Here is the surcoat for Saint George. I decided to make it open sided, more of a tabard as it may well be worn by lots of people within our group over its lifetime and that way it will be a ,’one size fits all’, piece of kit.

I designed the garment myself, a very simple and quick make as I only had one afternoon to do it.Basically it is two and a half metres of fabric folded in half lengthways with a little trimmed off the one edge.This meant I only had one side seam to sew. The width of it is 25″ before sewing it up.

I had planned to then use the length folded in half width ways to make front and back. The length of the tabard from shoulder to knee is 46″. I appliqued the cross onto the front before sewing up the side seam. The cross pattern I cut out from paper with a 2″ width for each end, tapering in to the middle. The fabric was cut as one piece then machine appliqued onto the background with zigzag stitch.

I cut a hole in the middle for the head, this measures 12″ and I just drew round a plate and elongated it from the centre of the tabard. I bound the neck with a bias binding, using the quilt binding method of cutting a 2 and a half inch strip on the bias then machining it to the outside of the neck, folding it over to the inside then folding over the raw edge and slip stitching it to the inside.

I am very pleased with how it has turned out and hopefully will have some pictures of it in action for you in a few weeks. I am not going to be at the event as I am in Spain but fingers crossed there will be a few on Facebook!

I have also managed to make a very cute pouch in between marking this week so will share that with you soon I am away this coming weekend at Ellie’s so will be back with you next weekend.

Thanks for visiting and have a lovely weekend and week ahead.

Hello everyone. I hope that you are all having a lovely weekend. I am as it is sunny and we have blue skies here and I did my first day of teaching with one of my new groups yesterday. I have changed job roles this year and just moved office so am feeling very much like it is first days back at school! I have been busy making baskets for Sarah as well.

At our recent event in Lincoln during the Steam Punk Festival we once again went out to promote our show and in the evening for a photo shoot at the cathedral so I thought that I would share the pictures with you.Thanks to Kate and Wendy, our fab Swords of Mercia support crew, for these. I think we look brilliant!

We were once again very popular, especially the girls who spent ages being photographed. There are lots of photography groups who come and visit for the weekend and Ellie and Kerry, as well the knights spent ages posing for them and I even got asked as well!

I love these pictures of Ellie inside the cathedral.

There were also some brilliant ones of our knights, especially the ones of them kneeling in parts of the cathedral.

This is a superb shot of Jamie in his newest armour.

We also had some great ones taken back at the Bishop’s Palace, look at this lovely pair of medieval gentlemen.

Luke has new armour, what a surprise,  and here he is with Shane in his latest livery.

Here is Paul with Clive, Shane and Jamie outside the cathedral.

I really do think our group looks splendid, am very proud of everyone for all of the effort that they make with their kit. That was our last show as a group for this year, Ellie, Kerry and I will be at Caldicot Castle in South Wales for our last show of the season this coming weekend and then it is going to be a lovely Autumn of sitting stitching and thinking about Christmas crafting 😉

I hope that you are all having a nice start to Autumn, it is one of my favourite times of the year, am looking forward to some blackberry picking soon and lots of cooking nice stews. Will be back next week with a final round up of baskets that I have made!

Thanks for visiting and take care.

Hello everyone, while we are having a washout of early June here just thought I would post some pictures of the very hot weekend we had at Templecombe to remind me of what summer should be like.

We love this event, not only does it have a great relaxed atmosphere but there is a palisade that we get to be behind while the guys charge it with battering rams. All  very exciting!

All pictures are from the event Facebook page courtesy of Gene Alcock and Pat Patrick.

Here we are discussing what is going to happen, I am obviously pointing out that the action will be to the left, where the palisade door is! The commander Bruce is off to parley with the enemy.

This Dave, Kerry’s partner with his banner bearer, (also called Dave!). His flag got shot by the gunners so now has a very authentic air and a few holes!

Here he is  doing a champion’s fight.

Sadly he lost to Mick’s very large mace!

Here is the attack on the palisade door. Mick and his mace in charge again.

This is one of my favourite pictures of some of the guys in armour. Love the happy faces and the very large bardiche that John is holding.

And here is the battle in full swing with me just waiting in the wings ready to water the very hot troops.

An excellent weekend and thanks to all the organisers. I will be back later with the National Trust pictures, have had a very productive weekend and finally finished both my assignment for my doctorate and Jamie’s new tabard in time for our next event next weekend. I can now have a nice relaxing week doing fun stuff!

Take care and thanks for visiting.