The tent frame now works.  (Thanks as always for snapping pics, Mike.)  I'd gotten another joint suggestion from GMA fan Carl Smart (thank you!), and we used part of it, to great success.

We ended up dropping the height of the ridgepole a total of 7" from where it had been.  I notched the short bits of the uprights to carry the ridge directly, which places the uprights at good section-modulus orientation* when you're pushing the assembled frame up underneath the fabric.  Ridge is now at approximately 8'-9".

*This means a rectangular section vertical, rather than horizontal.  Much stronger shape.  Mike will now mutter, "Architect," under his breath.

The bit of Carl's idea that we used was the hinge – which was the smallest strap hinge Tractor Supply would sell us.  Previously we'd considered a hinge, but that was before I'd had the notch idea, and I'd discarded the 'hinge-alone' plan as having too much lateral play.  Fortunately the notch is very stable, and the hinge+notch works great.  No issues with legs wanting to fold in on top of one, especially if the bells are properly tensioned.

Which at present they are not.  I'd been conservative in cutting the triangles, and sure enough, what worked well in paper, didn't account for the stretchiness of fabric (let alone this fabric – more about that in a minute).  I need to trim back the length of the bell centerline – fortunately this is simple.  Still have ears/ties/mudflaps/floor to do – but it's coming along.  All those should happen this week.

The incredible growing tent, part 2:  I thought this was a 16' x 8.5' tent footprint.  It's more like a 16' x 13' tent footprint.  I am not complaining, but now I have to change an upcoming event reservation.

I worked on some other projects, too.  I went up Friday night, to help celebrate Mike's birthday, and did one of my bee embroideries for a streamer end for the bee standard pole.  While drunk.  I consider this an accomplishment.  (Flying saltine crackers deserve hazard pay…but are very very funny, for some reason.)

Oswald showed up on Saturday, with goodies for me (and I had goodies for him, so all were made happy by the Sharing).  He's passing on some leftover SS lamellar, for my EP armor project (which seems to be progressing faster than anyone thought possible).  I now need to learn about lacing patterns, so as to optimize protection for weight.  I want a source of khaki 550 cord.

Oswald has made a FANTASTIC new sword with a beautifully decorated leather scabbard, wrapped grip, cast guard and decorated pommel.  It's possibly the first SCA reproduction inspired by the Staffordshire hoard photos – over which he has spent much time.  (No, I have not examined the Xray pics yet.  Yes, I will get there.  Someday.  Geez.  Mike is so indulgent of both of us EP nuts.)  Mike and I are both very jealous of his accomplishment…Oswald looks at my camp stuff, and I look at his armor stuff.  Heh.

We all chatted a bit about a helmet design for me, and looked at some pictures.  I like one in a pile of 6thc Frankish stuff; I'm sure this is the beginning of a lonnnnng road.  (happy dance)

I also worked on the first of what I hope will be several lighting fixtures for my tent.  I'm interpreting the mysterious hanging bowls as a useful place to put those Kentish tallow candlepots, and have started one.  (This reminds me to bring pics of said candlepots to one of Kerstyn's pinchpot classes…I bet she's doing one at Gatalop!)  Mike showed me aluminum can be annealed, which made it malleable enough for me to pound out a good deal of the bowl shape by myself.  (He finished it up for me, practice and strength help to smooth out the shape.)  I now have a bowl ready for decoration and chain, which resembles nothing so much now as a hubcap.  Ah well.