Well here it is 2023 and one of the groups, Riverhaven, in my SCA kingdom of Lochac, has announced a costume challenge and of course I have decided to enter.
So here we go in the River Haven Costume Challenge!
It has a similar set up to the old IRCC (which doesn’t run anymore and indeed the whole website is gone!)
Here’s a copy of the instructions:
Putting the “Rules” etc of the comp up here as well.
Ogres are like onions -they have layers.
And so does this clothing challenge.
THE BASICS:
From 1st October 2023 to 31 March 2024 River Haven will be running a clothing challenge.
The main focus of it is to encourage garb making within members of the group, but there will be prizes. How good will depend on Sponsors (more on that later).
Based loosely on the Calontir Clothing challenge and the IRCC, the challenge is to make an outfit of at least three layers during this time. It can be from any time/place that SCA covers.
Prior to the challenge you can research, source patterns, do mock ups, make toiles, source your fabric and other necessities, but fabric for the outfit itself is not to be cut until 1st October. This is also the date to nominate and put in your plan (late nominations/plans will be accepted, but end date for making the outfit is final.)
There will be check in points on 1 December, 1 February, and 1 April (final date). One layer is to be submitted at each of these. More on processes to come.
There will be three divisions. Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Please look honestly at which category most suits your skills and nominate for that one. The three categories will be judged separately. (But if we know you are an advanced sewer, and you try to put yourself in as a beginner, be assured we will be having a chat…)
I HAVE QUESTIONS! Hopefully most of them will be answered here.
What constitutes a layer?
A layer can be for e.g., underwear, underdress, overdress, cloak or coat, tunic and pants, accessories. If accessories is chosen as a layer, at least two items must be submitted. We are prepared to be a bit flexible, for eg if you make stockings you could nominate them as either accessories or as part of an underwear layer. Calontir allowed cooking a meal or writing a song appropriate to the outfit as an accessory, we are inclined to be similarly broad minded.
Is this the Competition for the Baronial Championship?
No. This is separate.
But I don’t want to do a full outfit of three layers?
You are welcome to sew along and make whatever you like, but without three layers will not be eligible for a major prize. The real prize is getting things made, and there will be minor prizes as well.
I would love to do this but am not from your Barony. Can I still enter?
As this is being done mainly online, folk from other places can enter, but be aware that some prizes may be available locally only due to postage etc.
I am a complete beginner! Can I have someone help or advise me?
Yes. Even if you are not a complete beginner. Assistance is fine, but you should make mention of it in your submissions. You do however have to do all of the actual making of the garment yourself.
Exceptions – if for e.g. you wish your finished outfit to have some nice embroidery etc, you may get someone else to do it for you BUT you must make that perfectly clear in your submission and give credit to the person who did the actual work. If you designed the embroidery but had someone else perform it, you will be graded on the design but not on the workmanship. (Similarly to how you would be graded for using purchased trim rather than making it yourself.)
I will finish my first layer well before the first check in, but will need more than the allotted time for my second layer? Do I have to wait to start on it?
You may work on more than one layer at a time, but must submit as completed one layer each check in day. For eg if you were working on your overdress but suddenly realise you need more buttons and they will take a while to get to you, but your chemise is almost complete, finish the chemise and submit it at check in day instead (no previously submitted layers count though!)
Ugh! I put in a proposal for dress, accessories and cloak but now found that moths have eaten the cloak fabric. What can I do?
Let us know, and consider alternatives. If you decide to change to underwear, accessories and dress instead that is fine.
Beginner again. How would I go about starting this?
Pick a period/place you want to make an outfit from. Or look at the type of outfit you want to have. Manuscripts or portraits can be a good starting point. Looking up history of fashion/X century fashion etc is often good if you have no idea at all. Research what layers would have made up that outfit. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, it is what we do.
I don’t want to actually do the challenge, but would like to get involved somehow?
We will be looking for judges and sponsors for prizes. Get in touch
How are we going to do this?
I will be setting up a facebook group that anyone can join. We encourage you to post your progress, trials and tribulations there and seek advice/clarification on it. This makes it a big sew-along, and also is easier to keep track of eligibility for some prizes.
You will send off a proposal when you nominate for what you plan to make and any background information, pictures of inspiration/source materials etc.
At each check in date you will submit a form (which will be released one week prior to the check in date) with details of the layer, what you did, what you changed, what you wish you had changed, and up to ten photographs backing up your submission.
At the end of the challenge, you will also submit a form about the full outfit, how the challenge went, things you learned, and up to six photos of the full outfit.
The judges will then look at all submissions and tally up scores, prizes will be announced at May Baronial.
I am interested in sponsoring a prize – what sort of thing?
We will need prizes for each of the categories, possibly second and third if enough takers. But in keeping with the fun and mayhem of the Calontir challenge, we welcome all and any other minor prize offers.
For example, if your favourite colour is blue you might decide to give some blue embroidery threads to the person who produces your favourite blue item.
You may decide you want to give a prize for the best pair of underpants.
You may love Elizabethan fashion and give a prize for the best Elizabethan outfit.
Contestants may also be sponsors, but are not eligible for any prize they judge themselves.
One I will personally be giving out that caused a lot of fun and interest is the “Bleed for It” prize. A red headed pin offered to anyone who accidentally causes themselves to bleed during the making of the outfit. Photographic proof required.
Be as serious or as facetious as you like.
Prizes do not have to be finalised before the comp begins.
So Anyways I decided to enter, in the Advanced section!!! I am entered against laurels which makes me nervous, so I am trying not to think about that part and just do my happy little thing and not get stressed over it.
My choice of outfit is La Bella Nani by Paolo Veronese
I Have loved this picture for many years and I a sort of version of it back when I first started doing Italian Renaissance garb about 15 years ago, so it is time to try and do it properly.
I like the blue BUT I love purple, so as there is some purple silk that has been too long lurking in my stash it is time it came out and go tortured, I mean used to make La Bella Violette
I have a lot of the planning still to do and the challenge has already started so that’s a ll I have time to write just now, I will attempt to update my blog as I go.
Wish me Luck!!!
Violetta: Sarta de Donna 