In my experience with Shotgun certificates and Blackpowder licences I've noticed that Different forces seem to be following different laws.My current FO hasn't the slightest interest in what group I belong, having prety much settled on a wording he seems to like on the licence "For the purpose...

Just to add a ray of simplicity; you no longer (from June 2012) need separate RCA documents for moving black powder; as it's all included in the explosives licence. Hurrah! Don't forget that only applies to COER certificates issued after that date, so some people will not have that luxury until 201...

Just to add a ray of simplicity; you no longer (from June 2012) need separate RCA documents for moving black powder; as it's all included in the explosives licence. Hurrah!

I got my silk/viscose velvet from the Silk Society; it is wonderfully soft. It was (I think) £45 per meter 6 years ago.

http://www.thesilksociety.com/ (more fabric porn)

TBH for costuming purposes, silk/viscose is pretty good; with the good ones the pile is the silk bit, the viscose is completely hidden. Much better than the cotton stuff, anyway!

Such an *rse, as 2012 is the first year I have a group at Kelmarsh to join :/

Marcus Woodhouse wrote:Or for a fraction of the price buy a pole arm which you'll find so much more useful.

Carrying a polearm and a bow onto the battlefield is a trick that needs some practice! (I'm learning, but you can look a right idiot if it goes wrong).

Found a pic of it here along with some nice bracers.One of my pet hates is the use of huge laced up 'gutter' bracers by re-enactor archers. Embaressingly, it's never occured to me to check the authenticity of my bracer! I have a piece of thick leather laced up at the back, which is effectively gutt...

Someone this year also claimed they were pilgrim bells; altough I think this is a twisting ofthe Canterbury Bell pilgrims badge. (Hmm, just remembered I used to have one of those, wonder what happened to it?!)

Why would you want to clean your arrows? Nice bit of dirt never hurt anybody; well, apart from promoting arrow-fever, obviously, but that's a good thing, isn't it? ;) Honestly, I've been shooting 16 years in re-enactment and have never needed to clean my arrows. I think if I did I'd just wipe 'em on...

I think anything a wrist thickness or more would be worth keeping. Also the limbs need to be long, at least 6 foot. Yew needs to be seasoned thoroughly, at least 2 years.

Knitting now seems to be accepted for 15th C, there are pics of the virgin Mary Knitting, and knitted fabric has been found in medieval London deposits. However, it is kit only (no purl) on lots of needles (like socks) circular not flat. Used for hats and baby clothes!

[quote="nest" They were being sold at Westonbirt Treefest for an exorbitant sum and punters were told that they dated back to the C1st AD. Nest[/quote] Yup, this is where I saw one being used in the medieval camp. I didn't want to start in on the lass using it without some backup more than...

Sally: glad it's not just me then. I've looked for earlier origins, but can't find any! I saw one at the weekend in a living history camp and it sounded alarm bells, but I didn't want to go on without some backup! The SCA love them too, it seems.

Does anyone know the origins of these, and whether they would have been anywhere like common in the 14th-15th century? I suspect they are fairly modern, but would be happy to be proved wrong) By peg loom I mean the piece of wood with lots of pegs stcking up out of it,and the yarn is woven back and f...

Eric (Bool) has definitely wonky collarbones due (he believes) to shooting for so long; he started at 11. If you need first hand evidence, he will probably let you poke his shoulders

Last chance this week to join Cathy's Peacock dress challenge,and help Haiti at the same time. Please consider giving a couple of dollars! :thumbup: http://harmanhay.livejournal.com/593516.html I don't know if anyone at TORM saw the Your Wardrobe Unlock'd stall, the lovely owner is setting herself a...

At first look I would have assumed it just pulled on, as there are plenty of folds under the belt.
Could the sleeves be fur-edged? She's all wrapped up against the weather.

I don't know if anyone at TORM saw the Your Wardrobe Unlock'd stall, the lovely owner is setting herself a mad challenge to raise money for Haiti. http://harmanhay.livejournal.com/562622.html http://www.crowdrise.com/CathyHay This lady is a mad costumer, and incredibly skilled. If nothing else, spon...

Does anyone know where I can get a pattern (or hire the finished article) for a white waiter's mess jacket, or even just the military/formal mess jacket.

Sally, that would be brilliant, thankyou!

I will PM you my address

Sally, thankyou so much for the offer, but we are pirating in Lulworth

Hi all, I'm hoping to have a go at making a corset for the end of next month (ie June); can anyone recommend any good books? I've made a lot of stuff, but nothing that fitted! Just for once I'm not bothered about period correctness, modern ones ae fine! Also sources for boning and corset hooks/eyes,...

Just adding another good contents/kit insurer: Hiscox. They cover all of your possessions, even if temporarily away from home. I was explicitly told this includes tents, camping equipment etc, including re-enactment. It even covers your guitar, evne if you lend it to a mate in the pub! They are also...

New Members Wanted. Milwr Morganwg (otherwise known as "that weird Welsh lot) are recruiting. Are you looking for a group based around South Wales or Gloucestershire, but who do some traveling? Are you interested in archery and mid-late medieval living history? Are you willing to pretend you're...

According to the needle maker I spoke to at Berkeley, both steel and brass are fine for 15th century, but the reasons brass needles were more common isn't quite what I thought, it's because steel needles rust! The brass ones may start soft, but they harden the more you use them. Also brass is a must...

I was told recently that you use the same material as the cloth you are sewing, so linen for linen, wool for wool, silk for silk.

At the moment I cheat and use ordinary polyester cotton at home, and linen when on show!

Lovely pics But if we are being picky, the guy with his hand open on the bow is going to risk drop it if he looses! That's a recurve stance, from someone who learned to shoot with a modern bow and a wriststrap! (Not that I had to train myself out of that habit or anything.)

Rum! I am now educated in rum.
A lotta rrrrum.

So, piraty waistcoats. I heard that canvasy waistcoats were good. so I've got some fustian canvas to make them. A couple of questions though. Would they be lined? Would the back and front be made of the same material? I've also heard that they can have a back lacing to get a good fit. How would this...