So I've been to a couple of events as a guest, and I'm planning on going to an event over in Port Orchard in An Tir... >_>
Aaaannyhoo, I have the lack of funding to get any serious garb for my friend... *I've noticed that trying to find men's garb is quite the challenge, while finding things that will work for female garb isn't quite as hard*
Any suggestions on where I could look around mundy Seattle area?
Aaaannyhoo, I have the lack of funding to get any serious garb for my friend... *I've noticed that trying to find men's garb is quite the challenge, while finding things that will work for female garb isn't quite as hard*
Any suggestions on where I could look around mundy Seattle area?
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Re: Advice for a wee newb?
Fri, May 16, 2008 - 2:09 PMTry Pike Place Market. There's a shop Down Under (forget the name) that has loads of medieval/renaissance shirts. My man wears his all the time, not just to events, so they get double the use and make the cost worth it. Also, there's another shop nearby that has loads of middle-eastern garb, and you could use a few sashes or scarves from their in the man's garb.
On Capitol Hill there's a place on Broadway and John that's just relocated, India Imports (I think). Loads of stuff for men and women. Gave me a discount because I bought multiple items.
Parachute-style pants (I can hear groans already) work great for men, as well, since they're so roomy (again, my man wears his all the time.) If there are vendors at the event, then do your lad justice by picking up a few ready-to-wear items. Or, if it's a weekend camping event, make friends with your neighbors by helping to set up their encampment. That's what we did our first event, and were fed and clothed the whole weekend for it. Gotta love the barter system. -
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Re: Advice for a wee newb?
Fri, May 16, 2008 - 5:06 PMIf you decide to 'play' regularly put the word out that you're both looking for used clothes. Then, don't be picky about period but accept whatever fits you so that you have things to wear until you've both chosen your persona. You can pass the clothes on in a year or two.
Everyone has excess stuff in their closet. Everyone.
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Re: Advice for a wee newb?
Sat, May 17, 2008 - 8:01 AMOur Barony recently had a "Gold Key Sale" where we were getting rid of excess gold key stuff, raising money for fabric to make new gold key stuff. You might see if that is a possibility up there.
Another option is sewing some of your own. When you say "serious garb" are you meaning totally period, or in large quantity, or what?
I have had luck in the past when funding was an issue for me going to second hand stores and finding 100% cotton bed sheets in solid colors and then sewing simple t-tunics, or more complicated patterns from them, and then doing some simple embroidery with just regular embroidery floss (which you can sometimes find at the dollar store or on really good sales at craft stores) to pretty them up. From a distance they look good, from close up they are acceptable. You can even dye white or light colored sheets easily (again, you can often find dye at the dollar store). Sometimes you can also find fabric yardage at thrift stores, or if you know when to go and look you can find VERY decent prices at fabric stores when they are cleaning out stock to make room for the next sewing season.
Anyway, if you need a pattern for a very simple to sew shirt/pant that work for lots of time periods check and see if anyone you know has a Known World Handbook, or I can try and send you some scans if you'd like.
HTH. -
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Re: Advice for a wee newb?
Mon, May 26, 2008 - 9:38 AMSewing your own clothes is probably the cheapest way to go... Though I second the barter system. Most everyone in the SCA is friendly, though terrible at reading minds. Your best bet is to ask those you meet in person if they can help you. (Learn to sew, help you find a great local place for cheap fabric, find someone who does sewing but needs something else, research on what is *period*...)
Some of my favorite old faithful tricks:
Thrift store... See what you find that can be altered. I have had good luck with finding caftans for Persians, fluffy shirts for Renaissance, pajamas for pants to wear under tunics, old drapes and tablecloths and sheets to use as *fabric*... And don't forget to look in the women's side for men.
WalMart... Has $1-2/yd fabric that tends to come in once a week. You have to check regularly, but it can pay off.
SCA white elephant sales... They don't seem to happen much anymore, but it is certainly worth asking around about.
My advice:
Do what you need to do to get your body covered and protected from the elements, hot or cold. Play and have fun... Being period takes either lots of time or lots of money or lots of creativity. (Or a bit of all three.) Check out you local library and see what sparks your fancy. You will discover that styles in the SCA are around a whole lot longer than IRL, so you will happily get many, many years wearing that tunick you spent 200 hours embroidering, or that partlet that took you 50 hours to bead, or the chiton that you live in at Wars that took you three tries to get juuuust right.
And as for sewing... Practice makes perfect was never truer. Those $1.00 hideous sheets at the Salvation Army are your friend. Use those to try out your ideas with and if you end up with nothing but what not to do in the end, it is well worth it. (And you just might have a great pattern in the end.)
Best of luck to you and WELCOME!!!! I look forward to seeing you at a Tournament or War, or other random event, sometime in the future. -
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Re: Advice for a wee newb?
Mon, May 26, 2008 - 11:45 AMSnap up that $1 or $2 a yard fabric at WalMart while you can! The new store built by me does NOT carry fabric.
I've found out that they are planning on discontinuing carrying fabric, from what I've seen at the other WalMart a bit further away from me, they've not gotten in anything new in the last 10 months. -
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Re: Advice for a wee newb?
Mon, May 26, 2008 - 3:17 PMI think it depends on where you go. I asked about it at my local Wally World and the ladies working there said they would still be open as far as they knew. But we live out in the sticks with only one JoAnne's in a 50+ mile radius, so it probably makes money for them.
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