Learning the blacksmith’s art. Hatpins with Martin the Blacksmith.

Robin of Twyford’s Basket-weaving class 2018. Much fun had by all.

Upcoming Classes

All classes held at the hall require payment of $5 Hall fee, plus a per night insurance levee of $10 for adult  non members or $5 for non member children. .  Additional material costs as advised on each post.  Bringing along projects for help/advice or just to complete them with good company always welcome.
Sets of Calligraphy and Illumination paints are available to order for $15 if needed, or there is a $2 fee to use Baronial equipment.

2019

January:

9th:  We start the year off with Calligraphy and Illumination with Lady Kamara.  Usual hall fees, non member insurance (if needed) and $2 to use River Haven equipment apply.

16th: Should be our first General Meeting for the year

23rd:  Arrow fletching with Bryce.
Requirements;   the participants will need two 2.4m long, 8mm dowel. Tassie Oak if making combat arrows. About $4ea ($8 per 6 arrows) at Bunnings. They will also need $15. This covers, 4x flights, 6x blunts, Filament tape, electrical tape, glue, and nocks. I will have several sets of tools so we can fit as many people as required. If someone has any or all of the materials we will work out the costings of materials. I will have some shafts at the hall. It will be first come first served and I would suggest buying some from Bunnings to ensure they have some.

30th:  UFO’s and Largesse.   There has been a request to learn hemming techniques and some basic embroidery stitches to work on Largesse items, so bring your sewing kit.  There will also be space for at least one person to catch up/finish combat arrows from last week.

February:

6th:  Persian Garb with Lady Kamara.
Requirements will be 2 lots of 2.5m fabric to make a Pirihan and Shalvar. (Pants and Persian chemise style under garment) Plus scissors, measuring tape, sewing stuff, etc.  Basic notes are here
recommended material is light weight cotton in plain colours or can be stripped for pants.
Should have enough time to measure, draw and cut both items and possibly start sewing.

13th:  Calligraphy and Illumination with Lady Kamara.

16th Is Red and White (see events) at which there are three Arts and Sciences competitions to be judged.  Facebook event

23rd and 24th:  Workshop Saturday and Sunday Morning. !!!POSTPONED!!!   Due to the current weather conditions and a few other factors, a decision was made to defer this Saturday’s Viking Garb class. Weather permitting the hall will be open on Sunday for projects (morning) and the dance class (afternoon), and we can have an abridged starter class in the morning if desired, otherwise the whole class will be held later in the year.

Basic T tunic and Apron Dress with Mistress  Gwynhavyr. POSTPONED  A good start to garb making for those who want to learn something easy, also useful to take advantage of the cheap Christmas fabric available at present to make something for the end of year Viking Yule event.  Basic t tunic on the Saturday 10 am to 5ish pm (requires approx 4 metres white cotton or linen) and basic apron overdress from 10 am Sunday till dance class starts at 3 (requires 2.5 metres approx of coloured fabric. You will also need to bring your basic sewing kit/supplies (needles, threads, tap measures, scissors etc),and your own lunch.
Hall costs of $5 per day (but on Sunday one hall fee covers both this class and dance) with of course $5 per day insurance levee for non members.
Followed on the Sunday by the Medieval Dance Class.  (Subject to weather)

27th Documentation with Mistress Gwynhavyr.  How to write up your Arts and Sciences Competition Entry in the best way possible.

March:

6th:  Weaving in the round – small pouch.

13th Calligraphy and Illumination with Lady Kamara

20th General Meeting And Banner Painting

27th TBA.

30th and 31st  Second proposed Workshop:  Making an Italian Coat with Lady Ringwar Northwood.  10 am to 5 pm Saturday, 10 am to 3pm Sunday. Requirements

Wool, tapestry or a good heavy jacquard fabric at least 140cm wide. Twice you length from shoulder to approx. 10 cm below your knee (if you want a longer one measure to the floor and add 10cm). In addition, another metre for sleeves if you want them.

Lining fabric – cotton or linen to match/contrast the outside fabric.

Calico – 2 m to make a mock up for body and sleeves.

50 cm – silk or linen – flash fabric for piping around the collar and sleeves. Piping is a great skill

to learn and makes garb look very professional. I will bring piping cord.

Sewing machine, brown paper and cello tape, scissors, pins, ruler, measure tape silver or black

hook and eye (size 3), cotton and sewing needles. Oh and some spare sewing machine needles.

All fabric will need to be pre washed and ironed ready for sewing.

I will bring an extra iron and ironing board. Please bring your lunch etc on both days.

This is a hand’s on class with no notes. So come along for the weekend and stay for dance and

potluck on Sunday.

Followed on the Sunday by the Medieval Dance Class.

April:

3rd: Spinning wheel basics.  Learning the basic parts of a spinning wheel and how it works.  This should be of great assistance if you are looking at picking up a second hand wheel to know what sort of repairs it may need.  Will be showing how to make certain dodgy repairs on the cheap if needed. Will be talking about preparing wool for spinning and what forms are available to buy.  Hopefully you will get to have a turn at trying to spin with the wheel.  I would also recommend parts of this class to our woodworkers, as the basic mechanics of a spinning wheel can be easily adapted to create a foot powered lathe or drill, or a potter’s wheel.

10th:  “What can I wear to do Rapier?”  with Euphemia.  A discussion on what would best suit your style to wear for Rapier fighting.  To be followed up with practical workshop.  May also be having Calligraphy and Illumination with Lady Kamara, if not held previous week.

17th:  General Meeting

24th:  TBA

27th & 28th:  Rapier Garb Workshop with Euphemia.  Requirements TBA.  Followed on the Sunday by the Medieval Dance Class.

May:

Apologies- due to a mundane life crisis most of May has not had organised classes.  However this will hopefully be changing soon.

29th:  UFO’s and Largesse, also a pre- Great Northern War SCAdian Etiquette class from His Excellency Baron Dimitri.

June:

5th:  We’ve had a request for some basic sewing techniques, so will be available to talk seams and so forth.
12th:  Lady Kamara’s Calligraphy and Illumination class will be swapped until next week, however the kits will still be available at the hall at the usual cost for those who wish to practice.
19th:  Monthly meeting.  Banner painting available as always.  Lady Kamara’s Calligraphy and Illumination class will also be held this week.
26th:  TBA

July: apologies, formal classes were not organised for a few weeks due to mundane life crises, apart from Lady Kamara’s C&I on the 10th.
17th:  Baronial meeting is postponed until next week to allow everyone to recover from Abbey.  The Honourable Lady Kara will be giving lessons on how to be a Constable at Large.  This is a great and not difficult service to perform for the group.
24th:  Monthly meeting.
28th (Sunday)  3pm  Medieval Dance Class with Peter the Uncertain.  Hall will be open from 11ish to be able to copy Tudor patterns and work on projects.
31st:  Water bottle covers.  This will be making covers for mundane water bottles to make them less obvious at events, and also if the more advanced style is done, keep them cool.  The techniques can be used for basic pouches as well, and both pouches and water bottle covers make fantastic largesse (gift) items.  You will need (for a standard water bottle) at least one piece of fabric approx 35×35 cm.  If you wish to line it, a second piece of lining fabric of about the same size, and if you wish to interline it to keep it cool, a piece of thermal fabric such as that used in the soft “cold bags”  of the same dimensions.  Scissors, thread, and needles appropriate to the thread used.  A shoelace, luceting or other cord, and if you wish to do thread eyelets for the cord, some appropriate thread (crochet cotton is a good weight).  Should you wish to paint or embroider a device to make your own cover instantly recognisable, do so on the outer fabric, approximately centered, prior to class please.  This is also a good starting project for those unsure of their own hand sewing skills. Even if you do not want to make one for yourself, I would strongly encourage you to make one for largesse.

August:

3rd:  (Saturday) Calligraphy and Illumination day with Lady Kamara.  Usual hall fee of $5 applies.  BYO lunch or if enough interest we may make it a pot luck lunch.
7th: Half circular cloaks.  Although the cold weather is almost over, many people have found themselves caught out without something period to throw on to keep the chill away.  You will need a piece of thick fabric (a wool blanket is a good starter), the size of which would be:  for a cloak as long as the width of your fabric, double the width of the fabric in length. If you wish a shorter cloak (less than the width of your fabric), the length required will be double the length you wish it to be from the back of your neck, plus about 10 cm to allow for hemming.  Some type of fastening such as a pin or cloak clasp is useful.  They can be lined (same amount of fabric as body of the cloak), and you can also fur trim them if desired.  A cloak can be as simple or as complex as you desire, if you have ideas feel free to have a chat about them prior to class.  You will also need needle, thread, pins, and tape measure.  Working in pairs is encouraged as it gives you someone to hold your tape measure.  Again, this is a good easy project to start with.
14th:  Being Ekka holiday, we will be endevouring to have the hall open from approx 12 midday for classes and workshops.  Come along to discuss Tudor garbing and work on your projects. Banner workshop will begin at 4pm, and our regular  C&I with Lady Kamara from 7pm.  Pot luck dinner to share encouraged.  We are also seeking teachers for medieval lanterns, glass bead making and inkle loom weaving. Please contact the A&S officer if you can help.
17th:  Our affiliated Canton of Stegby will be holding their annual Feast of Friendship out at Warwick. ( https://www.facebook.com/events/1899377820116825 )They have the following Arts and Sciences Competitions available to enter.
ARTS AND SCIENCE COMPETITION
Mad Hatters Feast of Friendship – Stegby
(1) mad hat – period in style, no documentation required, let your imagination go mad
(2) Queen of Hearts – you choose, interpret
(3) EAT ME – a period cake or biscuit with recipe (tasting plate of 3 for the judges)
(4) period hat with documentation
Ages 6 and under Colour in the Queen of Hearts (picture can be provided on asking)
7- 12 a handkerchief with some form of embroidery
13 – 17 an apron hand made
Any enquiries to Lady Dorothye or Lady Gabriella.
21st:  Monthly business meeting.
25th  Medieval Dance Class with Peter the Uncertain.

28th:  Tudor Underskirt and Foresleeves.  These are usually made in matching fabrics for a formal Tudor Gown, and are surprisingly the easiest part to make first.  (The gold coloured parts in the photo)  For fabric you will need a nice flashy fabric – brocade is wonderful, in a contrasting colour to your gown (Tablecloths can be an inexpensive source of the brocade needed) .  The minimum of this will be a strip approximately 10 cm wide by your waist measurement plus 10cm, One to four panels the width of the fabric by the length of your skirt from your waist plus 10cm (you can get away with using only one panel of your fancy fabric for the front, and having the rest made of panels of calico or other cheap fabrics), plus 4 pieces approx 70x80cm (for the foresleeves).  These can be lined with similar sized pieces of fabric, and if you wish to do fake puffs instead of having to pull puffs through each time you don them, you will need pieces of linen or cotton to match your chemise, two of them being approx 10-15cm x 85, plus 6 circles approx 25cm in diameter.  Plus of course your usual sewing kit – needles, threads, pins, scissors, tape measure and, if preferred, sewing machine.  You will also need a strip of felt (can be in several pieces) half an inch wide, and the length of your three fabric panels for the underskirt wide (basically the same amount as your hemline, but it will be used to help cartridge pleat the skirt onto the band).

Any queries let me know.

The gold part of the sleeves are the foresleeves, which are made to match the underskirt/underdress front panel. The red velvet gown is a French Gown with the sleeve Turnback done in a red and gold silk brocade, pearled into a grid pattern. Under all is a French Farthingale (hoop skirt) and a Chemise. The French Hood should be being worn with a coif underneath – one of the scandalous things about Anne Boleyn was that she did not wear a coif under hers.

September:
4th.  Aprons.  Pleated, gathered, Tudor, Viking.  A discussion of types and how to make them.  If you wish to make one you will need aprox 1 m of white linen (can be black for Tudor, or red or yellow for some late period applications), as well as your usual sewing gear.  If pleated Italian is your fancy, make sure to bring lots and lots of pins.
11th:  C&I
18th Meeting night
25th:  Lacings – how what when and why.  Postponed until next week due to illness

October:
2nd:  Lacings as above
9th:  C&I/pigments
16th:  Monthly Meeting.  Banner painting will be available.
23rd:  We are moving UFO’S and Largesse to this week because over the next week…
27th:  Dance class will move back to 5pm for a garbed revel.  Period food encouraged (pot luck to share).
31st:  Halloween.  Pot luck revel.  Dress up in your spookiest gear, bring some spooky food to share.

November:

6th:  Naalbinding with Mistress Gwynhavvyr Basic class, large needles and wool if you have them, or we can organise plastic needles for beginners.
13th:  Pigment classes with Baroness Jocelyn.  Tba
20th:  Monthly meeting.
27th:  Roy’s Belt making class.  He has started a poll on the Rivehaven FB page, but if you are interested and do not have access please contact us before 20th November.   Details as per his post:  If you wish to partake in this class, you MUST let me know before 20th November.
This is because I will have to buy the belt blanks and other equipment required for this class. Belt blank lengths may vary due to availability.
There will be a $20 price tag on this class to cover the cost of said equipment and materials.
This class will suit anyone from absolute beginners upwards.
Please indicate which size (width) belt you would prefer. THINK about it before choosing, as there will be no option of changing your mind after I buy them. 13mm (women, later period unisex)  25mm (men’s)  50mm (for hanging a sword etc).