Getting dirty or how not look brand new

[Littleneckhalfshell]

I have been noticing in the many pictures of people in their garb that so often it looks too new.

(nothing against those who are out there putting stuff together, you all seem to be doing a great job)

I am just wondering how many pirates would have slops that were still white, or not stained with at least 'tar' somewhere? or patched?

Are there any of you out there who have found good ways of distressing your garb?

Anyone ever try to simulate or actually give the kit some powder burns to simulate close combat?

I would guess that a pirate would want his stuff in good repair, not run around in rags if he could help it, but unlike today where a stain will get an item discarded, I would expect, an evident repair or a stain that just won't come out, would be the norm for the time period.

So, 'how about getting dirty? '

[casketchris]

my hollywood pirate gear is very aged i used a mix of spray paints coffee sand paper and my greasy mechanic gloves at work kenneth did some powder burns on his jacket right after making it and the damn thing caught on fire as for my new "historica' er looking gear im waiting till its all done that way i only have to get dirty once...

[Abrams]

Well...

Do stuff. Do stuff that a sailor (or someone from the period) might do. Hang around the beach, do woodwork, fire some guns! Do something with tar.

Find out how / if period sailors washed their clothes, and try and simulate that. The real stains will stay in, probably.

Try not to bleed on it, but it'd look alright. Don't fray your hems pn purpose -- a sailor wouldn't want to ruin his clothes...

[casketchris]

Try not to bleed on it, but it'd look alright.

well with my hand sewing i cant help it

[Kenneth]

I put my Justacorp thru the ringer...Shot at it, stabbed it, sand papered it, repaired it, shot at it some more, brown ritz dye in a squirt bottled it and then caught it on fire. Then I buried it in the mud for a week, dug it up and washed it and turned out great. Then I realized I could have just worn it doing my weekend honey do's around the house and it would have looked just as great. Who knew wool was so flammable?

[Bilgemunky]

Who knew wool was so flammable?

That seems an entirely signature-worthy quote. Or maybe I'm just drunk.

Probably a little bit of both.

[casketchris]

and then caught it on fire.

ya that was a big oops i remember the call "dude i think i just f**k up my coat"

[Patrick Hand]

With my old cotton slops, I had no problem distressing them.... I looked at where I wear-out my normal jeans, and attacked them with sand papper, and some ash frrom the inside of an oil lamp.....

But with my new hand finished hemp slops....... eeergh..... I might let them wear naturaly.....

I will have to waRsh them befor going to PiP..... after wearing them last weekend at the Rendezvous, they got nicely authentic.....I just don't think whoever sits next to me on the airplane trip out to PiP would appreceate the authentic smell tho........

[CrazyCholeBlack]

- stop washing, at least anything more than your shirt/shift and especially stop washing in the machine with bleach and modern cleansers. If you *have* to wash something use lye soap, boiled on the stove and hung on the line.

- stop being prissy while camping. Sorry, but it's true. Sit in the dirt, kneel on the ground while starting the fire, gather fire wood with your apron, wipe your hands/nose on your pants/shirt/sleeve/apron etc. clean your gun with your neckerchief. Our dry sponge was too wet during one battle a few months ago so we dried it on my apron, darn things never looked better!

- sleep in your clothes. Seriously. When at an event just don't take anything off. By day 2, you'll start looking pretty "authentic" & smelling that way too.

- have the bare minimum of clothes. less clothes = more wear over the course of a season.

HTH

[Patrick Hand]

stop washing in the machine

But waRshing in a michine does wear clothing out faster......

On my cotton slops, I sanded the seams and top of the legs (where I get the most wear on my jeans) then throw them into the waRshing machine.... they got durty quick enough at an event....

A few carefully sewn on patches also help.... but sew them on the same way you'd patch a sail......

The soot from the inside of an oil burning lamp (but not too much) will grunge up clothing..... sprinkle just a little onto the clothing.... then try to get it out.... It will eventully waRsh out... but it takes forever......

Or just go camping for a weekend wearing yer garb.....

[Fox]

For those looking for truly authentic dirt, I am prepared (for a reasonable fee of course) to wear your clothes to work. Worked on all my kit!

Chole also has some very good points. I clean my shirts and stockings, but the rest of my clothes I just leave hung up to air for a few days between events - it stops them smelling too much of B.O. without affecting the dirtiness. Most importantly, live in the clothes when you're wearing them.

One of the points I made in my lecture at RF2 is that smelling like a sailor will add a great deal to your impression. I don't notice it any more, but I'm told that a stink of hemp and tar precedes me at events.

But if you really must distress your clothes aritificially, I've found nothing better than fullers earth and a cheese grater.

[Capt. Sterling]

If you have the type of yard where you don't have to worry about someone disappearing with your kit, then by all means, hang it outside and leave it there... the weather will do a nice bit of aging, especially allowing the sun to fade the fabrics, turn it every day, simple but very effective. I also recommend sand paper where you lean your elbows upon the table, knees from kneeling, tail from sitting, and any other spots that would have been rubbed regularly whilst working... example, hems, cuffs, buttonholes... You can also sand down buttons that are bright and shiny. And there is nothing easier than "losing" a few buttons here and there...or mismatched buttons.

Experiment first with Bleach. A solution of Bleach and water, can be used to do a quick fade on linen fabrics.

One of Foxe's great suggestions at RF2 was to store clothing, between events, in a large rubber tub with a sample of tar... the fabric will pick up the scent in no time and holds it for long periods. We have grown so used to the odor that we no longer notice it, but kids at events will be more than happy to tell you, you stink... so you will know its working... Also, why not just tar items that they would have tarred?

Whatever you do, keep in mind the desired result, for once you "age" you can't make it new again.

[Cheeky Actress]

To 'season' my kit, I have made it a habit to wear my working class mantua while raking and burning leaves. The odor of smoke and dirt clings to damp wool like you wouldn't believe! After working out in the yard the items go straight into a plastic tub.

I'll love to see the faces of the airport security when they look through my bag!

[Capt. Sterling]

For bloodstains, use tea dyes. Start out weak and work your way darker a bit at a time... Remember blood stains do not remain red but turn dark browns. Real blood, well if you're healthy,...why not? But remember certain diseases can last awhile even in dried blood, for example Hepatitis can last at least a week...

[Cheeky Actress]

(Looking somewhat concerned...) Well...let's see what ailments were 'in fashion'...

Abortive

Apoplexic

Cancer

Childbed

Chrisomes

Collick

Consumption

Convulsion

Dropsie

Fever

Flox and small pox

Flux

Gout

Grief

Griping in the guts

Jaundice

King's Evil

Lethargy

Plague

Rickets

Sciatica

Scowring

Scurvy

Spotted fever

Ulcer

Vomiting

Winde

Wormes

Pick one....

[Capt. Sterling]

Huh?

Okay my question would be how prevalent are moth holes for men not stationed on land for long periods of time?

[Ransom]

I don't know about moth holes, but there's got to be some kind of vermin on board that would snack on your wool clothing.

As for aging stuff, I thought about it, and decided I would let mine age on it's own. The only thing I have washed so far is my shirt. My linen coat, never. At the two events I've attended, I had to fly in, and my frock coat is too bulky to pack, so I wear it, or I sling it over my shoulder. On board I used it as a blanket or rolled it up into a pillow. Then, at the events, I live in it. Both times it's been rained on, and dried while still on me. In fact, I'm developing quite the love affair with my trusty coat.

Next, linen britches (so I can ditch the black jeans) and a new shirt (my current one is cotton muslin — very cheap).

My belt is an old leather saddle cinch, very used, and my boots (no, not bucket boots, but boots none-the-less) I wear with street clothes as well, so they are getting aged nicely and naturally.

I'm not a garb purist, but I think I'm looking okay for a beginner.

[Red-Handed Jill]

Your garb did look good!

I'm mostly letting my garb age on its own as well. My white shirt has permanently grey cuffs and some interesting stains here and there. The dark red shirt is starting to get some other colours on it as well. My black linen pants, well, I have two of those so it's taking longer to get those to show wear.

[Morgan Dreadlocke]

I'm about to go outside an experiment with pool acid and bleach on some scraps. Past experiences says bleach will leave white or lighter colored frizz around any holes it produces. Hoping the pool acid won't disturb the colors.

Ya wanna distress that shirt? Eat a few jack in the box tacos whilst driving cross town

[Janette Morgan]

Mmm... great tips here, great tips. If I ever find m'self needing to distress some pirate garb, I'll make sure to take your suggestions... although folks at the dairy where I find m'self employed may look a little strangely upon that sort of clothes!

(Also, I dun'believe Essence of Cow is exactly authentic pirate odour.)

Interesting story with your coat, Ransom. Reminds me of a few articles of clothing I've had over the years; one that comes to mind is a pair of sandals I'm currently retiring into pirate footwear.

[theM.A.dDogge]

welll...ifn anyones havin trouble aging ther clothes....just let me or me brother wear at an event em at an event fer ...oh ...about an hour... ..nevr had trouble ruin stuff.....

my trouble is tryin to keep stuff clean!!!

mostly just use the same dinner habits as they did....wipe the guiness from yer beard with yer sleeve....wipe off the durty blackpowder residue off a yer weapon...with yer beard.....wipe yer beard off wit yer justacorps......wipe yer justacorp off wt yer britches......shine yer shoes wit...wit.....did i say beard again

[Will Fiddle]

I got a lot of grief for being too clean, and I still get grief for being to neat. I am shooting for the look of one who cares about appearance and yet wears the same clothes all the time by necessity.

I like cooking in garb, its a great way to pick up stains that never come out completely, plus you get to stretch fabric reaching for things and soak up more precious smoke.

Walk around in lakes and rivers on hot days.

I also store my tobacco with my kit, so I tend to smell of the weed.

[Captain_MacNamara]

I've made it a habit to clean my guns/cannon with my shirts It started out by accident really, the first few times I fired off my cannon, a bit of the burnt powder got on my shirt and never came out. Then I just started "adding" to it here and there. Nothing says authentic like the smell and stains of gunpowder and rum

[Quartermaster James]

I have shamelessly hickory smoked my gear.

The ladies constantly compliment me on the aroma.

[oderlesseye]

For bloodstains, use tea dyes. Start out weak and work your way darker a bit at a time... Remember blood stains do not remain red but turn dark browns. Real blood, well if you're healthy,...why not? But remember certain diseases can last awhile even in dried blood, for example Hepatitis can last at least a week...

Eye have a blood stain spatter patern on my right side to coinside with and open flesh wound i create ((with make up) Another subject entirely)

I blacken my face to look like grungy black powder and dirt stains...along with the cotton shirt. ... Funny the topic came up..Eye will be dissstressing my shirt more tonight for Cutthroats of Corona.