Garb Tricks of the Trade « Thread Started on Sept 28, 2009, 1:21pm »
Ok so while at the faire I found out that there are ways to get garb besides buying every peice at the fair. Let's face it I am not paying $45 for every skirt or shirt! I have thought about taking up sewing but I can't even hem pants!
So what I was wondering is if there are any tricks or tips that everybody bu me knows about getting garb for less $$ ?
Joined: Sept 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 37 Karma: 20
Re: Garb Tricks of the Trade « Reply #2 on Sept 28, 2009, 5:02pm »
The three roads to garb:
1. Money 2. Sewing skills 3. Friends
If you want garb, but can't sew, and don't want to pour the money into it, #3 is your answer. The fact that you're a member of this forum is a good sign. Have you made friends at the faire now that you're no longer a lurker? Odds are there's a stitcher amongst them. How you get that stitcher to sew for you is up to you (I recommend you purchase gorgeous fabric, and then play to their vanity. Stitchers want to be responsible for great looking garb).
Hawke's suggestion about inheriting garb is a good one. I have a method for getting people to offer me their garb, but it is horrid and cruel, so I won't post it publicly. It involves endowing your friends with shame, guilt, and self-loathing. The results are pretty impressive, however.
Joined: Aug 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 50 Location: Severna Park Karma: 4
Re: Garb Tricks of the Trade « Reply #3 on Sept 28, 2009, 11:06pm »
Well, I have one more tip, and then some lesser possibilities. Saved searches on eBay. I know someone who got a Noblesse Oblige doublet that way. Four to six Pendragon doublets show up every year, and those doublets fit multiple sizes. You have to be very patient. I know one person who gets lucky in thrift stores, but I never have. Learning leathercarving can save a bundle, or at least get you unique items nobody else has (That's how it worked out for me, I didn't save a bundle, even if somebody finally buys my tools.) I think Sandscrafter has great prices but the good stuff is gone by the end of week two, if not before. I saw a good sized sporran there with a large tooled zoomorph on the front for $34.00. Then there are the auctions the local wenches put on every year. Finally, I have no idea how good they are, but the boots at houseofandar.com look very good for the money (less than $200). If anyone knows more about them, please share.
Then there are the auctions the local wenches put on every year. Finally, I have no idea how good they are, but the boots at houseofandar.com look very good for the money (less than $200). If anyone knows more about them, please share.
Are you talking about the Prepare For Faire Yard Sale every summer before faire, the raffle at the Privateer Feast, or something else entirely?
If you're looking for accessories, thrift stores are a good place to pick up mugs. Norm brings a whole trunk full of metal and wooden glasses to VARF rehearsal every year, and he picks all of them up from thrift stores.
Master Will Paisley - Minstrel, Interrupted Yeoman-Purser of the Frigate Up Royally (now under new management!) Bard #400 (CD) Faire name - "Flo's husband" Manservant to Mistress von Cleavage, awaiting other accroutrements
ulfric Charter Member Lord High Drunkard member is offline
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Joined: Oct 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 148 Karma: 11
Re: Garb Tricks of the Trade « Reply #5 on Sept 29, 2009, 6:47am »
Also, don't underestimate the power of barter!.
If there is something that you make/produce that a rennie may be interested in then let people know.
Just about every one here has some skill/talent, etc with some aspect of garbing...and most are pretty open to an exchange.
There are several talented seamstresses, leather workers, etc. right on this forum.
Former Lord High Drunkard Merc# 819 IBRSC# 1482 IFRP # 1361 Certified Public Assassin Landshark # 114 Horseman of the Renpocalypse (Haughtiness) John Galt Conserv'n M'Crack
Prax Queen o' ye Realm Grand Toker member is offline
Re: Garb Tricks of the Trade « Reply #6 on Sept 29, 2009, 12:23pm »
I have sewn a few things for a few folks. I'm not great, but it's all quite passable I can't do anything too complicated (no noble gowns!!) but I'm getting pretty good. Come find me this weekend, we'll talk about it.
Re: Garb Tricks of the Trade « Reply #7 on Sept 29, 2009, 5:49pm »
Wow thanks for all the great tips, Sounds like it is all about getting to know people and getting lucky and finding stuff that works. This is going to be a work in progress for us I think!
Re: Garb Tricks of the Trade « Reply #8 on Sept 29, 2009, 6:43pm »
Not stepping on Praxs toes at all but my Lady sews as well, shes pretty booked up at work (she sews for a living) so i dont think shes looking for projects but You can always ask her questions about sewing and you can look at both her and my garb, it is all home made except for the leather just to get an idea of what can be done,
I have a method for getting people to offer me their garb, but it is horrid and cruel, so I won't post it publicly. It involves endowing your friends with shame, guilt, and self-loathing. The results are pretty impressive, however.
Joined: Aug 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 50 Location: Severna Park Karma: 4
Re: Garb Tricks of the Trade « Reply #10 on Sept 30, 2009, 12:51am »
Will, I had the yard sale and the raffle muxed ip in my mind. And Norm is indeed whom I was thinking of concerning thrift stores.
I've had a little luck at Reenactor events, specifically Marching Through Time in April. There is a vendor who made a $25 shirt I liked very much, bought a couple of them. But I think that vendor can only be found at Pennsic now, and the price has gone up.
I've always wanted to check out the Holiday Faire by the SCA Barony of Stierbach in Manassas. It's on November 21st this year. Never been, but I have heard it's growing.
Joined: Sept 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 37 Karma: 20
Re: Garb Tricks of the Trade « Reply #12 on Sept 30, 2009, 9:26am »
It's still down in the costume house. Cindy wasn't sure if I'd be needing it this year or not. I'd loan the hat out, but I'm somewhat notoriously hard on headgear. The big fancy hat in my avatar picture was NOT the original. Cindy had to make me a new one because I destroyed the first one by the end of the first weekend. Suffice it to say, you probably don't want to be wearing something that has been on my head during a festival day.
I've always wanted to check out the Holiday Faire by the SCA Barony of Stierbach in Manassas. It's on November 21st this year. Never been, but I have heard it's growing.
There's another local one around 12th night that I hear amazing things about. I don't know if it's all of Atlantia, or just a local part, but what I've heard has been pretty good. Lots of marked down pricing for christmas shoppers, etc.
Joined: Nov 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 146 Location: Solomon's Island Area Karma: 2
Re: Garb Tricks of the Trade « Reply #14 on Oct 14, 2009, 11:41am »
If you want to learn to sew, check your local Parks and Recs event schedules. Sometimes there are classes available. Same with making leather accessories. (I've even seen training for medieval sword fighting.)
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I can't do anything too complicated (no noble gowns!!) but I'm getting pretty good. Come find me this weekend, we'll talk about it.
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