kass

As usual, Foxe said it best. That's why the Reconstructing History Waistcoat pattern (RH704) includes a short waistcoat sized to fit under the RH Sailor's Jacket. :)

Turnback cuffs are definitely seen in the period pictures, Michael. No shame there! And pockets -- they're even specified in the Slop Contracts. I'm sorry for waffling about the fabric. I can never choose. I want one of each! I guess that's why my attic looks like it does...

Yup. The collar is in the pattern, Bela.

Michael, It looks awesome! You did such a good job. Cotton duck isn't the best material for this jacket, as I'm sure you learned while working with it. But you did a fine job. When you make your wool one, I'd advise using the grey twill. Kneejerk reaction here, but grey kersey (which is a twill) was specified in the Slop Contracts (although blue was a common colour for sailor's jackets too). Uh oh... Did I just make an arguement for both sides again?

Thanks, Capt. Grey. Your referrals are most appreciated! And if you and your cohorts have any thoughts on what else you'd like to see us carry, please do send suggestions.

Hee hee hee! Oh William! You're singing my song! My favourite counter to that argument was, "And if the Anglo-Saxons had had thermonuclear weapons, you'd be speaking a whole different language!" They didn't have velcro or duct tape or polyester, so what's the deal here? But back to cats... Cats from the GAoP. Not cats from before or after unless we can draw a distinct relationship with those in the GAoP.

The danger here, of course, is that when there's no single "right way" of doing things from a time period, we risk falling into the idea that any way we make a cat is acceptable... which (I know I'm preaching to the choir here) it is not. No documentation against does not constitute proof for. And we all know the dangers of the "if I were a sailor in the GAoP" reasoning. We're not, so it doesn't apply. Period. It's a shame that we have so few sources for cats in the GAoP, but we have to go with what we've got and not make stuff up. Again, preacher... choir...

I can't add anything to what we know of cats in the GAoP, but I can comment on Hogarth's works. Even when Hogarth is portraying something that exists only in his mind ("Gin Lane" shows many examples), his portrayal of these things is highly realistic. I cannot think of any example of an object meant to be a "representation" of something else in Hogarth's work. So if Hogarth painted a cat that looks like this, I would believe there were cats that looked like this in 1735. Additionally, if the long cats with which we are most familiar are meant to be incapacitating, why are there accounts of daily floggings? If these floggings were done with the cat we're used to, these men or boys wouldn't be able to work at all. And what good is a crew that cannot work? I'm only going on logic here, but it seems to jive with the scant pictorial and verbal evidence. Foxe, isn't is also true that many nautical things that became stylised and formal by Nelson's time were still known in a variety of forms in the GAoP. A clothing analogy is uniforms -- yes, sailors were known by their distinctive dress, but there were no uniforms as yet. It strikes me that I've heard very many things similar to this -- knots used for a certain job, how many turns in a hangman's noose, etc -- that were not yet formalised in the GAoP. The cat question seems to jive with this general trend of their being "many ways" in the GAoP even though there was "one way" by the early 19th century. Thoughts?

We will not be at PyrateCon as it conflicts with another event of ours. But everything you see (and more!) is available from our website: reconstructinghistory.com

I really wouldn't recommend carpet thread for sewing a shirt. Linen thread -- pulled through beeswax before use -- is the best thread. It's durable and strong and fairly moisture-resistant. Use small lengths so you won't put so much strain on the thread. The more times you pull it through the fabric, the more it breaks down. So use short lengths. You have to adjust your sewing technique for the different fabrics you use. Threads break because of bad technique -- I always do it when I switch from silk to wool because I forget to adjust myself. One of the joys of handsewing is that you can make small adjustments like this. You can't do that as precisely with a machine. Doubling the thread or using a thicker thread to make up for your lack of adjustment is a mistake. Be more careful with your thread. Be gentle with it. Don't tug on it like you're uprooting weeds.

It's a shirt, Chole. The fabric shouldn't be heavy.

They are one touch-hole away from shooting black powder. We ship them without touchholes because that allows us to sell them anywhere in the world. But if you take them to a gunsmith (or have a friend who works with metal), drilling a touchhole is a piece of cake. These are the same type of blackpowder weapons you can buy elsewhere on the 'Net. The usual caveats apply: we are not legally responsible with what you do with the piece once it is in your possession.

Yeah. You kinda stuff it and pull the threads until it is solid. You're welcome, Jack.

Guys! You're gonna have to stop coming up with these good ideas! Hey Blackjohn, how much do you think I could get for Kass clones? And do you think the Indians would repop them cheap for me?

Thanks, Rue. But I couldn't have done it without the help of Foxe and Bob. Their strong backs and weak minds made all the difference. Chole, I'm going to try to get the paperwork on the site by the end of the weekend. We have so many documents we can print that I'm kinda waiting until I can put them all up. But if you want copies of the newspapers that were at RF2, I can certainly send them to you. Let me just look up the prices.

Sure, Jack. Here's a picture: Does that help?

Jack, if there's one thing I learned from this winter it's that I need to take a break in order to keep myself healthy. This cruise might be just the thing...

Hey! I don't have brow ridges! I had them surgically "corrected" years ago...

Oh! Old Man, I would LOVE that... Stop it, you guys! You're making me want to clone myself... Hmm... I wonder if the boys would notice if I sent them off to RF-E while I sereptiously hopped a plane for points South...

Will do, William! Glad you like it.

Hey, it's a living... Yeah, I love my work. Does it show? You "appropriate" the ship, we'll rig it and outfit your crew. We may even teach them to read! "One Stop Pirate Shop" -- you know, Jim, you're not the first to have called us that...

It's not just patterns anymore, folks! As you may have heard, Reconstructing History has expanded into other areas and can now offer you many items for your reenacting needs. Sailor's Clothing -- made from historically documentable fabrics (wool, linen and hemp canvas) and painstakingly researched patterns: Hemp rope and twine. Perfect for all your ship's needs! Matchlock, doglock, and flintlock muskets, blunderbusses, and pistols: Maps, pamphlets, broadsheets, newspapers -- reprints of original documents on the finest quality reproduction paper. Wool, linen, and hemp for your fabric needs: Cups, bowls, plates, costrels, chamber pots, cookware, and other dishwasher- and microwave-safe pottery suitable for everyday use: Come to our website and see the new stuff. Or drop us an email or PM. There's even more coming this Spring!

My word, Rue! That oufit ROCKS!!! Sometimes I really wish I could do costume contests...

Sorry, Pat. You're right. I was already having a hard time justifying a 23 hour drive to set up shop at PIP when I haven't heard encouraging things about the market for my stuff there. But now that RF-E is the same weekend and only two hours away, my decision is made. As Blackjohn said, as someone who sells to reenactors from the 14th through 18th centuries, a multi-period reenactors' market is a more appropriate place for me, even if I'm jonesing to get back to Key West and meet you guys. The time will come. Of that I'm sure. It's just not in the cards for 2007. Or we could have an amazing summer and send a "team" to RF-E AND PiP. Wouldn't that be a dream come true! If anyone else wants to set up a coffeehouse at PiP, I would be happy to share my information on 1690s coffehouses and give advice on what you can do to replicate one on-site. Once the Spring rush calms down, I'll be writing some articles about coffeehouses for my website. And since I'll be doing the coffeehouse at MTT in Maryland in April, there will be pictures too. So please anyone feel free to use these things and do a coffeehouse at PiP!

Silly is ALWAYS welcome in Captain Twill, Pat! After all, they made me moderator... You can't let the elves out of your sight, though. Little buggers will unionize if given half a chance. My X-husband once told me that Kass was a Klingon name. If I remember correctly, it implies that I'm in naval service. Isn't that a hoot? I have the right hair for it, for sure. And when I'm angry... oh, just ask Foxe.