January 18th The fabric arrived today...A giant box was on my doorstep when I got home! The UPS man thoughtfully put the doormats under the box so it wouldn't get wet --luckily since it was not wrapped in plastic!

My husband is jonesing for the leftover canvas as he is a painter.

January 23ed Cut off a test piece to wash for shrinkage. Fabric was cut to nine feet, then washed and dried at a laundromat (in very hot water). On the minus side, the length shrunk to 7'6", and the width from 63" to 60"!

Also-- the raw edges unravelled A LOT. Each piece will need to be 8ft. final length, including hems, seam allowances and sod flap length. On the plus side, the shrinkage tightened up the weave considerably.

I'm cutting each piece to 9'9", then hemming each cut edge before washing. I got the 8 panels I needed, with a leftover piece about 6' long I can piece into the first test piece, and use the rest to make ties and stake loops. I'll have just enough -- SO MUCH FOR EXTRA FABRIC! Sorry Mike, no leftovers here. I'll buy him his own bolt when all this is done.

Two 60" widths will make up each side wall, with five 60" sections composing the front and back walls. The width of the fabric keeps seams to a minimum. Green cotton twill fwill be added for additional front panels as a door and two side windows (approx. 6 yards of 45" fabric).

February 2nd Still hemming and washing...about half done. Next stop, painting -- my favorite:)

February 7th Finishing up hemming/washing...sent for hardwood rope tensioners from Tentmasters, and bought stakes (10" galvanized wire spikes as used by other tent makers, they are much cheaper than iron stakes).

February 15th Bought a 12'x15' canvas painter's tarp for a floor cloth. After washing to shrink it, the back will be painted with laxex house paint to resist water...that will be placed over a plastic sheet for extra insurance against water.

I have recently subscribed to the Medieval Encampments Newsgroup at Yahoo. Lots of great tips from old hands on tent making, tent buying, furniture construction, setting up camp, etc.

Kathy will be coming up to visit in a few weeks and we'll be working on the painting together.

February 21th Tent Stake Construction! Fun for the whole family!

A ten-inch wire spike nail with a duct-tape-covered washer, held in place by a piece of rubber tubing. 40 of those suckers, made by me and the kids assembly-line style. WARNING= Since I'm using zinc-coated spikes and washers to retard rust, wear gloves while assembling! If zinc gets in an open cut it will infect the wound.

March 18th Ground cloth purchased -- a 12x16 painters' tarp that is heavweight with only one seam up the middle. After washing and drying it, it shrunk to 11x13. I'll use house paint as a base, and artist's acrylic for the details.

 

See the next page for painting AT LAST!