The event will be held at 750 - 5th Street Nanaimo, BC; please see the Event Page for additional site details and contacts.
To view class details, please click the class in the calendar and a detailed description will appear below. Registration is open from Mar 26th through Apr 12th. Students will recieve an email of their class selection, followed by an email from the Class Organizer confirming their spots.
All classes require pre-registration. Please note that two classes have prerequisites: 'Bara Tapes' is the prerequisite for '16th Century Doublet Pattern Drafting', and 'Basic Inkle Weaving' (or equivilent experience) is a prerequisite for 'Pickup Inkle Weaving'.
Please make cheques payable to 'SCA - Shire of Hartwood' and mail by April 13th to:
We look forward to seeing you there!
Band weaving can be traced through the ages. Most commonly they were used for belts, straps, and garment trim. Generally most were made using either the backstrap or rigid heddle. The inkle loom with string heddles is a more modern technique. With just a few colour changes, a wide range of bands can be woven. Students will learn how to load, prepare, and weave on an inkle loom using basic patterns.
Students should bring: scissors, an inkle loom, and a shuttle. (Note, inkle looms and shuttles are also available for loan or purchase through the Hartwood merchant, House Blue Dog (see Facebook).) Patterns will be provided in class.
Suitable for teens through adults. This class is a prerequisite for Pickup Inkle Weaving.
Students will cover range set up, equipment inspections, range commands, and all aspects of range safety. If students have SCA memberships and pass an open book test including demonstrating the ability to use range commands, they will receive their Jr. Archer Marshal's status.
Students should bring: Bows, arrows (if they have them)
This course will survey a number of genres and works written in Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, Swedish, Danish and Icelandic in the early Middle Ages, working with translated sources. Consideration will be given to performance styles and venues, access to sources, documentation, and other matters of interest for SCA bards.
Students should bring: Note-taking material; I will email students electronic copies of the class handout.
A hands on rapier class covering some of the basic elements of sca rapier combat, and discusion on equipment, swords, secondaries, and armor. Equipment will be available. Handout will be provided.
Students should bring: pair of leather gloves,optional. Comfortable clothes you can move in. Any rapier gear you might have.
Uncials, introduced in the 3rd Century is a majuscule alphabet (upper case only), historically used by monks for the writing of religious books and manuscripts. Uncial's broad single stroke letters use simple round forms, taking advantage of the newly available parchment and vellum surfaces, as opposed to the angular, multiple stroke letters more suited to the rougher surfaces (papyrus) previously available. Students will be introduced to the basic Uncial alphabet and how to form each of the letters of the alphabet.
Students should bring: Supplies, tools, etc. will be supplied by the instructor. For this class the instructor will provide chisel nib felt pens for use in the class. Students are welcome to bring their own pens, ink and paper if they prefer to use a regular nib. A C-2 Speedball nib or its equivalent is recommended. Exemplar will be provided in class.
This class is suitable for teens through adults. Open to younger youth if they are comfortable writing or printing a basic alphabet. Not recommended for youth under 10 years of age.
I will provide an overview of the basics of Event Stewarding and then we will go into further detail based on student requirements and interests.
Students should bring: Note taking materials.
How did medieval people treat their dead? In this class we will examine three or four case studies of medieval funerary practices, focusing primarily on the archaeological record. I will vary the case studies when I teach this, so students are invited to take it as many times as they like.
Case studies today will include powerful and/or non-conforming women, including women with weapons. We’ll discuss Birka 581 and some Anglo-Saxon examples to start, and see where that takes us.
Each student will be given the opportunity for personal feedback for assisting in improving their current fighting style and abilities. Also time will be made to assist in getting the students prepared getting their Marshallate status started and/or completed.
Students should bring: Full rapier fighting kit recommended. Rapier minimum.
Courtesy and Chivalry are the core of the SCA; it takes kindness and politeness to a higher level.
By the end of the class, the student will:
Carolingian, dating the the 8th century, was created by Alcun of York, through the patronage of Charlemagne. Charlemagne wanted a standardized script that was easy to read and especially easy to write. Carolingian has genuine ascenders and descenders making it the first real miniscule hand. It was commonly used in early period manuscripts often with Uncial letterforms used for Capitals where required. As a result of its clarity and beauty it lasted as a primary hand for several centuries before evolving into the compressed, angularized Gothic. Students will be introduced to the basic Carolingian alphabet and how to form each of the letters of the alphabet.
Students should bring: Supplies, tools, etc. will be supplied by the instructor. For this class the instructor will provide chisel nib felt pens for use in the class. Students are welcome to bring their own pens, ink and paper if they prefer to use a regular nib. A C-2 Speedball nib or its equivalent is recommended. Exemplar will be provided in class.
This class is suitable for teens through adults. Open to younger youth if they are comfortable writing or printing a basic alphabet. Not recommended for youth under 10 years of age.
Hands on class where you will hand sew cartridge pleats and finish them onto a waist band. I will have a few diagrams and portraits to show their use in late period. Most of my examples are German around 1550. This is a method that I have used to do the pleats, it is meant as a tool to get the garb finished. This is NOT meant as a period method.
Students should bring: optional: needle and scissors note taking material.
Archaeological reports can seem like arcane texts, unapproachable for many readers. Excavation reports belong to a particular genre of writing and can range from 20 pages to thousands of pages, depending on the archaeological site. During this workshop, we will discuss what you can learn from reading excavation reports, where to find them, and how to use them. We'll have samples of different kinds of excavation reports to work with (mostly Viking, because that's what I have!). As a final step, we'll also learn how to cite excavation reports in your research. Spoilers! It can sometimes be tricky. The goal of this workshop is to demystify the archaeological record and make it accessible to everyone.
Students should bring: If we have power and wifi, then a device that can connect to the internet would be good. Otherwise, just note-taking materials.
This is an overview of largesse meant as a discussion and exchange of ideas. Topics include (but are not limited to): 1. The do's and don't of making largesse; 2. Looking at items that can be made as largesse for different groups (kids, men, women, or fighters); 3. Looking at various items suitable for largesse including possible variations; 4. Importance of properly tagging items; and 5. Organizing a local largesse competition.
This is an opportunity to share your own ideas. Students are encouraged to bring along samples of their favourite items they like to make for largesse to share.
This course will introduce a number of designs for throwing knives, tomahawks and spears. It will identify the ones most likely to provide greater success by investigating the key properties of each. You will leave the class with a better understanding of which weapons you should purchase or use to maximize your score and enjoyment. Length, weight, handles, balance point, material and overall design will be discussed and how each relates to a throwing style.
Students should bring: knives and axes and spears if you have them.
Band weaving can be traced through the ages in a variety of forms. The inkle loom with string heddles is a more modern technique versus either the back strap or rigid heddle methods which are considered more period. Inkle weaving using the pick up method takes weaving one giant step further than basic weaving. Once mastered this advanced technique opens a host of interesting and complex patterns providing the weaver with more challenging projects. Students will be shown how to load the inkle loom differently to accommodate pick up weaving. Students will be shown how to read patterns and then translate them into their actual weaving using a 'pick up' stick to complete the pattern
Students should bring: scissors, an inkle loom, and a shuttle. Students also need to bring a supply of tongue depressors or popsicle sticks for use as 'pick ups.' Instructor will provide the necessary yarn for this class. (Note, inkle looms and shuttles are also available for loan or purchase through the Hartwood merchant, House Blue Dog (see Facebook).) Patterns will be provided in class.
*** Prerequisite: Students need to have completed Inkle Weaving - Basic and/or be comfortable loading, preparing and doing basic weaving on an inkle loom. This class is not recommended for beginners.Suitable for teens through adults.
Have you heard how hard it is to document your work for A&S displays and competitions? Then you've heard wrong! Come and learn a simple and effective method for documenting your work from the Kingdom Arts & Sciences Champion - who is also a high school English teacher! Though aimed at beginners to documentation, anyone who feels they need a refresher on this important aspect of Arts & Sciences may find this class useful.
Students should bring: Note-taking material; I will email students electronic copies of the class handout.
Språngwork is a way to create elastic fabric by twining warp threads or yarns which are anchored at both ends. The technique is seen in the Greek sakkos (bag-like caps), in Norse hairnets, in sashes and caps of Coptic Egypt, and 15th century English curtains. Learn the foundations of språng work by creating a small drawstring bag suitable for coins, jewelry or other small items. Tools are minimal; some manual dexterity is required in picking up warps. Frame, yarn, and latch-hook are supplied.
Students should bring: Manual dexterity is required; a medium crochet hook (maybe 4 mm) is optional. Note-taking materials, if the student desires.
Prior to the 7th C. the reed pen was the predominant writing instrument. With the advent of parchment and its more general use as a writing material, the quill pen came into being as the much smoother surface of parment allowed for finer, smaller lettering, etc. The quill pen derived from flight feathers. Quill pens were the primary writing tool until the development of the steel nib pen in the 18th C.
Students will learn how to select their feathers, how to season them properly, how to clean and prep and finally cutting the quill. Supplies will be provided by the instructor.
Suitable for teens through adults.
Have you ever wondered where they get the wordings for those award charters and scrolls you hear read out in court? Have you heard the artists and wordsmith on a scroll named and thought, "Hey, I could do that," but not known where to start? In this class you will learn all about how to write wordings for award charters and original scrolls, from finding sources to adapting texts to the College of Heralds rules for award wordings to the submission process. The instructor has written award wordings and designed charters for several Tir Righ and An Tir reigns as well as creating original scrolls for local branch tokens over the last 10 years. In lieu of a printed handout, an electronic handout will be provided after the class. If you have particular requirements that make a print copy necessary, please contact the instructor before the event.
Students should bring: Note-taking materials would be helpful. I will not be giving a print handout but will make an electronic copy available to all students after the class. Students can email me if they need print.
By the early 13th C the Early Gothic forms had evolved into a non-cursive, angular hand known as Blackletter, Textura Quadrata (or Old English). T The name indicates the woven appearance of the lines of text, "textura" meaning 'an even effect in weaving' (Art of Calligraphy, Harris, D 50)
Supplies, tools, etc. will be supplied by the instructor. For this class the instructor will provide chisel nib felt pens for use in the class. Students are welcome to bring their own pens, ink and paper if they prefer to use a regular nib. A C-2 Speedball nib or its equivalent is recommended. Exemplar will be provided in class.
This class is suitable for teens through adults. Open to younger youth if they are comfortable writing or printing a basic alphabet. Not recommended for youth under 10 years of age.
In this class you will learn twining technique to construct a small basket. This technique is used in various weaving styles, in everything from basket making to tapestries and material weaving. This is a medieval art form technique that is valuable in medieval and mundane projects. Students may not complete the full project in class but will be shown how to finish it before the end of class.
Students should bring: Cost includes all materials, tools, and patterns. Students may bring scissors if they have them.
Suitable for teens through adults. Younger participants are permitted if accompanied by an adult who can assist with instruction.
Tailors manuals from the 16th century can be readily found in libraries about the world. The patterns in the manuals are covered in letters and symbols...DD, tt, M..... what do they mean? Is this a secret language used by tailors?
Learn to make and use Bara tape measures. These tapes are needed to translate the patterns, and this course (or your own tapes) are needed prior to my other pattern drafting classes.
A hands on class for making a Flemish twist bow string. Students will come away with a bow string and the knowledge to make more.
Students should bring: students must bring their bows.
Draft a 16th C doublet pattern.
Using period patterns as explained and expanded in Mathew Gnagy’s “The Modern Maker”, pattern draft a 16th c doublet specifically for your form. Bara Tapes for chest, waist and 1/2 height are required to draft the pattern. The book is not a required text for the class, but it is highly recommended for any late period tailor. Leave the class with a doublet pattern ready to cut out.
Limited copies of "The Modern Maker" will be available for a $40 fee, to be paid directly to the instructor.
Tablet-weaving (AKA card-weaving) is a textile technique of producing a sturdy narrowware band for a wide range of uses (belts! banner cords!); it is also used to create narrow edgings on clothing and starting bands on Norse broadcloth. We will work with a threaded-in pattern to learn basic techniques; you will have a small sample of weaving by the end of this class and the concepts needed to continue tablet-weaving on your own.
Students should bring: note-taking materials; students may bring a frame or inkle loom to hold their weaving, or any shuttle they may prefer. (Note, looms and shuttles are also available for purchase through the Hartwood merchant, House Blue Dog (see Facebook).)
This is a hands on class that will have students leaving class with a completed bow string. This ability is one of the qualifications required for the upcoming Hartwood Forester's Challenge.
Students should bring: Bows and bowstrings.
This is a hands on class that will introduce students to carving with an axe and knives. Students will come away with a hand carved spoon and the knowledge to safely carve more.
Students should bring: If students have carving tools and want to learn more about then they can bring then. This is optional.