A Baronial Bunting Experiment

Several years ago, a clever and generous gentle from another Barony sent out templates for Baronial bunting to all the mainland Lochac groups. I had planned to start a group project to create some, and did some tests with different types of paint and fabric mediums - and then the pandemic struck and closures happened.

In the mean time, other projects took precedence but I didn't forget the bunting. I wanted to do a test run, and the recent Crown tournament seemed like a good opportunity. I adjusted the template slightly by adding seam allowance, as I planned to use coloured backing panels on each tab.

I traced the heraldic design with pencil onto pre-washed and ironed cotton broadcloth.

I used acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium to colour the designs. It took a couple of coats and the paint was still a little patchy. (I suspect this would not happen with better quality paints.) I was also rushing to get the project done on  time. After drying, the paint was set with a hot iron.

I sewed each tab to the backing piece by using the 'bagging out' method (i.e. putting right side to right side, machine sewing along the seam line, trimming and clipping the edges and then turning right side out. Then I gave each one a good press.

I sewed a double bias tape along the top of the tabs after spacing them evenly. I added little loops of bias so that the bunting could be used for a variety of purposes/on different structures. I made sure the backing colours alternated.

I was fairly happy with how the bunting worked out, given the time crunch. The bias tape was horribly slippery and hard to sew, so the sewing lines are awful. But it looked nice on the field and was a lot of impact for relatively little work. The bunting got wet and muddy at the event, and has since been washed. It is sitting in the ironing basket waiting for an iron, and then I will be able to assess whether the paint has run at all.

Post-Spring Crown Reflections

My home Barony just hosted Spring Crown Tournament, and I played a very minor role in the stewarding team, so my time for some weeks has been taken up with paperwork and projects for that.

The big event is over and now it is time to go 'splat' and recover. (And go through the photos, jot down all the ideas inspired by wonderful people, and plan what is next on the to-do list.) Plus!- Start blogging all the projects that were completed before I forget and they end up stuck in the drafts folder forever, like so many others!

This was a really well attended event, with overseas visitors and a large and prestigious list of contenders. The event ran really well, everyone seemed to have a great time, and was full of beautiful and moving moments. (Plus lots of silly and fun ones.) I got to see old friends and make new ones. And regret not having time to catch up with many others, but such is the nature of big events, I guess.

There was a wealth of beautiful arts and sciences on display, garb to drool over, and displays of courtesy and chivalry (on and off the field) to be inspired by. Innilgard is renowned for it's plentiful good food, and the cooking team did not disappoint, with feast goers being seen in the evening walking around rubbing their bellies and moaning happily that they 'ate too much'.

There were two Peerage ceremonies, a Protege ceremony, presentation of gorgeous scrolls, and other lovely forms of recognition for well-deserved people. I got to see two friends step up as Heirs to the Throne after an exhilarating battle. And laughed as Knights in the stocks got pelted by sponges to raise over a thousand dollars for a cancer charity in remembrance of lost friends. There was beautiful dancing and a range of excellent bardic performances. I got given a personalised performance of interpretive dance in lieu of a rose in the Rose Tourney. And did I mention the drool-worthy garb?

All in all, it really was the sort of event that renews in every way.