Re: MtMan-List: pilgrim outfit

[John Kramer <kramer@kramerize.com>]

This is the cheapest, easiest correct outfit I can conceive of.  It would be
good if you are just wanting to visit and see if you like what's going on, or
if you are looking for the least expensive way to get started.

Others have made several good references from which you can choose this is
minimalist and cheap.  There are still ways to cut costs further depending on
how much you want to do.  I have bought original period knives for $0.50,
but I
knew what I was looking at.  If you're handy with fire and iron an old file
can
be made into a fine striker.  

Coarse woven cotton or linen shirt.  Take a long rectangle of cloth wide
enough
to leave ample room inside for you and long enough to tuck around your crotch
inside your pants.  That was the common period underwear.  I've not seen the
documentation for the other mentioned.

Fold in half lengthwise and cut a "T" slot for your head.  Hem, bind or not.  
Take two more rectangles (pretty close to square to make a bulky sleeve.  Sew
it all together.  Sew a wide hem at the cuff and run a thong thru it to gather
and tie at the wrist.  You can also buy patterns and finished shirts.

Buy a pair of Gohn Brothers, Middlebury, IN broad fall pants in white duck
or a
correct denim (its the only denim they got).  Tell them you don't want the
pliers pocket.  Their metal buttons are as close to period as you're going to
get without some looking (stamped similar shape to earlier cast).  The cotton
webbing suspenders aren't bad.  It will probably cost somewhere in the
neighbor
hood of $50.00 for both.  They also have straw and felt hats which are
acceptable.  Prettier if you "dress'em" up.  Reshaping them a bit doesn't
hurt.
Or make a simple sack cap of blanket scrap.

Leather Findings (look in the yellow pages) or Tandy sell what they call
splits, cheap.  It's the inner, flesh side, cut off when cutting the top grain
leather (weather side) to a specific weight.  It's crummy leather but it will
make a pair of mocs that will survive a rendezvous or two.  The better the
leather the better the mocs.

Make a pair of simple center seam mocs (patterns and instructions available
everywhere.  Make a simple flap shoulder bag to carry stuff if you got it.  A
glovers needle and awl make sewing easier.

Buy two of the best wool blankets you can afford and a couple of blanket pins,
coat, bedroll, etc.  The Baron blankets made in Utah are fairly inexpensive
and
quite good for 5 years of daily use.  Whitney's and Bay's last longer, they
also cost more.  The grey with black bar 1850 army blanket they sell is
exceptionally good and  very tightly woven.  They are a little smaller than 4
points and if you run large may let in chilly drafts.

Get a 7'X7' or a little larger piece of  good canvas.  If you look around
sometimes you can find pretty good stuff at closeout stores and simply cut the
metal grommets and heavy edges off, I've never bothered to hem them up and it
didn't seem to make much difference, they wore out all over.  Tie small stones
in the corners if you string it up for shelter.  Or just roll up in your
blankets in it.

Not all "camp dogs" are unwelcome, Iron Horn never once brought food, he
always
gained weight in camp.  Depends on who and maybe how the begging is done.  A
tin cup and your knife may be all the utensils you need. 

The large Revolutionary War Period folding knife, many of the sutlers sell,
eliminates the need to make a sheath and belt, it may be a little more
expensive than a Russell Green River.  Get a fire steel, flint and tinderbox
(Sucrets tin left to red hot in a fire to burn the paint off and turn
blue-black), cool and dry make some char, rubbed the cooled box with dry char
to retard rust (DO NOT OIL).  You can get by easier without a gun than without
a knife and fire.

Find someplace to go wear your period outfit.  Add geegaws, foofaraw and
plunder; as needed.

John...

Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.
John Kramer  <kramer@kramerize.com>