Projects

I was supposed to hunt today. Best laid plans of mice and men unfortunately. It has not put me in a very good frame of mind. I will work out to help dissipate the irritation.

What have I been working on...hmmm.

Braies...the medieval sort which I sometimes 'feminize' a bit just because and no, I won't say just how. Both preparing to make new ones and altering extant ones.

Hosen...linen and wool. Mostly wool just now as the weather is colder. I double the layers in the foot region since I wear medieval footwear and the extra wool helps with insulation.

Tunics...my nifty faded green linen tunic has gone walkabout or something...so I am making new ones. Again, linen and wool. Nothing complex and not cotehardies....just plain 'T' type tunics..or shortened kirtles if you prefer. Generally about knee length and blousy enough to not impede movement while being close enough not to be a pain in the tuckus in the forest.

Hoods & Mantles....my nice green one has gone walkabout like the tunic....I do have a nice dark red wool one with a black linen lining, but I am making new ones anyway. I am making them from the patterns I got from Reconstructing History (they are in the mens' set that includes coif and braies. Mine are green and/or grey...with one white one for other use and one in blaze orange for hunting.

Coif...three piece, of blaze orange, for when the hood is just too warm.

Tabbard....well, a kind of late surcote really, of blaze orange, for hunting.

Quiver... still seeking a go-to version. Mostly I am adding 'arrow bags' to them..that is, leather pieces that can cover and protect the fletched ends.

Belt pouches....making some new ones specifically for my hunting pursuits. They will also work with Rangering since I carry the same gear for the most part. One of them has an inner divider so the camera can slide in the back and be covered and protected while beeswax and bowstrings occupy the front section. I can open it and not worry about non-period items showing while keeping the camera readily available.

Trousse knife....making a suspension piece for this; heavy leather faced with a sheet of brass, pierced to accept the 'button' on the sheath. This will in turn slide onto the belt. This is a big, heavy knife. I carry a smaller one for 'inside work' so to speak.

I use a blanket roll rather than a pack, but a leather pack is in the planning stages just for the hell of it.

Oh, new arrows need seeing to as well. I have settled on the fletching; one solid grey feather, two grey and white banded feathers. The heads are medieval points. I am still looking for a maker of really good points that aren't just for show...I have found some obviously, but I am looking for better.

Eledhwen