Stynky Tudor

Arr acquiring one’s pirate garb can be mighty expensive to be sure. The way I did it was a piece at a time over the period of years. With a $30 or $40 for a cotton shirt here, another $40 for some breeches there, then a belt, another $20. After a while I splurged for me Doublet, $200. and another splurge for me boots, $300. All that finished off with a $20 muffin cap. Since then, I’ve bought a couple more pairs of breeches, lots of stockings, a sash, bandanna, tinkered with and spent way too much money playing around with felt hats. I’ve even taken up a bit of sewing to reduce me costs. I’ve made more than a few pairs of breeches, a couple bandannas and pirate sashes for friends and family. I’ve failed though at my first attempt to make an 18th Century waistcoat. With all the material, patterns, reference books, time spent, I couldn’t begin to count really. Not to mention all the other accessories of pouches, jewelry and the like, or the $100 Pirate Molly spent on me replica wheel-lock pistols. Between us and the kids costumes... I’m, I’m, I’m starting to have an anxiety attack just thinking about it…

Aye Capt Weaver, the water does seem to collect up there easily enough… I know me tricorne hat be a regular catch basin for all sorts of things, rain, snow, leaves, but mostly just lint and dust. As for drainage, other than Captain Robert's suggestion of tipping one's head to the side, I don’t rightly know. Has anybody researched this point at all? I know back in April, we got rained on quite a bit at the North Carolina Renaissance Faire, all of our hats got pretty wet and floppy. Wet felt not be happy felt. Once home and the hats be dried out, I held them over a pot of boiling water to steam and re-stretched them over me hat forms. And with a little bit of the hot iron, the brims be right as rain so to speak. For stiffening felt, I’ve got some stuff called Hydrolac. Not sure what it is exactly but, the idea is to mix a portion it with parts water and isopropyl rubbing alcohol and brush it onto one’s felt hat, maybe use a bit of a hot iron to infuse it into the wool felt fibers. I was reading on the Najecki's Reproductions site, that they advise after brushing the dust and dirt out of one’s felt hat, painting it with a coat of shellac. I’m actually not sure how well either of these work though until I give 'em a try. I know that in past centuries, mercury was used in the making of felt hats, thus the term "Mad As A Hatter". As much I would like to be authentic, I think I’ll steer clear of using that though. What can I say, I use a sewing machine to…

Arr while school be in session, I not be sure that I can commit to something that far in advanced. Me intensions are to attend though, it be great to meet me fellow ship mates! :)

Aye, I had the same problem and suspect it was the Java applet that use to be running at the top of the screen. Arr and the new site be looking smart as paint and smooth sailing Good job and well done Mister Angus and crew.

Ahoy there Jennifer & Lady Gray, welcome aboard!

Aye, just when I thought I would have to keep making me own hat blanks to get what I be wanting, you send me off to that site. There be all manner of fine head covering. One could acquire just about any number hat and with a wee bit of steam and mangling one could do wonders! Great site, thank you! I’m going to have to rethink how I’ve been doing things.

Arr, I begs your pardon Captain Flint sir, I just be 'aving a bit of fun with some of the newer members of the crew as it were. :)

Arr Capt Weaver, you be a naughty one

Arr Deacon Frye, them pirate boots pictured be the splitting image of the boots that be worn by George Mary in Disney's Treasure Island...Well maybe not the same style exactly or color.... but they be smart looking pirate boots if ever I saw them, even without over the knee buckets. Edited typeo

Arr we 'ad been planning to attend last year before we swapped coasts and moved across country, not sure that we be making it now.

Ahoy and welcome aboard there Teach. You might want to give a look to the Plunder section, there be several topics about clothes and costumes.

Welcome aboard Miss Katie.

Actually it be 'appy Beerthday!

Arrr and a 'appy, 'appy Beerthday to you Rehand!

Ahoy there Mad Mary and welcome aboard! Now don't be listening to Captain Flint there lass, as he be anchored in Maryland. (like that be meaning anything) The fact is that you not be allowed on this board unless you speak the piratese. And arr I see that you be another one of us in Virginia! I be inland a bit just North of Harrisonburg and JMU. Captain Cat's ship be on the coast near Richmond and Captain Sage well he be south of us in one of the Carolinas. There be a few others of us talking about getting together on this side of the new world, but I can't seem to find the thread.

The 3.5 inch brim was a tan colored blank that came from Blockade Runner. I tried stretching it out, but it didn't want to budge. So, I turned it into a derby and sold it. Jas. Townsend and Son and Lady McSnood's are great though, no complaints, great blanks.

Well we've done our time at the Ren Faires in both Northern and Southern California plus I be working about Silicon Valley for the most part of 15 years, video games mostly. Arr and I believe Addy did get a treasure coin from you at the festival, we had a great time!

Arr, I was unable to resist...

Ahoy and welcome aboard Redvipers.

Captain Roberts, I've actually purchased 3 hat blanks from Blockade Runner, and the brims on all of them ranged from 3.5 to 5 inches. Now it might be that I be buying them online and I just took what I could get. The prices were cheap enough at the time, though it appears their prices have gone up a bit. Calling or visiting them in person might have been the better way to go. How far away do you be from their warehouse? In anycase, Jas. Towsend & Son and Lady MacSnood's be me favorites. Lady MacSnood's if I be wanting a color other than black.

Arr, me hopes have once again been dashed on the rocks, like so many ships... Mister Redhand, find that link or you be walking the plank!

Arr, that be another fine establishment.

Ahoy and welcome aboard!

Ahoy and welcome aboard there Bessie!

Arr and welcome aboard Wolf'awks!