[Steppes] Golden Key garb

Wed May 31 07:44:36 PDT 2006

I have read all the comments with interest and think that there are lots
of really good ideas here.  

1.  Since we need to pare down the inventory of loaner garb and also
unclaimed lost and found, a silent auction at Artisan could work quite
well, with a couple of caveats.  Is there room for several tables (How
many tables would it take??) of this stuff?  We would need to contact the
Autocrat for Artisan to see if doing this at that event is viable.  To
get the best response, a little publicity will go a long way.  If you
like, I can run this as I have done several of these before.

2.  Having many problems with the heat myself, I have found that just
plain cotton works very well in Texas heat.  In addition, it is usually
cheaper to purchase than linen.  As a member of the American Sewing
Guild, there are many fabric stores (including some of those on Perth)
that will give me a discount when purchasing fabric.  Let me know if you
need my assistance with this.

I have heard many arguments regarding cotton vs. linen as period or not
period fabrics.  Some documentation indicates that Egyptian cotton was
used during our period as well as linen but the Egyptian cotton was not
as widely available.  To me, if we are trying to help newcomers with
loaner garb during the summer season, having lightweight breathable garb
is the most important issue.  Many people today go from their air
conditioned home to their air conditioned car to their air conditioned
work place and shop in air conditioned stores.  To suddenly go from all
that air conditioning to the heat of a Texas summer is a shock to the
body and we need to consider the safety issue of people utterly
unacclimated to the heat in this endeavor.

3.  As for the garb to be made, here are my thoughts.  Quilters cottons,
linen and cotton gauze are all good choices for summer garb.  Someone
mentioned longer tunics with a short over tunic for versatility. Also,
using Roman or Greek garb could work well in the heat.  I think these are
great ideas.  And to make these items in larger sizes.  This is also a
great idea -- a smaller person can wear larger garb but not vice versa. 
And for the question of trim.  Contrasting bands work well and we could
cut strips of tapestry or Jacquard into strips to use for contrasting
bands or trim -- I sure that many of us have scraps that would be well
used for this type of endeavor.  Do any members have fabric that they
were wondering what they were thinking when they bought that stuff?? 
Contribute it to the effort.

4.  Sewing work days.  We could check the calendar and do a weekend where
we sew, cook out, hang out, etc. when there is not an event in the
central region or something else requiring many members of the Barony to
attend.  Borrow the Steppes tables and set up cutting tables.  Then set
up sewing machines to "production" sewing along with a couple of ironing
boards for pressing.  The ASG has done this for a number of public demos
and they work quite well.  Again, if I can assist, let me know.

5.  Location.  Some brave soul may volunteer their home for this or we
may need to see about another location.  Think about this to see what we
all can come up with.

6.  I do not think that giving newcomers loaner garb is a good idea.  To
get them started by making their first tunic; teaching them rudimentary
sewing skills, etc. is a better approach.

Now that I have finished pontificating, I return you all to your
regularly scheduled life.

YIS,

Fionnghuala the Fair "Nuala" and/or my evil twin, Cedric
Borrow money from a pessimist -- they don't expect it back.

On Wed, 31 May 2006 03:32:12 EDT AlKudsi at aol.com writes:
> Well, I can tell you that in my more than 25 years in THIS barony, 
> we've 
> never intentionally given away garb or sold it to newcomers.  I've 
> been 
> Hospitaller twice, and during my terms, we always lent garb to 
> newcomers for a single 
> event.  Of course, sometimes we didn't get it back.  I distinctly 
> remember 
> several ladies going through their sewing rooms, and running up 4 or 
> 5 tunics 
> before big events like Warlord and I've sewn on trim and made 
> T-tunics to 
> contribute, myself, when the chests were rather empty.  I've also 
> given the Barony a 
> number of my own pieces when I (unfortunately) could no longer fit 
> in them or 
> when I changed from my original Norman persona to my current Middle 
> Eastern.  
> This having too MUCH is sort of new problem to my awareness.
> 
> Personally, my opinion follows much to the point that Lady Katheryn 
> made 
> earlier in that getting them sewing their own is a good way to 
> increase their 
> interest and getting them interested in researching various periods 
> of time.  If 
> they want to buy one the late period outfits that are so bulky and 
> limiting, I 
> say let them, but I don't think we should be getting into the 
> costuming 
> business by giving costumes away.  There are a number of merchants 
> who sell garb who 
> we would be taking bread from, as well.  
> 
> HL Saqra
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