So, this year will be my first pennsic. Being a bit of a geek, I did a lot of research. Unfortunately or fortunately, some of it was on the web. I decided to sew the majority of my own garb as it's much cheaper to buy some nice fabric and a pattern and make it yourself then to spend lots of money for something that might not fit me right anyway. My issue? I have heard two sides as to garb when it comes to pennsic. Some people say any reasonable attempt is cool. Many say that being a garb snark/garb natzi is not only acceptable, but should be expected. I am not too worried about my fabrics (I don't want to roast in the heat, so NO synthetic fibers though they are cheaper), but I bought McCall's and Simplicity patterns to get back into the swing of things with sewing (I had not done any sewing for nearly 8 years). I KNOW they are not 100% period, but I thought they would be close enough with some very minor alterations (such as using different fabrics and cording instead of elastic in certain places). I'm wondering if maybe I should have gone with buying clothes and having less and living with the fact that most would be far too short for me (I am nearly 5'10"-NOTHING fits right when you are my height). Am I stressing over nothing? I thought making a resonable attempt would be OK until I continued searching, now I worry nothing I bring will be good enough.
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Wed, April 23, 2008 - 3:34 PM"Am I stressing over nothing?"
Yes. ;-)
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Wed, April 23, 2008 - 3:41 PMOf course you are.
I went fairly tribal to my first Pennsic, and no one gives a crap. It's too hot to worry about what other people think anyways. If being naked was legal in PA, I am sure some people would do that.
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Wed, April 23, 2008 - 3:48 PMDon't worry. When you see what some folks consider a "reasonable attempt" at Pennsic... If you would wear it to a regular event, it's fine. I would be far more concerned about being comfortable, and being prepared for all sorts of weather.
Yes, there are garb snarks. Unless they follow up by offering to purchase fabric and make you garb for free, ignore them. They are tiny little people who need to put others down to feel important.
Definitely stop by Claus of Burzee's booth (the toymaker across from the Barn) and pick up a copy of "Claus' Guide to Bad Garb" and its sequel. Hilarious! My particular favorite is the drawing of the guy in demonic-looking black leather "KISS" armor captioned "The Middle Ages, But Not On This Planet" -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Wed, April 23, 2008 - 8:23 PMCat,
I agree with all the earlier posters. At Pennsic you will find a larger range of authenticity in costumes than at most other events. At Pennsic people dress more for comfort. I tend to dress up a bit when going up top to shop. People also save their most ornate clothing for the cooler hours of the evening. Your best bet is to fabricate outfits which are light and cool, but which also provide protection from the sun. I wear a large straw hat for sun protection and a white linen shirt the sleeves of which I spritz with water for evaporative cooling. When walking any distance I carry along a bottle of cold water for this purpose as well as for drinking. Good comfortable well broken in walking sandals are a must. At Pennsic just about every activity involves some walking.
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Wed, April 23, 2008 - 9:38 PM(I tried to post this several hours ago, before leaving for my Barony's weekly meeting, but Tribe.net wasn't cooperating.)
Garb nazism is NOT acceptable. So if someone comes up and snarks on your garb, don't accept it. It sounds to me like you've done some homework on your garb, and as I'm sure you know, there are plenty of ways to make a reasonably close modern pattern look more period, such as drafting out darts and princess seams, etc. Also, there are plenty of websites that tell you how to draft your own period patterns to your own measurements. That's what I've mostly been doing, and it seems to work. (I have fit problems in that I am short and round.) Basically, as long as you have reasonably decent-looking garb in natural period-looking materials (IOW, no synthetics, no prints, etc.) you will be just fine. You've probably heard of the "ten-foot" rule, right? If it can pass muster from ten feet away, that's good enough for Pennsic.
Plenty of people will be running around Pennsic in garb that is "good enough". My fiance and I will be among them. We'll each have a couple of more authentic outfits for court and similar occasions, but our everyday garb is going to be fairly basic.
Do you have a particular century and/or locale you are portraying, or are you going the more eclectic route with items from a variety of times and places? -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 4:35 AMI am VERY new to this, so my persona is nowhere near complete yet. I was thinking a bit about being of viking/irish background, from somewhere between the 9th and 13th centries because that is what interests me the most. Interestingly enough, it's not too far off from my actual heratige (my mother is irish/scottish, father is french/norwegian). 2 things I am bringing, I have purchased, but I intend on saving for if I have need to wear something nicer. I'm just worried because I'm a born worrier, and I tend to be a bit sensitive. Also, I'm putting a lot of time and effort into this, and while I am glad I re-found my passion of creating something from my own hands if someone rips it to shreds with words, I will be hurt even if I hide it well. My friends (I am camping with their group) say everyone is going to love my dark humor and willingness to help, but I still worry. -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 6:15 AMHell I have known people to go all pennsic and only put garb on once or twice. You really are worrying about nothing. -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 6:22 AMI'd echo Ferg on this. a LOT of folks do not wear mcuh of anyhting suring the heat of day especially in camp.
Start with the most simple basic garb for comfort. A t-tunic with shorts underneath and sandles for around camp is fine. A neighbor last year had brought a swimsuit with her which was very obvious as all the local camps chipped into help that camp keep the road that had become a river from running thru her tent and the camps behind it. I was in shorts & shoes only at that point.
Save the nicer garb for Kingdom/baronial courts and for partying when it cools off slightly. -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 6:50 AMAye Aye -- what the rest of the folks said !!
During the day while I'm in camp, I'll just hang out in a caftan or harem pants and a halter type top .... I do cover up a bit to go up top to shop, but it's so freakin' HOT and humid that I'm more interested in staying cool - so I wear a big straw hat and yes, my sunglasses....
I save my "good garb" for going out at night ! : )
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 10:16 AM"Heat of the day" is a VERY good point, Val!
Know what I'm planning to wear during the hottest time? Saris. Seriously. I mean, they were designed for a hot, humid climate. Okay, so my thus far barely-formed persona is Celtic, but being too hot makes me a little crazy. So I'll just be Indian for a few hours, lol. Besides, I have always loved the look of a sari and have wanted an excuse to wear one. (And the Indian guy I used to date many years ago thought I'd be cute in one. *wink*) I saw plenty of sari-clad women wandering around at Pennsic last year, and this year I plan to be among them. Cat, you might think about going the sari route for really hot days. There are two added bonuses in this: 1) no need to do much sewing, except for making the choli to put underneath, and in some cases you can even buy those ready-made, and 2) a sari is one of the few truly one-size-fits all garments in existence. Just be sure to go with a cotton or silk sari, no synthetics. India during our period even had block-printed textiles, so if you go for patterns that look like they might easily have been done in period using that technique, there's really no excuse for anyone to accuse you of wearing out-of-period garb. And embroidery is period too, of course. Even the lehenga choli Indian outfit can be documented in period, from research I've read online done by other SCAdians.
Here are a few link I've found helpful in regard to saris:
ablackram.tripod.com/blackra...utme.htm (Instructions on wrapping a sari, from a SCAdian)
www.utsavsarees.com/pages/wearsari.htm (Instruction on wrapping a sari, from a sari merchant site)
And here's a good place to buy inexpensive cotton saris. I plan to buy from them, and so does a friend of mine. They will even make your choli to your specific measurements if you want:
www.utsavsarees.com/pages/sarees.asp -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 10:20 AMOops, almost forgot to post this link to a research paper on saris, with pictures, by Lady Meenakshi da Gama from the Barony of Caer Galen, in the Outlands.
www.blueavatar.com/bharatan...paper.pdf
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 11:00 AMI've purchased from Utsav Sarees. Make sure you give them plenty of time to ship. It took mine almost a month to get the sari's in. They are very nice, lightweight sari's and the people are very pleasant to work with. Shipping, though, is a fright, but it would be considering they ship from India, or did when I ordered a few years ago. -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Fri, April 25, 2008 - 6:49 PMYeah, I definitely plan to give plenty of time for shipping.
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Fri, April 25, 2008 - 6:39 PMAnother great place for cotton saris is www.sarisafari.com and a place to get beautiful Indian cotton is www.timetraveltextiles.com!
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Sun, May 18, 2008 - 11:44 AMSaris... Make sure your saris are 100% cotton..not silk ,or silk /poly. If you do yahoo groups there is a group for garb-in every time/place.. Please come by our group SCA_India and check us out..We have lots of Laurels who will be happy to help you with anything India ;-)
groups.yahoo.com/group/SCA_India/
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Sun, May 18, 2008 - 12:58 PMThis looks like a fairly well-researched paper, and it maintains that silk saris, particularly what we now call silk ikat, are also period for the SCA.
www.blueavatar.com/bharatan...paper.pdf (esp. see pages 3 and 4) -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Sun, May 18, 2008 - 3:52 PMThats because she is Mistress Meenakshi da Gama...she is one of our Indian Laurels..
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 9:07 AMYeah, the rest of the time they run around naked (which is okay for a two year old.) -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 10:40 AM"Yeah, the rest of the time they run around naked (which is okay for a two year old.) "
Wait did I post those shots of my kids running around in camp that way here? No? Good. -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 11:05 AMHell, if D'ner can get away with just a loincloth, I figure anyone wearing a T-tunic ought to be just fine. ;-)
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 8:52 AMLayers.
Layers layers layers. They are awesome with the Viking/Irish thing and a few tunic dresses that can be layered provide warmth when needed and lots of mix-n-match ops.
make a reasonable attempt and, if anyone DARES to play garb-nazi on you, send them to me and I'll bitch them out in a period language for ya :)
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 6:43 AMIt sounds like you'll be fine! Like everyone else has said, don't stress over your garb. : )
Besides, if rabbits skins and chain mail bikinis are considered "attempts at period garb" you are already way ahead of the curve! -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 10:21 AMYeah, I was going to make a stab at our friends in the far end of the parking lot, but I was afraid I might be hunted down and never seen again. ; )
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 10:55 AMHey - I haven't worn rabbit skin and chain mail bikinis since I was a kid!
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 11:06 AMIf you go to Pennsic.net and you look under the Photo albums, there are lots of pictures of garb and such. That'll give you an idea of what people are wearing and hopefully will help you feel a bit less nervous about fitting in garb wise. -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 12:27 PMThose albums are actually where I go to get garb ideas! :-)
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 12:42 PMEveryone else is right - don't freak out over it too much. Do the best you can, and if anyone twits you about your clothes, you can always ask if they -bought- their fabric? Did they *gasp* use a sewing machine? Did M'lady knit her own stockings? Feel free to be snarky right back at them.
Regarding the patterns you bought... for starters, a lot of those commercial patterns are OK with modifications. this lady has links for instructions on how to draft out princess seams and darts, plus some of her own garb patterns.
www.reddawn.net/costume/patterns.htm
and here she offers reviews and suggested modifications for specific patterns by company and pattern number. (she usually includes an image of the front of the pattern package, and there's a link at the bottom of the page for discontinued patterns, which you WILL have if you take care of them and keep them long enough). Be warned that she CAN be sarcastic in tone.
www.reddawn.net/costume/costpat.htm
an example of one review: "Simplicity #3623 Misses Celtic Costumes and Hat. This is a reprint of 8855, from about 1999. Basic ren-fest skirt, bodice, blouse, and cap patterns, with variations. This would make a good starter set. Feel free to use any fabrics, you don't need to limit yourself to plaid. 2007. "
Good luck! -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 1:11 PMthere is fun shopping all over the pennsic... lots of vendors have awesome garb for sale... and it is fun shopping... you can slowly build up garb this way, so don't worry so much about starting off with the best of stuff...
bring what you have, and meet friends on the the journey of growing your personna... and enjoy at least window shopping at all of the awesome booths... : )
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 3:08 PMI agree with all above. The garb police are out there, but no one I know pays them any mind. As long as you make an effort it's all good no matter how "not right" you think your garb is. Besides, if your like a lot of people, once you go the first time and see what's out there, you'll be going home with a whole new wardrobe in mind for next year and a lot of new ideas. Dressing up is half the fun so have fun with it! -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 5:21 PMThanks to everyone for their kind words! People tell me I shouldn't stress out so much. I usually reply "but I'm so good at it, I've had years of practice!" or "if it wasn't for always questioning, I'd make a great Catholic, I have the guilt down to a science!" I know I'm going to be doing some shopping there, and as my friend has been a HUGE help, I know to layer, avoid synthetic fibers (which I'd do anyway, one chemise I have is polyester, and I HATE wearing it, I avoid wearing it even in winter, indoor events when it doesn't matter), bring at least one wool cloak or at the very least a length of wool for the cool evening, good shoes, drink lots & lots of water, and avoid any drinks that have the word "surprise" or "dragon" in them. Most of the stuff I'm making is simple anyway, skirts, T-tunics, a couple of chemises (both full-length and hip-length, the shorter ones I can simply pair with a skirt for daytime) because I KNOW I'm going to wind up buying more garb while there (I'm saving right now for that!) I just hope I can make some new friends and have fun while there! -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Fri, April 25, 2008 - 7:11 AMremember to relax a bit, slow down and let the atmosphere sink in... huggs :) -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Fri, April 25, 2008 - 7:16 AMoh yeah....
almost everyone i know gets blisters from all the walking,
...its just so much fun... it will just creep up on you...
...so be sure that the shoes you bring are broken in well...
good shoes are a blessing here...everybody finds they walk or stand probably ten times more than they normally would...also remember to bring a chair to sit in
and maybe some of those blue gel insoles... your feet will love you for it
:)
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Fri, April 25, 2008 - 1:07 PMIMO a reasonable attempt is far better than a half-hearted attempt. You're doing your best to find the right fabrics and styles...you're not just throwing on a glittery scarf over raver pants and a tube top. Yes, you'll see that. Kudos for making the attempt, and I'm sure you'll see a tonof great examples of good garb to make for next year! ('cause once you go to pennsic, you won't stop going every year!) -
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Unsu...
Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Fri, April 25, 2008 - 4:45 PMD'ner..I have to ask...
"Are you gellin'"
LOL
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Fri, April 25, 2008 - 5:59 PMlike megellin... :) -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Fri, April 25, 2008 - 8:12 PMI was at an SCA event a few weeks ago and was told by a garb nazi that I shouldn't be wearing a silver chain unless I was squired to somebody. I reluctantly removed my "Setu kett" (very cool braided/chainmail looking necklace worn with Estonial Folk Dance costuming) and secretly whispered....garb nazi!
I wore all bellydance clothing last year at my first Pennsic....NOBODY complained and I was complimented often! You'll fit in just fine!! -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Fri, April 25, 2008 - 9:39 PMI'm the worst at wearing garb during chores. I only have so much and when I'm filling tiki's I tend to wear shorts and maybe maybe one of my outdoorsman shirts. If I'm really hung over I wear a t-shirt. Horrible, I know. I got called out on it last Pennsic and said, well, it's hot and I'm miserable (mind you I was in my camp out of view and this person decided to give me poo... I'm too old to care now). However, when it's brisk outside, I love my new rider's tunic and cool pants and boots. For that person to come into my camp and tell me how I was doing it wrong was just toopid. This person didn't have the first clue how much energy was spent to make the camp what it was. I'm guessing they were able to poo poo about because they weren't taking care of their own camp. Who knows. Hang in there. -
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Fri, April 25, 2008 - 10:12 PMIf you try, if it works, and you're not falling down from the heat, while doing work and trying, I think you'll be fine. Go to war, learn what you like, find what you want to copy or buy, and be happy. All the "serious garb nazi's", well they just need a tad more out of life than what the society can offer them.
You'll be fine dear. We've all had our first war. Need I say more?
Have a wonderful time, and don't sweat the small stuff. :)
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Sat, April 26, 2008 - 6:19 AMBless your heart! I would have kept my necklace on and told that person to sit on it and spin. *grrrrr*
The "silver chains are for squires" thing has only become vogue in the last 15 years or so. And there are a LOT of Knights who don't have their Squires wear silver chains, only their red belts.
That "garb nazi" needs a swift kick in the pants.
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 1:36 PMWe've been wearing carhart shorts and hiking boots as garb for years, and I've never heard anyone say boo about it, unless the subject of the conversation was "how should I improve my garb" already.
But, everybody knows us as misfits anyway, since we are really just there to have a good time and throw keggers. so maybe it's the crowd you run in.
It's such a big event, that their a lot of people there that aren't really "SCA Proper." That's not to say it's overrun by fairy-ears and stormtrooper outfits, but the charter is stretched a bit.
Anyway, since it's your first Pennsic, allow me to extend an invitation to my place, The Chalkman Pub. Open for parties Monday Wednesday and Friday, both weeks. First Friday is the Music Competition. Very popular.
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Re: first pennsic/garb worries
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 10:41 AMIt's an attempt, unless you plan on getting your laurel in garb, don't sweat it. Pennsic is not the place to wear all your fancy stuff unless you are a Highness or Majesty. Best things to make sure you have two pairs of harem pants (either sewn closed or open for a nice breeze), T-tunics you can't go wrong with, if you are a bold individual and would wear skirts and the half (choli tops) those are comfy along with a guazi coat, chemises definate plus with a skirt or a boddice (always nice to dress it up for an evening party). Just a suggestions. For me I was totally unprepared for my first pennsic. If you can or are willing have an evening outfit that you can slut (sorry not any other appropriate word came to mind) it up at night you might feel more comfortable at some parties. If you have any other questions just email me and we can talk about it more.
Cheers
Keiley
