michaelsbagley

You are an evil (but very helpful) woman! But you already know that...

I was haviong an internal debate over using buying and using some hemp canvas for a tent for my "other" period...

I was asked to see if anyone (meaning probably Kass) knows anything about "underpinnings" for this period.... I should just get the woman to sign onto the list herself and ask her own questions...

Thanks Kass!

That answer gives me all the confidence I (I should say her and I) needed to put scissors to the fabric and have at it...

we'll will read the historic notes on order to help further the costume and her accompannying persona along... We probably should have done that before raising the question of context... (Stupid lazy pirates we be)

I'll post pics as progress goes on (and with two of us sewing, it should go faster than my stuff did).

I will also try to talk her into a mantua (you extortionist ) for more day to day wear.... It looks like I have a few patterns more to order (grumbling about extortionist again )... A waist coat for me, and a mantua for her and the accessories pattern when it comes out... Might as well get the justacorps pattern for when I want to be all spiffy... and maybe a Brandenburg for cooler weather and a great coat for really cold days... Am I forgetting anything? Oh, the new black powder weapons have been whispering my name late at night...

Shall I just start having my boss deposit my paycheques to the RH's account?

Hi there, I've done a brief search on the Ladies riding outfit, and have found that there hasn't been a really good converstaion about this style of outfit here yet. After getting most of my authentic(ish) garb together, my other half is bugging me to help her get hers started, and she has chosen to go with the ladies riding outfit (pattern bought from none other than Reconstructing history of course ).

So I have a number of questions, and I hope I don't take up too much digital real estate with this post...

What reasonable context(s) would a woman wear this type of outfit in near or around pirates? Perhaps a travelling merchant woman? Any other suggestions or thoughts?

And would it be reasonable for a woman of modest means (middle class, as in the merchant lady example above) to have an outfit of this type in a plain wool rather than a brocaded fabric?

As for colour, is a dark peacock blue pushing the limits of the reasonable period colour wheel (so to speak)?

Hmmm... Patrick's comments have stirred a couple of questions that have been knwing at the back of my skull for a while...

Waistcoats... Were they worn with the short style of jacket? I know Reconstructing history sells a long waistcoat pattern, but it looks like the long waistcoat would be too long to fit under the short style of jacket, and hence just look funny or otherwise be impractical... Maybe I should have posted this question in the thread about waistcoats.... If a moderator thinks it appropriate please feel free to move this post to that thread...

I've read a bit about the hanging tankard thread... Wish I could offer some useful advice or help with that one...

Kass, you should never appologize for waffling, or at least to me you shouldn't... I am the king of waffling on decisions!

Although the thought of having both a blue and a grey jacket is appealing...

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 to everyone for your compliments...

There actually was a reason for my using cotton canvas/duck cloth on this... but I won't get into that...

And your arguments in favour of both the grey and the blue wool are not helping Kass!

The main reason I'm reluctant to use the grey wool is it is a very even grey (not mottled as the Kersey looks in the photos on your site), where as the blue is slightly mottled and a bit more natural looking (although possibly a bit dark for a period accurate blue).... Then there is also a chance I might use something altogether different (I still have some ochre/mustard coloured wool that is slightly fulled in I beleive a taby weave, and I picked up some medium brown worsted herringbone when I was in Canada last weekend.... On clearance for $5/yard!) Far too many decisions for my poor little brain to make at this moment....

I think I am going to do something simple like a period shirt first... then maybe I'll have a stab at a wool jacket...

I didn't base the jacket off any existing extant samples, or any specific art and went with something generic and customized o my tastes... Which is why I added the collar, and pockets (I am a pocket freak, I always think I need more)... I also like the "poor man's" turned back cuffs with the contrasting coloured lining showing...

Going from the advice and wisdom gleamed from both this thread and the other thread about the Common Man's or Sailor's jacket and using the Reconstructing History pattern RH 705, I have made a jacket for myself. It took about 20 to 25 hours spread out over two weeks (although I didn't pay too close to how much time it took).

I did hand sew everything (including the button-holes). The jacket outer shell is constructed of green modern canvas/duck cloth, and lined with a brick red 100% linen (plain tabby weave). I used some brass buttons I found at the local JoAnns.. The size is accurate based on what research I could do on the internet concerning period buttons, although the posts on the back (which are invisible anyway) are not consistent with the period examples I could find pictures of...

Here's how it looks...

Now I'm going to work on some other projects... And maybe in a month or so, I will try another made from 100% wool... I have some blue wool in a tabby weave, or some grey in a simple twill that I am debating between using...

Love to hear what some of you think about the jacket.

Well, this event happenned this past Saturday night, and it was a good time!

There was a good size crowd out, enough people to keep the smallish hall looking full, but not so crowded as to make things feel claustriphobic... the drinks were plentiful and not too overpriced ( consistant with regular bar pricing, and not highly overinflated in other words), and the prizes and giveaways were amusing and fun... There was a raffle, and a 50/50 draw, tickets were $5 for one, $10 for three or $20 got you a boob load of tickets ($20 got you the privelage of measuring your strip of tickets around the pluntiful chest of the bellydancer while she shimmied), and at the end of the night, there was a contest for best dressed pirate, conveniently one by yours truly....

The band was good, the other acts but humourous and entertaining, and all around it was just a good fun light hearted night perfect for staying warm during a long cold Toronto night... So much good I can say about this fundraiser for the Toronto Pirate Festival... But space and time limit me....

Thanks BlackJohn, that does help... I was confused as to when the American army actually developed their own uniforms (pre or post revolution).

Patrick, the goblin mask looks great! Keep up the good work and keep posting the pics as woprk progresses (or as long as your camera cooperates)

You start calling people Mate, and ending your sentences with "eh."

"So, mate, had a rough ride to work, eh?"

That just sounds like someone who can't get their Australian and Canadian accents straight!

revwar is a helluvalot of fun... if you are ever interested, alot of my guys still do it.

Yeah, but my sympathies lie to what would be considered "the other side"... I would be a very lonely Red Coat....

Did the American's have uniforms for the revolution? Or was it pretty much the Red Coats vrs. "irregulars"? I've seen a lot of the guys that do "irregular" or "militia" use most of the same garb and accoutrments for both Rev-War and 1812... Although I imagine from the closer proximaty in time, almost all the garb and accoutrments could be used for both Rev-War and F&I War (also known as 7 Years War?)

Ya know, it might be better if you don't answer those questions.. I still have a lot to learn about GAoP, and keeping up with my Dark Age stuff anf the GAoP is already as consuming as I should realistically allow myself to get... Asking questions about other re-enactment genres is just me begging for trouble...

Thanks for clearing that up for me... Coming from where the other side of the border... I've heard a slightly different side of the story...

You make a good point with the Loyalists didn't flee until after the war was settled and done with... I think my having been around 1812 and Rev-War re-enactors as little as I have, and the fact that it's a lot of the same guys and gals doing both, I've confused and mixed a lot of the stories from each genre a bit...

I think if I ever seriously branch into either Rev-War or 1812, I'm going to have to do a lot more reading...

The above photo that GoF posted, has suddenly very much changed my opinion of the appearance of the actress who plays River... In the above photo, she shines as the most striking one in the whole lot, with the actress that plays Zoe as a close second... The other two just don't seem to measure up in this particular picture...

What a strange (to me) way to measure who you'd want to spend time with. (No offense meant here.) Have you ever seen one photo of a person that makes them look ok and then seen another that makes them look fantastic? It may even be a picture of them taken on the same day at the same place, wearing the same kit. Photographs (and all appearances for that matter) can disguise an awful lot. I think it's a pretty poor tool for making such a decision.

This reminds me of a philosophy I like (and I'm not sure who came up with it) that people can go through four stages in their life. The first is the Athlete - where you show your talents off. The second is the Warrior - where you pit your talent against others. The third is the Statesman/Stateswoman - where you use your talents as a benefactor, working on others' behalf . The fourth is the Master - where you teach others what you have learned. Some people get stuck and never go beyond a particular level. Appearance is down there at level one. I'll take a higher order mate over a lower order one any day.

It's a thread that is based partly on superficial attraction, and partly on the likability of fictitious characters... Does that help explain why one picture makes someone more desirable than another?

I've found my perfect woman, and if I wanted to be completely serious, I wouldn't want to spend time with any of these women, as I'm perfectly happy with my current lot in life.

Didn't most of the loyalists flee to Canada?

Are you saying that you want to be a Canadian?

The idea was to NOT become a Canadian.... it just didn't work out that way.....

I live in California, so there isn't any Rev. War stuff going on out here.... (OK.. there may or may-not be one or two displaced Easterners out here.... I just don't know of them...)

So when are you going to post updated pictures of the goblin outfit?

The batterys died in my Digital camers, so I had to re-charge them.... but I'm planning on taking pictures of the goblin, and my browncoat stuff... hopefull by this weekend.......

Okay, now I'm confused... Either that or my brain is shutting down...

The Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War (or War of Independance as some prefer)... Weren't they the ones who did not want to be independant and remain British? And hence many (most? all?) fled to what is now Canada (then still a British colony)?

Or are you saying that they weren't trying to be Canadians, it was just a matter of time before it just happenned.... Am I following this right?

I've always wanted to put together a Rev-War "King's Royal Yorkers" uniform... I like the fact that they wore green uniforms rather then the typical Red Coat... A project to think about for a future year(s)....

I also favoured the "Glengarry Light Infantry" uniforms in the North American War of 1812 as well, also because they are green... it's kind of funny, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing green in my day to day life (okay that might be exagerating a bit), but it seems to be my favourite colour for re-enacment clothing....

http://swedensbest.com/cloudberries.html

Did you know you could get cloudberry jam over here... I grew up on the lingonberries...my Gram's favorite... and Swedish pancakes, still have her griddle and the Dalahäst, have the Rooster too.

I once made a cloudberry malemel (fruit flavoured mead).... It turned out amazing.. I may still even have a bottle or two around... Unfortunately, it cost way too much for the ingredients (frozen imported berries are expensive), so it is a recipe I will be very unlikely to duplicate...

And PirateSSe, I know it's hard, but there will always be angry people in the world, the only solution is to try and not let them get to you... in the past I've argued with the,... that doesn't work as one has to stoop to their level to argue.. so that doesn't work... I've tried to avoid them, but found I was only denying myself some good people's company in trying to avoid the few bad apples... Even ignoring them doesn't work, as venomous people will always find the need to spit in certain people's directions regardless of circumstances... Ignoring them just seems to have the least amount of ramifications... Hope this brings you some confort and comes as good advice..

RH705 (see, I know all my babies' names  )

Damn!  No RH702 for you then, Michael?  <sigh> 

Definately no to the RH702... (for now and probably a long time at least)

But when you finally release the pattern for the GAoP shirt/chemise and accessories, I will be all over that one like a fat kid on a cupcake..

Hint, hint, nag, nag... poke poke.... etc.

I heard you mention a knitting pattern in the Stocking thread... That one has my eyebrow arched... i know a couple of knitters who work at a very reasonable price, and are often willing to barter rather than take cash...

The above photo that GoF posted, has suddenly very much changed my opinion of the appearance of the actress who plays River... In the above photo, she shines as the most striking one in the whole lot, with the actress that plays Zoe as a close second... The other two just don't seem to measure up in this particular picture...

The shorter hair definately (in my opinion) doesn't work for the actress that plays Inara...

Hang in with those buttonholes, Michael! You'll be so happy you did.

{Just don't ever attempt a 1700s frock coat! I think that's 150 buttonholes... }

I think a nickel would be better than a dime. A dime might make a button that's too small to manage easily. Frankly, for your first shirt buttons, the size Skittles suggests is not a bad idea. Just remember to pull those gathers together tightly.

And do post pictures. I feel like this sailor's jacket of your is one of my offspring.

Yeppers, said sailor's jacket is an RH### (sorry I don't know your inventory off by heart yet )...

And you just talked yourself out of a sale on another pattern lady, with that 150 buttonhole comment...

I was hoping to finish it for this weekend, but as I am packing tonight, and leaving early tomorrow morning, the jacket will unfortunately not make it's debut as hoped...

Maybe I will bring the jacket along and beg the misses to sew for me during our 7 hour drive.... hmmm... I think I may have figured a way to dodge the "sewing the buttonhole" bullet...

So if I use Skittles suggested method, but a dime instead of a quarter I should be be fine... Thanks you Skittles and Kass for both of your advice!

And Patrick, please know that I share your pain... button holes are my least favourite part as well... I have been struggling VERY hard to not use the machine for those... After sewing the rest of the jacket by hand, I would just feel like a complete cop-out to surrender to the machine for the button holes...

On one hand, my love of my morning coffee is screaming in hopes that if Kass does not come, that someone does a coffee stand in her place... (I am a real jerk in the morning until I have had coffee)

But on the other hand, it would kind of feel like someone was stealing her thunder and her ideas...

Either way, has she officially made any decision yet? or has she spoken her own mind on this? Or is this mostly based on speculation at the moment?

I'm about to start on my shirt... So thinking ahead a bit (since the topic has come up anyway)...

I'm guessing by the sound of the nature of these fabric buttons that there might not be a standard size for them... But is there an average size? Or an ideal size? Or is it really a matter of feeling each button out, and letting it decide how big it wants to be?

On a bit of a tangent... I should be done my common man/sailor's jacket in the next day or so, and since I've worked so hard on it, I'm dieing to show it off... So I will post some pics when I finish lining the last sleeve and then get the buttons and button holes sewn on....

Sounds like another thread... you are LOST, who do you hang with?

Seems to me I may have started a LOST thread a year or two ago...

Best to leave the "Lost" thread burried.. Get me started on that whole thing, and there will be no shutting me up. And Kate on "Lost"... now there is a woman!

Not sure what you mean by the "who I hang with" bit... But on a whim I will say that I am straight, just quirky enough to be able to rate men without playing for that team ("not that there's anything wrong with that" to bring in a Seinfeld reference)...

I'd love to see the rev war kit. Love that period in history as well.

I don't do Rev. War (if I did, I'd be a Loyalist.....)

The Browncoat stuff is from a Sci-Fi movie.... Serenity...... (same with the Reavers)

Didn't most of the loyalists flee to Canada?

Are you saying that you want to be a Canadian?

So when are you going to post updated pictures of the goblin outfit? Labyrinth was (and still kind of is) one of my all time favourite movies.... If I lived on the West coast, I would be all over that goblin ball. Although with my long hair and my girlfriend obsession with Bowie, i would probably wind up going in tights with big teased up hair and lots of eye makeup...

Saffron... Was she the traitoress red haired chick? the one that was married to the Captain for a bit? It's been while since I watched the series, and I'm not remembering some of the more minor characters.

And if we are going to rate the guys, I'de have to say Mal over Jayne (Jayne just reminds me of any random Baldwin brother for some reason)... And any actor that does an appearance on "Lost" (another addiction of mine) is cooler in my books (it seems I am one to talk when it comes to the why's of someone's appeal )... And the professor is the man on Gilligan's Island.. There is no question there...

I guess I can see your point on "medicated" River being a cool and interesting girl though...

I dunno BlackJohn, I think I am gonna have to disagree with you on this on...

River (the character) even without a gun or a knife is still one creepy little lady...

Kaylee, coward as she may be, is certainly more attractive than River... If we were talking about going into a battle, i would choose to have River by my side over Kaylee, or even Inara any day.... But I thought this thread was more about who was the most attractive...

There does seem to be quite a strong leaning towards Inara... So all of you back away, she'e mine...