Greek and Roman garb for summer events

I am combining these two types of garb because the first seems to flow into the second and my quick research seems to confuse the two.

For example, I am unclear on the difference between a "peplos" and a "chiton". The difference may be whether the side(s) are open, if there is a fold over at the top of the garment, no sleeves or sleeves created by pins, or the time period in history it was worn.

Either way the garment was secured on the wearer by use of pins; the only name I found for these pins is fibula. Some ways to approximate these pins are

1. Use safety pins: they are cheap, sharp end covered, but have a risk of opening unexpectedly. 
2. Tack the pin points with hand sewing and a pretty metal colored button: this is solid and won't easily come undone and is decorative, with the downside of needing a seam ripper to resize as the kid grows. 
3. (Not tested) use a pair of simple vintage metal pin brooches instead of safety pins
4. (Not tested) sew the pin points without buttons and clip vintage metal colored clip on earrings on the stitches: solid but still allows customization each wear.

Encyclopedia Britannica mentions that girls would wear the over fold extra long so it could be shortened by moving the pin points as the girl grew. I suspect that the fabric was also a bit wider to accommodate for growth around, and that boys more often were wearing tunics (neither point is mentioned in the encyclopedia). If choosing large fabric for a child I suggest starting with fabric suitable for a parent of similar body type with minimal drape, and then pin and belt to kid size (Not tested). Small scraps of linen/cotton that are too small to make other projects but wide enough to cover the child are also a good choice, they may out grow it but it was scrap anyway. 

There's also a common SCA variation that uses no pins and resembles a modern pillowcase dress. My quick research did not provide documentation for this style, but maybe someone has done deeper research on it. Here are a few links to get you started.

• The Mother Huddle This one uses fat quarters to build the fabric first, not a step needed for garb.
• Melly Sews This one is designed for an adult but you calculate your own pattern.
• https://youtu.be/AGY3Z-KaKLU?si=XJrS6pAkKgZL5msF A YouTube video

Also get the child involved:

• Let them pick buttons
• Block printing is seen on many SCA garments.
• Have the child weave or braid a belt from yarn or rope: I've seen classes on Kumihimo and stick weaving which may be good mediums.
• A child ready for sewing could be tasked with hems for the fabric as they are straight edges.

SET the puzzle game

 Per Wikipedia:

"Set (stylized as SET or SET!) is a real-time card game designed by Marsha Falco in 1974 and published by Set Enterprises in 1991. The deck consists of 81 unique cards that vary in four features across three possibilities for each kind of feature: number of shapes (one, two, or three), shape (diamond, squiggle, oval), shading (solid, striped, or open), and color (red, green, or purple). Each possible combination of features (e.g. a card with three striped green diamonds) appears as a card precisely once in the deck."

As a kid my dad would bring this when we visited my grandparents, and it was a post breakfast activity. For a while we ignored the "real time" aspect and my dad would give me hints of what he saw, this method of play is not a game but more of a brainteaser. Often were the times that I struggled, but it was a practice in noticing details. I have fond memories and need to get my own copy still.  

This is a small game that can be played anywhere with a flat surface to lay out the cards. So, while it is less actively playing, it still practices thinking and noticing details which will help with strategy in other games and life.

Disney Princess Character Garb Part 1

Introduction to Character Garb Blog post

I was a Disney princess fan as a kid, and many of them have historical inspiration.

Merida from Brave 

Main outfit, dark green or blue plaid is good option

• Long tapered sleeve navy/dark green tunic with a natural/white/yellow facing to represent the under dress 
• Layered tunics in natural/white/yellow and navy/dark green for warmth. 
• Modern princess seam dress pattern with lacing up the back as a coatardie. the seams allow space to expand if you make big seam allowance.

Archery Contest

• Light blue tunic or coatardie with yellow/gold trim.

Belle From Beauty and Beast 

 

Blue dress

• Blue viking apron dress with a white or natural under dress
• Blue sidelaced dress (eventual post on how to) with a chemise and apron. thrifted basket may be fun for carrying toys.

Yellow dress

• Yellow sidelaced dress with rose trim and a chemise.
• Yellow tunic dress with rose trim or rose fabric facing. 

Jasmine from Aladdin

Chosen outfit color from movie: plain crop t-shirt with optional mirror/embroidered trim, drawstring ankle and drawstring waist pants, a headband with gem. maybe even attach a light veil to the headband.  

Disneybounding, Historybounding and the Birka Garb Challenge…

Disneybounding, the act of dressing in Disney character inspired outfits, came from an adult wanting to show their love at Disney in the parks. This likely inspired the term Historybounding, which is wearing historically inspired garments in everyday wear, though you’re not actually going to history, so the bounding is not fully accurate. I suspect one of these trends had influence in the creation of the Birka Garb Challenge, though I struggled to find documentation. Combine this with many people’s joy in playing dress up, especially children, and there is a way to encourage kids wearing different clothes.
The concept is that for children who enjoy playing dress up that garb could be made that resembles characters they enjoy. This would encourage the wearing of unfamiliar garments and also provide more use before they outgrow it - playing dress up at home. This can be furthered along if the garments made can be styled for everyday wear as well as SCA wear. 

Examples:

• I once saw a kid in an Anna from Frozen inspired Viking Apron dress. The dress could also be worn with a plain t-shirt as a jumper dress. 

• A blue side laced dress (there will be a post on the flexibility of the design eventually) with a chemise (or peasant blouse) and apron to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Even a button-down shirt in white could work as a partlet...

• Leggings and a tunic could form a Kaley from Quest for Camelot outfit, and leggings are a good modern staple. 

• For characters that are more color scheme than design, such as Hulk or Batman, try a tunic with reverse facing (facing on the outside, often a contrasting color)

• If you can find trim or ribbon with the character logo then you could use that as trim on any garment. My mother once used a wide wired ribbon, after removing the wire, as trim.

Most animated characters can be translated if you’re creative enough, and kids aren’t always as discerning as adults so it might not be as difficult as you may think. 

I participated in the Birka Garb challenge one year, the year of superheroes. I did 90’s Rouge of X-men. I chose a coatardie and sideless surcoat combo for the color blocking of the suit and a capelet/hood for her crop jacket. I also made handwarmers (no idea if period but I enjoyed them) and an X-men logo belt favor.

Digsaw from Stronghold Games

[image from boardgame geek]

"Digsaw is a roll-and-cut game in which anyone can become an archaeologist!

Each turn, players roll dice and use scissors to physically cut apart their dig site to recover priceless artifacts buried in the earth. Make careful cuts in an attempt to excavate artifacts one at a time until you have cut your dig site into little pieces. A skilled archaeologist needs both precision and patience because at the end of the game, only isolated artifacts will score!

Are you a “cut” above the rest? Only the best student can be raised to the coveted position of senior archaeologist!"

            -Stronghold Games 

Some of my thoughts after trying it out solo are:

• Involve a kid not up for using scissors independently by having them play the "Head Archaeologist" and rolling the dice, may be even have them call the cut options.
• Seems open to making custom dig sites. The player sheet could also be enlarged with a color scanner and printer to adapt for smaller hands not yet up for quite as precise cuts. 
• A way to practice scissor skills because sloppy cuts can lead to lost points.
• Has decent solo play.

It's a cute game and could be a cute addition to your family game collection.

Sparkle*Kitty from Breaking Games

Whenever anyone mentions gaming with children Sparkle*kitty is a quick one to come to mind! It plays a bit similar to Uno but with more silly word combinations. It's a good way to practice reading individual words in a silly and fun way. I've seen Sparkle*kitty introduced to quite a few adults with no kids involved, and it is more fun than you might think by how simple it is.

"Sparkle*Kitty is an adorably fun, social, and magical spell card game for all ages, sizes and genders. Once upon a time, a group of powerful princesses were captured and locked away in Cursed "No Cursing" towers by the evil queen Sparkle*Kitty! All their words and magic spells vanished and became sugar & spice... almost everything nice.

Luckily these are no ordinary princesses and you are no ordinary player! Take matters into your own hands and harness the simple and sweet words into special spell combinations to set yourself free! The first to escape, wins!"

            - Breaking Games

Game.

The evil Sparkle*kitty has trapped the princesses (players) in towers (though if someone doesn't want to be a princess then they can think of it as saving the princess – to each their own) The players play cards into the spellbook, matching word, color or symbol similar to uno (the colors also have a border pattern to help if seeing colors is tricky) and read the pair of words aloud. When a player empties their hand they draw one of the 4 cards from their tower to start a new hand of 5. There is a winner when someone draws the last card from their tower. A variation from Uno is that there are 3 copies of every word and when a word is played and you have a copy you can play out of turn by saying "double" the word, or for the third copy "double, double" the word ( as in toil and trouble). There are also specialty cards that help you empty your hand or tower faster if played right and wild cards. Another variation to Uno is black magic cards, these cards are played next to the player instead of the spellbook and that player now need to remember to say the black magic word before the spellbook words, every turn – if they are caught messing up there is a rule for a penalty. 

Storytime. 

Setting: Upper elementary schooler's birthday party.

Players: Birthday girl, 20 somethings and a first grader.

So, I had brought games. I wanted to be inclusive, so not knowing the first grader I asked his adult what his reading level was. I was told he can but is reluctant, okay I can work with that. I explained the rules to everyone but probably didn't emphasize the reading part heavily (you have to read the spellbook when you play a card). We started playing, at some point he didn't want to read, he was reminded of the rules, and he chose to walk away. I allowed it since it had little effect on the other players, but I also left all his cards in place. After a bit, he changed his mind and wanted to play again - I reminded him of the rules and said he could as long as he remembered and followed the rules. Yes, he was at a disadvantage from the time he sat out but he was still participating. 

(side note: this seems like gentle parenting now that I have the term – which is a lot easier when you're just stepping in for a little bit)

This game is fun for all ages and very silly! There are also a few expansion packs that I have yet to play.

Tower Brix from Kosmos

 [image from the game company's site: TowerBrix – Thames & Kosmos ]

From the game company's site:

"Working as a team of up to six players, your goal is to build a colorful tower of bricks that meets everyone’s placement conditions — for example, at least one red brick must be touching both purple bricks, or at least three bricks must be placed horizontally. The catch: the conditions are secret, and you can’t discuss them with your team! Learn the game in minutes, then enjoy endless hours of challenging and rewarding play for children and adults. A cooperative game of skill with varying degrees of difficulty and exciting additional challenges for creative builders ready to take their skills to the next level.

• A cooperative stacking and balancing game for up to six players
• Wonderfully tactile, with sturdy, colorful wooden block components
• Encourages creative communication, logical deduction, strategic thinking, fine motor skills, and teamwork
• Includes varying difficulty levels and bonus missions for added value"

- TowerBrix – Thames & Kosmos 

I heard of this game due to its inclusion on the Play to Win list at one of the conventions I regularly go to. I passed it by until I hear a parent say they enjoyed it with their 6 year old - I then investigated it more. 

After playing it myself, I have these thoughts:

• There is adaptability built into the rules. By choosing different levels of goal cards and twist rules, the challenge can be tailored to the players involved. The rules even provide a goal value for different difficulty levels for reference.
• Not only is this a collaborative puzzle, but it has a tactile aspect without being dexterity really.
• An adaptation not exactly in the rules as I was taught is to start with no secret goals, so that the group can focus on the problem solving; and then add the secret goals.