Mary Ostler » Tir Righ http://www.maryostler.com Elizabethan Wood Butcher & Builder of Things Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:33:05 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 Ouled Nail Bedouin Tent v2.3 Final thoughts. http://www.maryostler.com/2011/01/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-3-final-thoughts/ http://www.maryostler.com/2011/01/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-3-final-thoughts/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:15:50 +0000 DirtyMary http://www.maryostler.com/?p=2519 OK… For every success we have, we have to experience disappointments to make our triumphs that much sweeter.

The Ouled Nail tent is a disappointment for me. It was an interesting experiment, but in the end it didn’t work out as nice as I had hoped. I think the main problem I have is the size of the tent. Its too small for the structure to really work. It is a serviceable tent, but to keep the profile looking right you have to use a lot of poles, and they obstruct the usable space to the point you have to dodge poles to get in and out of the tent. If the whole canvas was substantially bigger (especially the width) I believe it would be an awesome design.

Picture in the back yard. The mid wall poles not yet installed, and the ridge poles are a little to far forward. A friend referred to the profile at an event it was set up at as a rhino beetle. I can kind of see what they meant.

My plain Bedouin tent had a total of 10 poles plus a ridge, this design has 14 plus a ridge and allows for a lot less usable room. he plus side was the rain didn’t even thing of pooling on any of the surfaces. My original design didn’t pool rain either, but I was always a bit more concerned about a “What If” scenario.

The tent assembled at Lions Gate SYGC this summer. Wish I had a side profile shot of the tent, as you could see the Rhino Beetle when all the poles were in the right place, and the tension was good.

The roof ridge was much harder to get into place compared to the basic Bedouin design. Since both poles had to be in place when you entered the tent, you had to work at getting the whole twisty unit to twist in from the side. The original could have one pole put in at a time, and minor adjustment at the end, when they were already mostly in place.

I now have to decide whether to hawk the tent relatively cheap, or take apart a lot of it to convert it to an more common design.  Either way, I am now contemplating doing either the Alchigha (boobhaus) or a Turkish design (after I pour over Mistress Safiye’s book on the Ottoman Tent Complex).

]]> http://www.maryostler.com/2011/01/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-3-final-thoughts/feed/ 0 Turkish Carpet Project v1.7 The Math http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/turkish-carpet-project-v1-7-the-math/ http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/turkish-carpet-project-v1-7-the-math/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:15:57 +0000 DirtyMary http://www.maryostler.com/?p=2438 I have the cartoon, I have a loom, I have the right amount of hedles (my order arrived a couple of days ago). Now I have to figure out how much material I will need to complete the rug, and how much of each color I will need to hand dye.

Determining how much was fairly simple. Each knot will require ~ 2″ of wool to complete the knot. Most of which will be cut away, but I have plans for the woolen offcuts. Pillow stuffing maybe… or even  multicolor felting project. The cartoon is 265 x 445 = 117925 units large. I then did the tedious job of counting the knots in each unique element in the rug, and then count the elements.

Total knots:   117925

Red:  36845
White:  18371
Blue: 12488
yellow: 4343
= 72047

72047 -117925 =  45878 Black knots.

Amounts in feet with a 10% bump to be safe.

Red 36845 x 2″ per knot / 12″ in a foot  + 10% =6754ft
White 18371 x 2 / 12+10% = 3367ft
Blue 12488 x 2 / 12 + 10% = 2289ft
Yellow 4343 x 2 / 12 + 10% = 800ft
Black  45878 x 2 / 12 + 10% = 8410ft

Total  21,620 ft (6590 m, 6.59 km, 7207 yd, 4.09 mile)

The Red wool also has ~4″ of flat weave on both ends of the carpet, and red edging down both edges.
8″ x 16 weft/inch (number pulled out of thin air) = 144 weft + (445 knotted rows x 2weft) = 1034 rows of weft.

1034 x ~36″ (more than finished, but it gives me a large bubble) = 37224″ / 12 = 3102ft

both edges totaling no more than 1″. 445 x2 x1″ = 890″ / 12 = 74ft

The warp will also be made with wool. All of the examples of carpets in the V&A museum from pre-1600 are wool warped. I have been talking to a couple of people experienced with carpet knotting, and have a couple of different recommendations on what to use (they both said cotton, but since I am determined to use wool they gave me other advice too… nice people).

The cartoon is 265 wide. Each grid needs two warp threads to work plus another 4-6 sets of threads for the edge banding (not decided on whether to us two strand weave or three strand weave for the edge).

265+12 = 277 x 20ft (rough size of my warping jig) = 4540  ft

The warp threads will be folded in half when attached to the loom. This will give me enough room for the rug plus a little extra.

Now for the shopping, and then the dying. Looking forward to the dyeing part. Especially the stinky Indigo baths. I suspect that will be forced out into the wood shop.

]]> http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/turkish-carpet-project-v1-7-the-math/feed/ 0 Ouled Naïl Bedouin Tent v2.2 Wooden Bits & Rope http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-2-wooden-bits-rope/ http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-2-wooden-bits-rope/#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:21:19 +0000 DirtyMary http://www.maryostler.com/?p=2427 I  had wanted to finish this tent in time for Tir Righ Investiture at the end of August. I am now confident that I will be able to do a test run at SYGC this weekend. This works out better, as I will have a chance to work out some bugs before investiture. I will be cutting some corners to make the new deadline. The first place to cut corners is the strap hangers. I had intended to do a very thorough job on these, as the Bedouin didn’t have a lot of wooden things for me to make… and I like playing with the wood workings tools. The good stuff will just have to wait.

graphic from "Tents: Architecture of the Nomads"

First thing I did was scavenge through the wood pile for some wood that could handle the job. I have lots of pine, hemlock, fir, and ply, but none of those wood would either be strong enough or look right. Then I found the left over hard wood skid rips I had cut when I was making Mistress Agnes’ x-chair. No idea what species of wood it is, but it cuts easily on the band saw and is insanely strong… Perfect. They were also already cut to 3/4″ thick  1.5″ wide… double perfect. I cut out segments in  5,6 & 10″ lengths to match the rough size of the strapping. After that, all it needed was a quick doodle and some band saw work. I used the first piece as a template for the rest of the hangers.

I saved even more time by ripping the hangers in half, reducing the band saw work in half. I then proceeded to stand on the new thinner piece to see if it would break… nope. Damn this wood is strong.

I did a quick check to see if they looked right with the braided cord.

Looks kind of like a skeleton rib cage.

graphic from "Tents: Architecture of the Nomads"

Moving on the the ridge pole. The one illustrate in the book for the ouled nail tents looks to be no longer than 2ft and has some strange carved, & cut out areas. I like the void in the center part, as it would be a great place to tie a lantern from.

Grabbed a Douglas Fir skid runner and chopped it down to a 2ft length, and quickly doodled out a design on the side. Once all the bugs are worked out on this tent, I will be replacing this post along with the strap hangers.

The doodle side profile cut out on the band saw.

I marked a recess line on the bottom of the ridge pole. I left more wood in the center than is illustrated in the book as I was worried about the mortised triangle that goes through the ridgepole. Its a soft wood, and the chance to breaking the bottom out is great, so a bigger buffer was in order.

I love my chisels. Lee Valley rules… just say’n.

The through mortise was a pain. Had a lot of muckin about to get it to work. The 1″ chisel cut the edges, and the 1/4″ chisel worried out all of the chips.

Lantern rope will be threaded through the hole.

I went to three different shops at lunch today trying to find 3/8″ sisal rope. Its a common item at hardware stores and Canadian Tire but everyone was out of it today. I could have bought the 1/4 sisal, but decided to get the nylon rope instead. The nylon rope can quickly have the cut ends melted to prevent unraveling, but the sisal would all have to be whip lashed. Since the 1/4  rope will be replaced at a later date (such as when I make new hangers) I am going with convenience over periodness (weeping uncontrollably).

I can already tell I made the hangers a little to short. The illustrations all show the  braided cord angled out farther than the strap width… Learning, learning, learning….

Next Post: Poles, and set up.

]]> http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-2-wooden-bits-rope/feed/ 0 Art of Seagirt http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/art-of-seagirt/ http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/art-of-seagirt/#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:53:02 +0000 DirtyMary http://www.maryostler.com/?p=1918 I was able to day trip earlier this year to the Barony of Seagirt’s annual Daffodil tourney. I posted about the event, but have had this post sitting in the draft folder for months. Its just a series of images of some of the art the Seagirtians had kicking around the site. I had a video of the great Seagirtian tapestry but have seem to have lost it (hence this post in draft for months). I love how they immortalize the winners of the tourney in banner form. I only wish Ulf’s banner had the castrated beaver on the device, instead of the monkey. Multiple daffodils on the  banners show how many times the individual won the tourney.

]]> http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/art-of-seagirt/feed/ 0 Ouled Naïl Bedouin Tent v2.1 The Other Tedious Stuff http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-1-the-other-tedious-stuff/ http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-1-the-other-tedious-stuff/#comments Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:01:15 +0000 DirtyMary http://www.maryostler.com/?p=2401

I finished the 18ft of  unravelling canvas. What a pain. My Fingers are numb. It will look awesome, but I highly encourage everyone to skip this step and just sew the canvas directly to the wooden hangers.

The tarp was big enough that I had no place to lay it out to mark were the straps go. Off I go to Ma & Pa’s to use there big back yard. There are a total of 15 straps that need to be sewn to the tarp. The 8 smallest straps will be sewn on the top side of the tarp, and the remaining 7 will be sewn to the underside. If you look close at the picture you can see where the rough placement of the straps will be attached. The underside straps are off center front to back by one panel as the front wall will be pushed up during the day, making a interesting profile on the roof. I also at this point wish I had made the long straps at least 1.5ft longer. I have them really chocked short on the back to give a cooler looking front strap look. Leland added for scale.
The small side wall straps are sewn as to leave ~1ft hanging wall underneath the strap. They are positioned at the tarp seams. This is another reason I cut the panels into ~3ft sections rather than the original fabric 6ft width. This will be a high stress point on the tent, and the seam helps with the pulling stress.
The longer side straps were sewn  at ~30″ at the outer edge of the strap.  When the front wall is pushed up during the day, you will be able to see that unsewn strap section pulled taunt.
The center strap sewing lines all chalked out. I found it was easier to just measure the centerline, and then with a taped ruler mark out the edges than to just try to chalk the edge lines.
 
The only way to get this to sew on my machine is to carefully roll the outside edges towards to center chalk lines. Duct tape would have worked better than the masking/painters tape. It would have eliminated the tape breakage while man handling the beast around.  It did the job, just long enough to sew the strap.
I sewed one edge down, then turned the whole tarp around to sew the other side. I could only manage a couple of inches at a time, as I was always stopping to stretch the fabric out so there was not excess fabric being sewn into the band. Once both long seams are sewn, you can go back and sew across the ends.
Next time: wooden hangers, and enough rope to hang a man.
]]> http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-1-the-other-tedious-stuff/feed/ 0 Ouled Naïl Bedouin Tent v2.0 http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-0/ http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-0/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:00:16 +0000 DirtyMary http://www.maryostler.com/?p=2378 I need a new tent. I have postponed my building of the Timurid Disked Bell for the time being, and moved on to making a new Bedouin tent. This time I am building one based on the style of tent found in the Northern Algerian regions. In “Tents: Architecture of the Nomads” by Torvald Feagre there is a description and some line drawings of a tent called “Ouled Naïl. It doesn’t list the actual dimensions of the tent, but it does give some details that can help me puzzle out how to make one.

In general the Ouled Nail tent is a large square of material (canvas for mine). The roof cloth is combined with the wall sections.It is split into eight breadths of cloth varying in width from 24″-28″. This means the tarp would be between 16-19 feet in size. The main roof strap being 8-12″ wide, and additional strapping being 4-6″ or smaller in width. The strap bands end with the warp cords being separated from the weft threads near the ends, and then braided into four lengths of cord. There is also a discussion on alternating color patterns in the roof fabric to indicate different tribal bands. One of the more interesting parts to the tent is the fact the tent bands are internal.

My Tent is being made with 11-13oz black canvas from a local warehouse. Decent price compared to fabric stores (not that the fabric stores would have enough fabric for this tent). The size is dictated by the canvas , and in this case the width was just shy of 6 feet. Three panels of that works out to being the 18 feet wide.

Now I took home about 25meters of the canvas. Way more than I actually need, but I will find uses for the excess. That is way too much fabric to fit into my washing machine. Thus I cut the roll into (3) 18ft sections and washed it.

Carpenter squares are your friend. Everyone should have one…. a thousand uses I tell you.

Once washed dried and ironed, I proceed to cut the 18ft sections into ~3 ft strips. This is a lot more work than you probably need to do, but I wanted to try to maintain a multi segment roof thing. Yes 36″ is a lot more than the 28″ of the originals….. It would have cost me  more money in canvas and wasted a bunch of narrow strips.

I then took a panel of 12ft long black canvas (wash dried ironed…yadda) and marked out  strips

(1) 10″x12ft, 1ft marked at each end

(2) 6″x12ft, 1ft marked out at each end

(4) 6″x2ft, 1ft marked at one end

(8) 4″x1.5ft, 1ft marked at one end

Picture of the smallest straps. 6″ will be the strap part, and the 12″ will become the braid cords.

all of the strap work cut out.

Then the long tedious job of sewing the long strips together began. I was happy when I had it all done…. only to realize I had to hem the whole edge….ack. I used simple flat felled seams.

**sewing tip** use canvas/jean needles in your machine. For every bottom spool of thread you use, change needles. Never force the machine. Sometimes you just have to lift the presser foot completely up and sew the thick joint freehand on the machine.

On to the long tedious…what was I thinking part. The unraveling has started, but before that load of fun, I did a quick rolled hem on the machine. I made sure I did a few passes at the bottom of the strap where the cording will be braided.

Once all of the weft has been removed from the warp I got all the loose threads  divided into four sections.

Those sections were then braided into cords. I tested out the cords / strap by hanging by it off a peg in the back yard. Seems to hold up pretty good.

Next part: Attaching the strapping to the canvas (I see fun in my future), carving a ridgepole, and figuring out how I will be making the wooded rope hangers that the braided cord will be attached.

]]> http://www.maryostler.com/2010/08/ouled-nail-bedouin-tent-v2-0/feed/ 2 15th Century Timur Disked Bell Tent. http://www.maryostler.com/2010/07/15th-century-timur-disked-bell-tent/ http://www.maryostler.com/2010/07/15th-century-timur-disked-bell-tent/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:13:32 +0000 DirtyMary http://www.maryostler.com/?p=2310 I have an idea…. Its a backpack sized period encampment. Something small enough I could in theory lug onto the BC ferries as a walk on passenger thus saving me stupid amounts of money.

so…

In my seemingly never ending need to build different kinds of tents, I bring you the 15th century Timur Disked Bell.

all four images from “Felt Tents & Pavillions”

Small short center pole tents with huge amounts of arabesque designs elements.

In all the pictures I can find of these tents they all have a short ~1′ tall wall with alternating angled color strips. In the text of the book, the author talks about alternating red/white/blue/white on all of the white tents, with the arabesque predominately  blue. I have tried doing a search for colored versions of these photos, but so far my google-fu has let me down.

This image has the disked bell opened up like a sunshade. I would love to be able to make the tent function in this manner two. The one stumbling block I can see with it is the uber long guide ropes that would be needed to use it in this fashion. I could have a whole series of wall poles so I could decrease the angle…. but that takes away from the lightweight carry on-ness of this tent.

I also like the color contrast from inside to outside. Not sure if this is just an artists touch or indication of  an inner lining. I am taking it as an inner lining, and seeing if I can make a light weight cotton broadcloth lining. I think an inner red or blue lining would be amazing, especially if I add the arabesque to the inside too.

That “Felt Tent and Pavilion” book is amazing. It even has an image of a 15th century tent decoration panel. I believe this is a bit more ambitious than I plan to do, but it give you an idea of how crazy awesome some of those tents actually where.

I have a few other things I have to get to first, but I really would love to have at least the outer done in time for ban Tanist Kate & Tanist Alden’s step up.

Nuts…Yes?

]]> http://www.maryostler.com/2010/07/15th-century-timur-disked-bell-tent/feed/ 0 Turkish Rug project v1.6 a Looming I Will Go http://www.maryostler.com/2010/07/turkish-rug-project-v1-6-a-looming-i-will-go/ http://www.maryostler.com/2010/07/turkish-rug-project-v1-6-a-looming-i-will-go/#comments Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:11:40 +0000 DirtyMary http://www.maryostler.com/?p=2280 The project has been at a bit of a stand still as off late. The main hold up was the loom. I have been pulling out my hair trying to find either an image or a decent description of a near eastern rug loom in period. The closest I could find were a few images from the 1800′s in the V&A.

I had originally decided to make a tabriz loom for the carpet. Its a style that allows you to spool the rug around to the back side of the loom. This allows you to make a carpet just shy of double the front side of the loom. This one seems to be the most common in modern pictures of rug looms. Yet the image above shows a loom that has the warps attached to a set of rollers. This allows for the making of rugs of almost unlimited lengths.

So yesterday while doing a weekly troll of the local Craiglist I found someone selling a Leclerc Tissrat Tapestry loom for a decent price. Tapestry looms come up rarely, and this is one of the nicest I have seen. I made a trip out to the deepest darkest depths of Surrey to check out the loom. It came home with me.

Its big enough to fill a goodly portion of my bedroom. Score.

So I have the loom, now on to deciding on the wool I will need.

I heart the V&A museum. They not only have a fantastic collection… they have taken the time to actually analyse what their carpets where made of in great details, and then added that data to the web entries. I gathered all the carpets they have listings for pre-1600 and made a database to make it easier to decipher.

V&A pre-1600 Carpet material Database

I also found a reference to having colored warp threads on some carpets  that denoted where the flat weave edge should begin. I think I will use this method to not only show where to do the flat weave, but to also show where the borders should run.

** Next task…. Figure out exactly what kind of wool I need to buy for the warp threads. This is the kind of textile stuff I start to get confused with.

]]> http://www.maryostler.com/2010/07/turkish-rug-project-v1-6-a-looming-i-will-go/feed/ 0 AT War 2010 http://www.maryostler.com/2010/06/at-war-2010/ http://www.maryostler.com/2010/06/at-war-2010/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:02:59 +0000 DirtyMary http://www.maryostler.com/?p=2274 Its amazing the difference a good event can do for a tarnished outlook. At war is the desert after a mediocre meal. I love this event like I use to love Clinton a dozen years ago. Bit of a mixed bag of photos this time, lots of court, and some of the party.

Lots of rapier fighters, but no really good way to st a photo without getting mundane stuff in the background.

Happy to see the Mini-yurt in the Drachenwald encampment. I took the shot while on the ground so it, and the standards look bigger than they really are.

Obligatory shot of buffalo.

I entered a Triangular stool in the A&S contest. I had Mistress Safiye, Alicia, & Elizabeth Blencowe as my judges. They were very inquisitive & supportive.

Princess of Avacal held a Childrens Court prior to the Uber court.

11 royals in attendance. I have never seen a court that big before (sheltered life).

HE Sir Savric receiving a ______. I seriously can’t remember which award he received…. Bad Mary, I blame the evil wonder twin.

King Owain recognizing those people who have helped him reign .

Queen Caoimhe telling the court about the amazing generosity of a An Tir Armorer. Making and sending  legs to fighters in South Africa.

Aine Inghean Ui Chonchobhair  was entered into the order of Hospitler of Albion. A Drachenwald order for people from outside the kingdom that help the kingdom…alot!

Hraði inn Rakki joined the ranks of the Black Dragon Guards. Those special few awesome people who are entrusted with guarding The king & Queen of Drachenwald.

Uiliam was made a Beer Star… err  L’Etoile d’Argent for his prowess with Hops & Barley…etc

A segment of the Rapier community were presented as the newest Tir Righian Guild.  The Company of Defense will be students of period methods of  Cut & Thrust Combat.

They even put on a bit of a demo for the gathered  royals and court .

The Princes of Tir Righ and Avacal hamming it up.

Then the best part of the War… The Eric party.  Smaller social gathering were happening in encampments, but a large portion of the near 400 people in attendance  came out to party with one and all.

Spear the beer… not my favorite, but always a crowd pleaser.

Dana & Dale

The evil wonder twin & I being stupid.

Dana left Dale in our custody for a while….. Madness I say! Madness.

More Stupid

Dale kills her first man!

Azemar…. Not sure….

Hraði inn Rakki blinded by my flash… I put the camera away…. except for this one last image. My Favorite by Far!

My Evil Wonder Twin Eleanor the beer cooler.

It totally sucks that the next AT war is 52 weeks away!

]]> http://www.maryostler.com/2010/06/at-war-2010/feed/ 4 Drachenwald Silk Banner http://www.maryostler.com/2010/06/drachenwald-silk-banner/ http://www.maryostler.com/2010/06/drachenwald-silk-banner/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:38:10 +0000 DirtyMary http://www.maryostler.com/?p=2242 At War has come and gone again this year, and I am sad to think its another 52 weeks til the next time Tir Righ wipes the floor with the Avacalians. I was happy to be included in the Kingdom of Drachenwald’s Encampment. In honor of Queen Caoimhe’s attendance at our little war I decided to make a silk standard of the Drachenwalds Ensign.

I just realized while writing this post that I had put the ensign upside down…. Ack. Drachenwald in distress… OMG.

I was happy to say the queen didn’t notice, and seemed to like the standard.

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