Tag: SCA

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The Magic of Shaped Tent Floors:

A tidy solution that also simplifies and speeds tent erection

You might be wondering, why go to all the trouble to make a custom floor?

  • Do you set up your tent alone?
  • Does your tent have an irregular shape?
  • Have you ever had to move tent stakes after pitching your tent?
  • Has your tent ever ended up all catawumpus and just been weird all week?
  • Do you struggle to keep water out of your tent?
  • Do wrinkles in your groundcloth or loose rugs ever trip you up or annoy you?

If your answer to any of these questions is “yes” then a shaped floor might be for you! It helps with all of these issues. If you sew a tarp to the bottom, then you end up with something similar to what Panther calls a super ground cloth. Only yours will have stake loops and fit as perfectly as you measure. If used along with a sod cloth and tucked in properly, you should have a pretty snug tent that sheds water well unless there is crazy wind. I’ve even had good luck at Lilies war with staying dry…

Measurement and Design

  1. Set up tent to determine size. Do not rely on manufacturer measurements.
  2. Measure carefully (doors closed snugly) and draw the size and shape out on a grid if possible.
  3. Place stake loops in corners and breaks in sod flaps. (usually at seams)
    • If you don’t have breaks in your sodflaps, you could split them, place a large grommet in the sodflap to allow an attachment point or use a toggle (or tie) on the inside of the tent to attach the floor
    • You can use less stake loops for a square or rectangular tent. 4 should work ok for small or medium tents once you get your stuff in the tent.
    • For irregularly shaped tents, you need one at least at every corner or point
  4. Use 2 layers. A tarp cut to shape on the bottom and canvas on the top. This will make it waterproof and also nice to walk on

Materials

  1. Quality plastic tarp that is the right size if at all possible. The cheap blue tarps will puncture and unravel easily. If your tarp isn’t the right size, you can piece it.
  2. Canvas is my preference. I like to use sunforger for this as well due to additional water resistance, durability, and relative ease of cleaning. If other fabrics are used, remember that they will likely wick moisture and could actually bring more water into the tent. So be careful during setup.
  3. Webbing for stake loops – UV resistant is best. Nylon will not wick water.
  4. Thread – Heavy duty. UV resistant is best, but not necessary.

Construction

  1. If sewing a rectangle, sew one edge then both perpendicular edges and finally the edge parallel to the first one sewn. This will help keep the pieces square to each other.
  2. You can piece the tarp if you need to do so. I’ve had success with sewing the tarp together and then taping down the seam with quality duct tape and putting the taped part on the inside.
  3. Some tarps unravel worse than others. I did not finish the edges of the large floor I made for a 20 foot round. With nearly 10 years of frequent use and many, many scrubbings, neither the tarp nor canvas unraveled much at all. So, this is personal preference.
  4. If you elect to finish the edges, you can simply fold the canvas over the edge of the tarp and sew the whole thing to finish off the side. I use binder clips to hold edges folded while sewing and remove as you come to them.
  5. If you are sewing a shape other than square or rectangle, begin sewing the 2 layers together in the middle section and work your way out, alternating sides as you go. If you start at one point and simply sew around the edges, you will inevitably pull the whole shebang out of round since you will be dealing with edges on the bias and the layers won’t end up fitting right.
  6. Stake loops should ideally be on every point/corner. These don’t take quite as much stress as stake loops on a tent, but should still be thoroughly sewn down. Use a box and X sewing pattern or at the very least, sew the loop down with a large “Z” pattern. You could also set grommets and thread webbing loops through them instead of sewing down the webbing.
  7. If your stake loops or width of your floor ends up a little short, you can always make a loop of paracord and thread that through the stake loops.

Cleaning

  • Always allow to dry thoroughly
  • Scrub with a soft bristled pole brush and dish detergent
    • Allow to dry in the sun over grass if possibleYou will scrub and think it still looks terrible, but the sun will work magic while it dries. Also, don’t sweat it…it’s a floor.

Known canvas sources:

Claredon Textiles – wholesaler will sell 100 yard bolts of Sunforger and usually has seconds. http://www.claredontextiles.com/  Calling or e-mail is best

Canvas Etc. https://www.canvasetc.com/ Formerly Primo-mart – sells Sunforger canvas by the yard

Hamilton Dry Goods http://www.hamiltondrygoods.com/

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On the SCA, Goals and Peerages

I still remember how excited I was when I bought my first piece of SCA armor. A helmet which, though it now has a different bar grill than it sported 17 or so years ago, I still wear today. I remember how terrible my first armor was; how I couldn’t lift my arms above my shoulders in it and I remember my very first fighting goal. That goal was to earn the distinction of “she doesn’t completely suck” on the field. A simple goal. A decent goal, if not very concrete. I knew that it was attainable and I knew that I could count on the guys that I fought with to tell me when I had achieved it.

As the years went by and I got heavily into the SCA, I found myself squired to a wonderful Knight and graciously tutored by several other peers. I saw something that I wanted. I’m not sure that I ever used the words “goal” and “Knighthood” out loud in the same sentence, but it was certainly implied. And here I am, many years later, having finally found the right words to describe what I wish I had been able to articulate a decade and a half ago.

Being a peer in the SCA, whether a Knight, Laurel, Pelican, or Master of Defense is a fine and lofty aspiration. It is a right and proper thing to hope for and to work toward. It is, however, a lousy goal.

When we decide to make something a goal, we should have measurable steps to attain that goal. We should be able to readily identify when we have reached that goal. Above all, a goal should be attainable through our actions. Now, here’s the thing. You and I have the power to do many great and wonderful things in the SCA. We have the power and ability to increase our skills and our wordfame. We have the ability to make ourselves into a paragon of chivalry. We do not, however, have the ability to bestow upon ourselves a peerage. We simply cannot control that piece of it. There are many factors that go into the decision to make someone a peer or not and many are completely out of our own hands.

If we fall into the trap of considering a peerage our goal within the SCA, then we have opened ourselves up for disappointment and have almost certainly robbed ourselves of part of the joy of the game that we play. I have seen many wonderful associates become incredibly frustrated with the seemingly moving target of peerage. How many times have we heard the words “keep doing what you are doing”? Which isn’t really even advice, even though it is often meant well. I’ve seen the disappointment when someone knows that they are being mentioned among the pertinent peerage, and the expectant hope…dashed by a few courts without hearing their name called. And then there is the bitterness. We all know those folks who have become bitter because they simply don’t know what else to do to achieve this goal that they have set for themselves. Perhaps the problem is, in fact, the goal.

That being said, we can and often should have goals for ourselves. We should strive for excellence in our chosen path(s). We should carefully consider what that means to us that is totally within our power and make those things our goals. Peer like qualities are a wonderful example of this and apply to all disciplines. This is something very dear to my heart and is, quite honestly, the first thing that I think of when I consider what it means to be a Knight. What does being a Knight or one of the other peerages mean to you? Now, make THOSE things your goals and your focus. Make that what you work toward achieving.

When I consider what was in my heart all those years ago, I know that the goals that I should have spoken for myself were as follows:
1. I will be a person who comports themselves with honor and grace at all times.
2.  My motives will be above reproach.
3. I will improve my skills in armor such that I am a killing force to be dealt with on both the tourney and melee field.
4. I will learn the ways of melee combat, battlefield awareness and leadership and will support my brothers and sisters to the best of my ability at all times.
5. I will learn to pass along the knowledge that I gain to others.
6. I will own my mistakes and learn from them.
7. I will do all of the above to a standard such that I earn the respect of others.
8. I will do nothing to bring shame or harm to my Knight, his family, my household or my Kingdom.
9. I will look damn good while I do these things.
10. I will have fun and I will try to help others also have fun.

Maybe your list is completely different and that is perfectly ok. I notice that winning tournaments isn’t actually on  my list. And I’m ok with that. I always have been. Because that isn’t what is most important to me. For me, it’s about having a good time and acting with honor and grace. Perhaps winning tournaments or A&S competitions is on your list. That’s great! Though, I will say that if winning is a goal, take care that you do not allow that goal more importance than your honor. We can each have our own goals and aspirations. Just make sure your focus and what you are trying to accomplish is within your own power…lest you be disappointed and lose out on the joy that is this wonderful hobby we share.

Don’t forget to have fun!
-Leyli

Photo by Brenden Crane

 

 

 

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Beautiful

She wanted to be beautiful

But not in the ways of porcelain and perfection

She wanted the kind of beauty

That comes with too many freckles and scars

She wanted the kind of glamour

That wears the sunset and the moonrise as makeup

The kind that laughs too loud

And wears the wrinkles of too wide smiles around the edges

She wanted the kind of hair

That begs for winds or fingers to tangle in it

Not the kind of beauty that belongs behind glass

But the kind that must be touched to be appreciated

She did not want the kind of beauty

That launches a thousand ships

Instead she wanted the kind

That rides the waves from the bow, the sea on her skin

She wanted the kind of beauty

That is not diminished by sweat and bruises

But the kind that shines

Like a window from her eyes into her soul

She wanted the kind of beauty

That inspires no artist to paint it

But that steals her lover’s breath

When he dreams of her skin

She wanted to be beautiful

And so she was