[Artemisia] help

[L.J. Richards]

What a good idea Morgan.  How long does it last?  I would further suggest 
that the denser the terry cloth threads are the better the 'lining' will 
hold up.  Depending on one's sewing machine, you may want to consider either 
a paper lining covering the terry cloth while you sew and then tear away, or 
a lightweight, loosely woven [read breathable] lining as the base.  This is 
because it's possible to 'pick up' the terry threads and 'run with them' on 
this type of project.  Even doing it by hand you may want a paper lining 
(this is a particular kind and ask for it.  (Others on the list will know 
the name and I don't remember at the moment - sorry.)

Also the diamond stitching design is good for holding everything in place 
even when some of the stitches pull out.  Even better is a 100% cotton 
canvas that you have washed several times before using (as well as the terry 
cloth).  Though there are different canvases out there and Alan and Morgan 
and other fighters will have better suggestions.  I do know that some of the 
'less expensive' canvas contains a number of additives that you should wash 
out by machine - not your body (ha).

Your fingers are sore?  This is heavy stuff!  Are you using some form of a 
thimble?  It's a good idea to learn to use one in this instance.  And 
quilting thread (which you probably are - don't know if you have quilted 
before so no insult intended).  You can use other types of thread but 
quilting thread is made to specifically to pull through the 'sandwich' of a 
quilt - you're not as likely to see your batting pull through (whatever it 
may be).

Hope is helpful; have fun!

HE Bronwen

---- Original Message ----- 
From: "morgan wolf" <morganblaidddu at yahoo.com>
To: "Kingdom of Artemisia mailing list" <artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2007 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Artemisia] help


> After agreeing with His Grace about  "thickness is entirely up to you", I 
> would make this suggestion- the Hollofil (tm) quilt stuffing material used 
> in things like comforters and, from the sound of it, your gambeson, as 
> well as many other folks, is designed to keep you warm, i.e. keep heat in. 
> This is not necessarily a Good Thing when you're fighting.  After several 
> years of experimentation, i found that a double layer of terry cloth, 
> which does wonders for absorbing your sweat and wicking it away, thus 
> helping you cool down, with a medium weight canvas shell over that to 
> handle armor bites,  makes a wonderful gambeson- thick enough to be 
> padding, helps cool you off, machine washable, easy to make.
>
>
> Morgan Blaidd Du,
> mka Morgan Wolf
> Damn Vicar Archery and Stuff
> www.damnvicar.com
> damnvicar at yahoo.com
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Allen Hall <earlalan at srv.net>
> To: Kingdom of Artemisia mailing list <artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org>
> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2007 9:38:20 AM
> Subject: Re: [Artemisia] help
>
> Brighid,
>
> Though sewing isn't my specialty by any means......  Depending on how far
> apart you've sewn the lines, you could stuff some batting in the "tubes".
>
> How puffy/padded you want it kinda depends on what kind of armour you'll 
> be
> making it for.  Actual period arming clothes could be fairly thick.  Most
> SCA fighting gambesons aren't all that thick, and they protect from armor
> bites as much as adding actual padding qualities.
>
> Good luck on your quest!
>
> Alan
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tiffanyanne Sawyer" <utladybrighid at sisna.com>
> To: "Kingdom of Artemisia mailing list" <artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2007 10:21 PM
> Subject: [Artemisia] help
>
>>I started quilting some stuff to make a gambeson out of.  When i got a few
>>rows done i realized its not very puffy looking.
>>
>> So the question is.... How thick does it have to be??
>>
>> I would rather take it apart now than waste a lot of time on something I
>> cant even wear.
>>
>> Brighid
>