NERFam Blogger Introduction

I should have started with this post but I needed to get the momentum started.

Hello, my name is Rowan and I am a proud nerd raised by nerds. I was raised around board gaming and the Society for Creative Anachronism and these communities expanded my life in ways school did not. My goal is to support family involvement and participation in these communities.

My Limitations

• I am not a parent, nor do I plan to be

• I am a board gamer, so beyond that I will try to link to other blogs that cover things like Role-Playing Games and LARPS.

• My thoughts are not guaranteed to be well researched. I will aim to be thoughtful.

• I will try to be inclusive, but when I miss the mark please be patient with me, I’m open to polite constructive criticism with explanation or informal evidence 

Does Anime help keep teens in Garb?

As a second generation SCAdian I've observed a few friends and their friends choose Japanese style Garb. While I didn't ask them why at the time, my theory is anime. From hearing stories from older SCAdians it wouldn't be the first time that a love of media led to a love of history and culture. Additionally, this may be a way to differentiate themselves from their parents as they grow into themselves. Maybe this develops into a whole Persona or maybe it's a phase but either way it encourages participation that works for them. 

This interest can also be a good introduction to making their own garb. My minimal research reveals loose garments with minimal tailoring and made of nearly all rectangles, so accessible to new sewists. 

Here are some links to jump start research:

• Wodefordhall : The individual articles have cited resources for further research.
• Sengokudaimyo: not only fashion but culture as well
• sbooth.net: inspiration more than source
• daigaku-ryou: outdated event listing but reading the class descriptions may lead you down some rabbit holes 
• jeongyo-teahouse.net: database of sorts for sources covering most of Asia it appears
• 
  

Sewing In miniature: A use for scrap fabric

As a kid I always wanted to include my favorite toys in the SCA too! At first that meant asking for all of Felicity Merriman's clothes for my American Girl doll and struggling with my teddy bear. As I got older I was lucky to have all the scraps from a garb merchant (my mother) at my disposal to learn to make clothes, mostly by draping to recreate the shapes I saw around me.

I struggled with not always having guidance and not knowing I could ask for cutting guides to modify into miniature. Now that there are so many more resources for sewing toy clothes, and I have more knowledge than when I was younger. I want to help guide kids to engage in the SCA by bringing their toy friends into the fun too!

Tips for garbing in miniature:

• Use cutting guides for adults but divide measurements by about 3 for 18 dolls and most Bears. You can learn these cutting guides by attending classes or by asking others who sew garb. 18 inch dolls and B-a-B tend to be about ⅓ scale, while Barbie is ⅙ scale.
• Find patterns for modern items designed for woven fabric and modify them into more period shapes. There are a lot of free patterns online, and some paid ones are even in period styles.

Four Legged buddies are a bit trickier but still doable. I hope to make another post covering tricks for them.

Free Resources

• PAcountrycrafts: the peasant blouse is the modern version of a chemise
• AGplaythings: contains links to some of the original American Girl doll outfits
• Reed Creations: a good cloak is a must for a doll going outdoors! Some scrap wool is best for rain protection
• Reed Creations : colonial garments may be useful to modify as well

Paid resources 

• PixieFaire: a lot of paid patterns to download online. Doll Tag clothing on there has some period type patterns
• lee & pearl October 2015 newsletter: There is a free modification to a paid pattern, and some other fun ideas</p>

Parents: Scaling patterns down can be good math practice or an opportunity to introduce a new skill.