The Armour Archive

I'd make ghillies before I made those bag shoes. When we make ghillies here, we make them from like 4-5oz upholstery leather, then sew on a piece of 12-14oz latigo for a sole.

Of course, I have a harness stitcher. That's a less fun project for anyone without one...

I'm not starting at zero, I said once upon a time I did. I wasn't born knowing anything about leather. I've made a lot of belts and pouches, and some armour, and some things that shouldn't be discussed in public...that I really had no business making in the first place. I still wear a belt I made in 2003 on a daily basis. I've had stuff I've made shipped to 2 continents. I'm not new. I'm not at zero.

I see you have some experience, but I stick to what I said about starting from zero. I wasn't born knowing anything about leather either. But I did make a pair of moccasins and stamped leather crafts in Boy Scouts. My dad is a woodworker, so I learned a lot about that as a child. My parents taught me how to hand sew, and my sister showed me how to use a sewing machine. I also have a BFA in visual communications.
So what I'm trying to say is some of us don't start from anywhere near zero when we get into medieval societies and want to start making armor, clothing, and accessories. The ones that haven't had the privilege of working with crafts in any capacity (like yourself, as you said, when you started) should maybe think twice about doing it all themselves.
I admire any who want make items on their own. Especially those who strive to attain a particular time period. But that doesn't mean it's always going to look accurate or good at all. Even with my knowledge and skills I do not have the proper equipment or space for metalworking, so I buy instead of working very hard to get shoddy pieces of armor. As I said before, the SCA fosters a DIY attitude, but not all are cut out for it.

C'mon, man, I'm havin' breakfast. Or was.......eeewwww

Aaron wrote:Did you hear about the leper who went to the cathouse? He left a tip for good service!

Thanks!
Christopher

But at one time you were at zero. It just happened to be before getting into this. There are people on here who we've watched progress from point zero or very very near to it, and they've flourished. The zero point isn't bad. It just means you haven't tried yet.

And no, it's not meant for everyone. But nearly everyone can find something they can do. And some people are going to be stuck with always having to buy or trade for garb, just because their brains and fingers don't get sewing at all. But I think most people can get it good enough to have ok garb until they can buy or commission a right set.

If one sets his bounds based on skills he doesn't have...how will he learn or grow? Even if the result is a travesty, it should at least be attempted. If I had thought twice before trying that first belt (which was for someone else), I would have lost out on a lot of great moments.

Bo Harris wrote:I see you have some experience, but I stick to what I said about starting from zero. I wasn't born knowing anything about leather either. But I did make a pair of moccasins and stamped leather crafts in Boy Scouts. My dad is a woodworker, so I learned a lot about that as a child. My parents taught me how to hand sew, and my sister showed me how to use a sewing machine. I also have a BFA in visual communications.
So what I'm trying to say is some of us don't start from anywhere near zero when we get into medieval societies and want to start making armor, clothing, and accessories. The ones that haven't had the privilege of working with crafts in any capacity (like yourself, as you said, when you started) should maybe think twice about doing it all themselves.
I admire any who want make items on their own. Especially those who strive to attain a particular time period. But that doesn't mean it's always going to look accurate or good at all. Even with my knowledge and skills I do not have the proper equipment or space for metalworking, so I buy instead of working very hard to get shoddy pieces of armor. As I said before, the SCA fosters a DIY attitude, but not all are cut out for it.

Don't think twice. Do it and see what happens. One day you may be really great at it.

Thanks!
Christopher

If one sets his bounds based on skills he doesn't have...how will he learn or grow? Even if the result is a travesty, it should at least be attempted. If I had thought twice before trying that first belt (which was for someone else), I would have lost out on a lot of great moments.

Because of the inherent cost involved. This thread was about what you can do with very little money or know-how. If the result is a travesty, that person may not come out with even one basic outfit in which to participate in. And they are out time and whatever money they put in to the raw materials. I think if people genuinely want to make things, then they should. They should also, however, be willing to accept that things take time to do right. Quick, good, and cheap don't often go together, that's all.

Irish - pretty much any period from late Iron to Clontarf -

Leine (long tunic)
Belt (soft leather, not shiny) simple buckle.
Brat (Rectangle of cloth)
Gillies, even sandals - leather. You can find very passible sandals at many shops.
Add "pajama pants" if you need to wear pants, or want to portray a tradesman/lower class.

Straight forward, basic.
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What is the brat for? Like a cloak or a cape sort of thing? I am wholly unfamiliar with that garment.

How simple is a leine pattern?

Thanks!
Christopher

Yup, A cloak - could be really long, and used as a hood too.

I've helped a new person do this -
Found linen at $7.00 a yard, so a leine could be made for about $14-21, in a period cloth.
A decent belt, brown, simple buckle at thrift store - $1.00
Sandals, all leather, no visible modern materials - $9.00

Without the brat, that's a passable Irish soft kit for about $30.


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This sounds like a pretty good idea.

What sort of pants for cold weather would be ok-ish?

And how complex is making a leine?

thanks!
Christopher

A leine? Not very -- it's a little fancier than a T tunic. A woolen ionar for a jacket. With hose if you were fancy schmancy for Irish. Without if you were plain folks, or bogtrotting that afternoon.

Not-Nekkid Celt

Searched on "leine pattern" and that was on the first page along with a couple other image hits.

This pattern makes the huge droopy sleeves much favored by Irish and contemporary Scots aristocrats who didn't have to worry about big deluxe sleeves getting in the way. That semicircle on the bottom is, well, the elbow! There's also a cogent little note about the bias-cut gussets included:

Gussets are your friend. I recently had to put gussets in Kevin's red leine. (Not originally made by me.) So now when I'm trying to figure out what size to make them, his comment is - "Lift your hands over your head. Then measure the holes." Too true.

These holes mentioned are roughly diamond shaped and right in the armpits.

Another from the Kelthaven site.

The hose and droopy sleeves are late period. For earlier period, fitted pants (not as tight as hose, but not baggy either) and really any sleeve type.

Warm weather, upper classes didn't wear pants.


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