Author: Greet Gijsberts

Greet Gijsberts is a persona created to play in the Society for Creative Anachronism. She authors this blog in order to document her projects and adventures, and share them with a wider audience.
Clothing and Equipment1 Comment

Chaperon Pattern

Greet Gijsberts

UPDATE (8/10/09):  I'm leaving this up, but grudgingly.  Knitted objects show up in the fourteenth century, but mostly in Knitting Madonnas, and I haven't seen evidence to support a knitted chaperone yet.  So I'd have to come down on the side of PERIOD-ISH for this guy.  And since I've discovered I'm not into 14thc any more, it's out of persona for me.  But hey, it's an intermediate design, and it works to stay warm, and a kid would probably enjoy it. (This is my own pattern for a knitted hooded mantle, or chaperon, as seen below, and guessed at from … Continue reading Chaperon Pattern

EventsLeave a comment

Biz meeting minutes, Feb 2007

Greet Gijsberts

OPENING – SENESCHAL – Gabrielle and ThomasPRESENTATION BY HERALD (with many flowery phrases) – of Floridagoodies to Sir Callidus, with appreciation for his assistancein qualifying fighters.CORRESPONDENCE – Read by Herald, featuring introduction tocheering for PG/Arenal layabouts1)  Edward of Yarlborough – Muster call for Gulf Wars, email himat edofyar@bellsouth.net to answer:   a- What you’re interested in doing (fighting/waterbearing/     soup-ladling) to help with Gulf Wars;   b- How many are attending as fighters: Please wear Kingdom     colors, etc.   c- Warlords please contact me for briefing schedule.   See Edward’s orig. letter in the Yahoo files.2)  Live Weapons practice?2a)  Arenal apparently has Live … Continue reading Biz meeting minutes, Feb 2007

Research1 Comment

Charkha spinning wheel

Greet Gijsberts

This is the sort of spindle wheel that Europe imported from Persia/India around 1300.  I don’t think the voluminous folds of the houpelande (c. 1400) would have been as affordable without it.  Here’s a PDF of how to make one out of a cigar box. OFFER: If any woodworking person would make me such a functioning device, I will happily make them a knit garment, such as the Hooded Mantle pattern, in the color of his/her choice.  Or how about a t-tunic?  (Realize I’m not up to cambric shirts, yet, folks.) I want one of these for all future spinning … Continue reading Charkha spinning wheel

FoodLeave a comment

Victory Gardens

Greet Gijsberts

From the Old Farmer’s Almanac daily Q&A page: What exactly was a Victory Garden during World War II?To help the war effort, citizens were asked by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Claude R. Wickard to plant vegetables wherever they could find a plot of land to do so. By 1945, the year the war ended, an estimated 20 million victory gardens had sprouted in sidewalk boulevards, town squares, and odd parcels of land in the cities and out in the country. These gardens were producing 40 percent of the vegetables grown in the United States at that time. The term "victory … Continue reading Victory Gardens

Research1 Comment

Card Weaving

Greet Gijsberts

I bought a set of 25 cards at the Destin Spin-In for card weaving, mostly because, when I said that I was interested in historical renactment, everyone seemed to say, "So you card weave?"  It’s also apparently called tablet weaving. Here’s some instructions I might follow, from Earth Knack: Stone Age Skills for the 21st Century. Here’s a software pattern generator. With a pattern gallery: Here’s a page about it, with very nice photos. Here’s more, with photos of looms that hold the warp. Here’s a String Page. Continue reading Card Weaving

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Weather-resistant cloaks

Greet Gijsberts

I’m concerned about being wet and cold at Gulf Wars, so I’m reading up about cloak construction. I’d gotten a recommendation for an oilcloth cloak – but I know I don’t want to use modern vinyl oilcloth – yuck.  I read here on what is apparently a weaver’s bulletin board, that reconstructing period oilcloth isn’t a good idea… On the other hand, you do not want to make an oilcloth cloak. Oilcloth is a serious fire hazard, quite apart from the oil migrating into whatever you are wearing underneath the cloak and ruining in. Instead, she recommends a felted wool … Continue reading Weather-resistant cloaks

Events1 Comment

Going to Gulf Wars

Greet Gijsberts

I’ve decided to go to Gulf Wars. Most immediately this means more garb construction, as I am not going to go through four days with two undertunics, and one overdress ONLY.  I’m not prepared for feasts (=dressy), nor am I prepared for cold, nor rain.  I feel I need the following additional pieces – if you think I need something more or different, please comment – I’m still very much a novice, here. I’ve been given the advice that accessories are what make outfits look really good.  I’ll keep that in mind as I shop. CLOTHES I NEED:A dressy tunic, … Continue reading Going to Gulf Wars

Events1 Comment

Destin Spin In, Part 2

Greet Gijsberts

It was crazy.  Here’s a few pics (click to enlarge): Jodie, of Charmed Alpacas, with her herd’s fleece. The room in general.  This was taken before it got crowded. Another vendor: Rosemary of Uncommon Threads, in Tampa (short curly hair). There was some typical conference silliness.  That’s Blue Cow costumes they’re wearing, to sing about Mooood Indigo.  And fiber. Yours truly, grinning like a fool, over Midnight-the-Alpaca’s fleece. All my loot. Clockwise from the upper left: A niddy-noddy, for winding skeins.  Collapsible, made by old man in Bluewater Bay out of cherry, I think.  $20.  Some of Midnight’s fleece, 1 … Continue reading Destin Spin In, Part 2

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Destin Spin-In

Greet Gijsberts

When I stumbled into a spinning lesson in November, I was told about a Spin-In gathering being held in Destin come January.  It’s today, tomorrow, and Saturday. The Spin-In was interesting, and I got some answers to my wheel questions.  I should’ve brought my camera in – I will tomorrow. Unfortunately the quality of the vendors was not what I had hoped for.  I had wanted to see more wooden accessories – I’d like to get a spinning gauge, and maybe a lazy kate.  Also I wanted to buy some flax stricks to spin.  Nada. However, there were two good … Continue reading Destin Spin-In

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Fundraiser Craft Ideas

Greet Gijsberts

These are the ideas I first listed with the beaded bookmarks.  I would like to explore all of these, to see which are the easiest for us to do, but also which sell best.  Please keep thinking of new ideas, as some of these will probably turn out to be Time Sinks. Beaded bookmarks – 12 DONE. Felt helms     Embroidered games – Nine Men’s Morris, Fox and Geese     Flower wreaths     Placemats with culinary images + recipes, suitable for framing – we discussed this idea in lieu of a cookbook, since cookbooks are SO much … Continue reading Fundraiser Craft Ideas