.... I got carried away with the "scummy" part.... I should have posted "common Sailor/Pyrate"......

Thoughts on "Period Correct" (PC)

If this thread was in Twill, it would be concerned with portraying common Sailor/Pyrates more period correctly...

But instead of worring about fabric content, handsewing and documentation, it will take an easier approch... (not to say that Authentic post are bad tho...)

Interestingly enough...because of the simplicity of the garb, it would turn out semi-authentic anyway...

Not all Pyrates wanna go "totaly authentic"....

Some just want something Pyratish to wear, some don't have the time or funds to go authentic, and some don't know how to make stuff....

This thread hopes to help people portray common Sailor/Pyrates by shairing information on how to do so.... But because it isn't Twill no one has to worry if everything isn't 100% correct.

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Patrick, dear, you have come up with a wonderful idea. I would like on one hand to dress proper, but then I would also like to dress as a salior too. I have been trying to think of a way to do it. I have a combination with in my garb.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

BriarBannerHerbsGlowGreenBorder.jpg

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.

The Dimension of Time is only a doorway to open. A Time Traveler I am and a Lover of Delights whatever they may be.

There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.

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Common. Heh. I'll play along.

blackjohnlewes.jpg

Wool coat lined with wool... close to 10 years old... never been cleaned nor washed... sun-faded with a hole or two... shoes, the same... though you can't tell from this picture... straight-lasted shoes that have been worn for so long you'd never know they were straights, and the leather has finally worn through in one spot... long linen waistcoat lined with linen... wool breeches... wool stockings... two pistols, a sword and a blunderbuss... pretty standard for the common pirate... the best part is the linen shirt... washed once a year at best... it has blood stains on it... someone else's... from a sword fight.

You can poo-poo my wig and sash if you like, but I'm a Pirate, not a common sailor!

;)

It's probably worth noting I have done pretty much anything attributable to a pirate while in these clothes, be that Hollywood or historical (with the exception of swinging between ships on a line or sliding down a sail using a knife) and have never really found any of those to be particularly difficult to do because of the clothes.

;)

My Home on the Web

The Pirate Brethren Gallery

Dreams are the glue that holds reality together.

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Mike, myself, Matt and Dray upon approaching town with a sample of goods from our ship, encounter Jeff Miller, one of the locals.

enteringtown.jpg

The Pirate Brethren tries to stick to the "before the mast" look for the most part, as you can see here.

My Home on the Web

The Pirate Brethren Gallery

Dreams are the glue that holds reality together.

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Ah, the PB, the crème de la crème no matter where you guys find yourselves... and dang, a picture from Lockhouse without the Roman Aqueducts!!!


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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  • 3 weeks later...

One of the advantages of portraying a common Sailor/Pyrate (part O' th' Scummy Crew) is that it is easier and more inexpensive than an Officer, or even a Hollywood Pyrate.

With a little time, and knowing how to sew, you can make your own garb.

a Shirt made from 3 yds. of $2.00 a yard (or less) cotton will cost you $6.00 to make.... (check the $2.00 a yard table at Wall Mart for the 100% cotton check from India)

Slops or Trousers made from 2 yds. of $5.00 a yard cotton canvas.... $10.00

(In PLUNDER I posted how I made a pair of Slops....)

https://pyracy.com/forums/index.php?showtop...=0entry277966

Sandals, a head scarf and a leather belt from the Thrift Store will cost less than $5.00

So for about $21.00 you can make basic Sailor/Pyrate garb.

Just for fun....

Making the Shirt and Slops from authentic fabric....

3 yds linen @ $8.50 yd. ........... $25.50

2 yds Hemp @ $14.95 yd. ........ $29.90

......................TOTAL................. $55.40

NEXT POST... I have to take some pictures and post them.... Also, how to add to the bacis Sailor/Pyrate crewman garb to make it even better.......

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Eye never aspired to be a capytain cause I dispise authority to some degree! Aye ~ Eye am a rogue pirate ! ye Garb may get attention but Pyratitude will keep it says Eye!

Killian_amp_Odorlesssmall.jpg

Fyne print:

Both of which Eye am still workin on Harr Harr..

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Hangin at Execution dock awaits. May yer Life be a long and joyous adventure in gettin there!
As he was about to face the gallows there, the pirate is said to have tossed a sheaf of papers into the crowd, taunting his audience with these final words:

"My treasure to he who can understand."

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Oi Pat, honestly, does this look a bit better to you? A little less fancy dan...would like your opinion...

scummy.jpg

sterling.jpg


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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