Just ignore those tumbleweeds bouncing by...

Oh well.

It's been so long since I've had a chance to come back to this blog. But it's symptomatic of what's happened in my life at home. I just haven't been able to focus on fun hobby-type things in a long time. And when I do, it's usually utility type things and not really mucking around. I did finish some tunics... But it's time to work on some more. The gambeson is still in pieces. I haven't gotten much armour work done. But in terms of getting ahead, I have what I need to start some silk painting finally (and I took a class). I also took Cariodoc's class at Pennsic on boiled leather finally. It was really interesting, and things look a lot easier than I anticipated. But as things go, I'm hoping to refocus on things again in the future. I still have a pile of utility type things I want to do, but I've also got an idea for Spring Pent in March so maybe I can do some fun things by then.

Holiday updates

Well I haven't made a progress update in a while so I will give a quick update.  I've completed several camp tunics in the last few months.  Partly because I need to camp garb but also to work on the tunic pattern and make it work for me a little bit better.

While home for the holidays I took this same pattern and began modifying it for a quilted gambeson for under my lamellar that Dafydd has been working on.

So far I haven't gotten much done.  The pieces are mostly cut and some of the smaller ones are quilted.  I've had to get the knack for quilting in lozengy (diamond) shape while I work so it's been slow going. But I think I'm getting it.  See some of the cut pieces in the picture above.

Hopefully learning this technique will serve me well.  It would also work for a padded helm coif too.  :-)

Fighter Tunic

Tunic mock up

At War of the Trilliums this year, Duchess Dagmar and I had a really, really excellent conversation about the unique challenges some non-traditionally sized fighters can have with equipment and armour.

I have to say, her mentoring has been such an invaluable part of my experience as a fighter.  Both in a sense of starting to fight, and my development.  I don’t know how to say it any other way, but she is an incredible lady and I’m so proud to fight with her!

After our chat, she kindly lent me one of her tunics as a pattern.  I worked it out before Pennsic and returned it to her there.

I have already used her very versatile pattern to develop some quick camp chemises/undertunics.  Now that I’m back from Pennsic, I can take one making a few good linen fighter tunics to wear.  It will be nice to combine my armour pants with a tunic instead of a turtle neck!  

This will be a priority in the fall to work on.