Repost from my Fiber Arts Blog on Why Don't Men Knit

Recently another photographer invited me to join a survivalist group on Flickr called Self Reliance For Survival.
As I was contemplating about what appropriate photos I could add, I thought spinning would be a good one. Then I thought about a topic that kind of chaps my hide, so to speak.
Many times when I'm knitting or crocheting or doing other fiber arts, men will walk by and roll their eyes and say something like, "um, knitting, or hmpf quilting, my wife does that." And then they'll go back to working on their knife or their bow or their atlatl darts. Very few of the men say, "Wow, you can knit. Can you show me how?" I think it's happened once and I even remember the guy who said it.
And no, he wasn't gay. He's one of our best archers and teachers.

So what's the deal guys? Don't you realize that to be a true survivalist you need as many fiber skills as you can master? You can't always rely on a deer walking by so you can shoot it, and skin it to make clothing or shelter.

With knitting or crochet or weaving you can make coats, blankets, hats, socks, gloves, shelters, slings, bow socks, hammocks, and so much more. With quilting you can take old clothes, save the good bits and make new blankets and jackets and vests. If you are a big, brave, strong guy are you afraid people will think you are a pansy if you whip out the knitting?

In a bartering society, you might need things you don't know how to make, like butter or candles. You might need to trade for eggs, lye, coffee, or fence posts. If you know how to weave you can make things to trade like baskets, sunhats, mats, potholders. One guy I know made his own hat out of pussywillows.

I hope you men will rethink your attitude towards fiber arts. If you don't want to do them yourself, at least don't belittle the women in your life that do them. They deserve as much respect as a knifemaker or a bowyer. And for you few guys out there that do knit and weave maybe you can convince the other guys you know to give it a try.

Knitted Skull Cap

Crocheting a Raffia Hat

Small woven tapestry

Paleoplanet Members Meet for the April Gathering in Pasadena CA

The April get together last Sunday was fabulous. Perfect weather, a medium sized turn-out so we weren't overcrowded, and a kite chasing a red tail hawk. Someone who found us on the Internet showed up. Her name is Kate and she got her first chance ever to shoot a bow from Steve aka Badger.

Kate and Badger

I worked on my Japanese braiding with the kit I bought at the SCA collegium a week ago. It's working, but the bobbins quickly got into a tangled mess and I'm sure there must be a better way.

When I got two frustrated with the Japanese braiding, I switched to needlepunch and worked on my moon and stars design. I freehand draw all my designs in pencil on the back of the fabric.

I taught Paige some embroidery stitches a month ago and I'll be darned if she didn't find some info on the Internet for blackwork and she's already doing a fancy border for her first SCA garb. Paleoplanet isn't affiliated with the SCA but we have some crossover from people who belong to both groups.

Close up of Paige's Embroidery Project

Michael got David going on some chainmail.   And I worked on my needlepunch some too.

David working on chainmaile.

Michael working on a bow.

Aimee came a bit later and did some sketching and worked on some other projects. She brought some gourd canteens she'd made that were gorgeous.

Aimee's canteen gourds.

Aimee and Guy doing archery together.

There was a lot of bowmaking going on too. And some people got in some practice with slings. We are an eclectic bunch and there is always something new to do and learn.

Sal has helped many beginning bowyers.

Barbara was knitting a  blue baby sweater. She's new to knitting so when she got a little lost on how to do the sleeves, she crocheted them instead. That's exactly why I try to get knitters to learn crochet and vice versa. The more skills the better, right?

Barbara designed this baby sweater.

I took photos. I'll add some here. I'd point you to the thread on http://paleoplanet.net/, but sadly, any link I put will just dump you on the top of the forum and you'd have to do some digging under the primitive bows thread to find them.

Can you believe we have this much fun for free? All you have to do is show up. If you plan to make a bow though, contact Tom Mills or Ken and get a list of what to bring to make your bow out of. We have some loaner tools, or you can bring your own spokeshave, drawknife, and sanding and scraping tools. Ken usually brings a tillering tree.

See you next month.

Bowyers Meet in Pasadena March 2010

Last Sunday we went to Pasadena once again to work on bows, arrows, knapping, atlatls and other primitive projects. Some of our members were off at Valley of Fire doing the atlatl competition, but we still had an amazing turn-out.  Tim Baker was there for the first time in a long time, and he's my frisbee buddy so we had a great time throwing the disc around. Some of the kids joined in the game too.

Diane brought her honey Gary and her poodle Missy. I worked on embroidery and she worked on beads. Paige and Mike were there and I got Paige started on some embroidery. Wish I'd gotten some photos of that.

Guy and Roland busted up a toilet for knapping. Fondly termed Johnnystone or Johnstone, it's a free source of knapping material to learn on.

Sidney and James from the SCA came by. Sidney has a Martin Stick Bow just like mine so I lent James mine and the two of them went off and enjoyed the roving range together. Sidney used the arrows she got from Guy Taylor. Guy's blog is over in the side bar (Greenman Archery).

At the next gathering the Valley of Fire crusaders will no doubt show up with new atlatl's and stories of conquering the wooly mammoth. So if you missed us we'll be there on the third Sunday of next month unless instructed otherwise.

Diane and Missy

Roland and Guy making johnstone

Andrew shooting with a broken arm.

Mike working on a longbow.

Gary tuning a bow.

Lauren, Tom, and Jon talking shop.

Me enjoying the sunshine.

Knapper's Corner

If you are interested in Knapping. this looks like a useful magazine. http://knapperscorner.com/

Paleoplanet Gathering Photos

It turned out we had our gathering after all at the Arroyo Seco archery range. The rain didn't start until about 2 so up until then it was business as usual for us with people doing knapping, bow making, atlatl throwing, archery and some pretty cool stuff. I was the only one with a camera so here are some of the photos I took.

Postponement Possible

It looks like Mr. Weather is not going to cooperate. Tom is talking about postponing the meeting until next Sunday. So before you drive out there be sure to check http://www.paleoplanet.net/ for the lastest info. Unless you live in Pasadena and it's no big deal to look out your window and see if it's raining.

Paleoplanet Meeting This Sunday

We should have some great weather for this Sunday's meeting. We got a bit of rain mid week so that should green things up out there, wash the dust off the trees, and make everything more beautiful than it already is. So bring your bows out to build, or bring your flintknapping tool bucket, or your beads to sew onto your quiver. Come prepared with tools and questions. We do have a loaner tool bucket in blue, because no one can anticipate every tool they might need. Or if you have old tools you wouldn't mind adding to the bucket you can do that too. Label your stuff because at the end of the day we always end up with a few leftover tools or wood and no one knows who it belongs to. See you out there at the Arroyo Seco bridge.

Halcyon

I want to live in a yurt. I don't know why, because I have no experience other than tent camping to compare it to. Can I buy an acre out in the country in Calif. and put a yurt on it? I'm not sure what to do about bathroom facilities. Solar shower and camping toilet? I can't believe I said toilet in my first blog post. Anyone have any land for sale in Halcyon CA?

Archery on My Birthday

For my birhday I want to the Mile Square Park archery range. I was hoping some of our friends would be there, but alas, it was just us. So we shot until our arms were tired, and then went out for a soda and tacos. I can't believe that on such a gorgeous Sunday the range had very few people. And we were the only two doing traditional archery.

Making a Basket Quiver

I really must try this. I don't have the supplies yet, and no money to get them at this moment. http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000065;p=0 This is one of the most beautiful basket quivers I have ever seen. I love all the different colors and textures in this. I also like how it comes to a point at the end. The other ones I've seen have a hard wood base in the shape of an oval or rectangle. A flat bottom has some advantages, but I'd love to try the pointed version.

Photos From Paleoplanet October 18, 2009

I was so busy I didn't get to take a lot of photos. The dog's name is Biscuit and he was a total riot. I worked on my berimbau, and my atlatl darts. I never even got around to my beadwork.

Straightening the atlatl darts.

Today I continued on with straightening the atlatl darts that I started yesterday at the Paleoplanet gathering. Usually the cane will start to sweat as it's heated up, and then you can bend it. I noticed it wasn't sweating no matter how long I held it over the Sterno can. Then I realized the last swirl of wind must have blown the flame out, because the can was cold. I figured that was a good time to take a break. My hands are still fatiqued from shaving the tough wood from off of the nodes.

Mississinewa 1812 and Paleoplanet

Tomorrow is our next Paleoplanet gathering in Pasadena. I'm looking forward to working on a berimbau, my atlatl darts, some beadwork, and learning more basketry techniques.

And to get in the mood, someone just sent me this video. I love the boy with the hoop, and of course the fire eater and the musicians.

August Paleoplanet Gathering

Sunday we had perfect weather for our monthly archery gathering. Here are photos of Marianne and her daughter working on their first bows. She brought me peanut butter cookies too.
I worked on juggling and knitting and beading. Not exactly Paleo but that's the way the peanut butter cookie crumbles.

Making Quivers by Fayme Harper

Saturday and Sunday we had a fellow over learning to make arrows. He's so happy about his new archery skills. He wants to make a leather quiver next. I was discussing different kinds of quivers with my boyfriend. He's made some great ones. I said leather is heavy and if you are doing archery on a roving course, every little ounce adds up as you are climbing over hill and dale with your bow, arrows, quiver, bracer, water bottle, and other gear.

Some light weight alternatives for quivers include yucca, basket, bamboo and canvas quivers. You have to decide if you want a back quiver or a side quiver. I find side quivers much easier because they fasten on with a belt and you don't have to lift them over your head and shoulders. Also you don't sweat as much as you do with leather strapped to your back. Just remember there are a lot of alternatives. And I know leather fringe on a quiver is very popular. But leather fringe is heavy. You can add plenty of other embellishments in lieu of leather fringe, like hanging beads, coins or talismans.


Yucca Quiver


Mini Quiver


Side quiver


Leather quiver

Also, if you've never looked down inside a quiver, most of them have some padding in the bottom to protect the arrows from hitting the bottom. That can be foam, fur, or stuffing of some type. It keeps the arrows from rattling around too.


Canvas Quiver

Fire Counter

I just added a counter at the bottom. If you need a free counter there is a link for it at the bottom of the page. I thought fire was an appropriate look for a blog on primitive tools and archery. Where would we be without fire? Cold, that's where.

Atlatl darts

I've decided to start making some atlatl equipment so I can join in on the fun. So when we were visiting friends in Silverado yesterday Guy spotted some cane that can work well for the long darts. We got home too late last night to do anything with them, but today I cut off all the excess branches with pruners, and cracked off the dried sheathing as best I could. Then I tied the whole bunch into a bundle to help it to dry more or less straight. I still have a long way to go but at least it's a start.

I've started carving two atlatls in the past. Who knows where they are now. So I need to keep an eye out for them or start a new one.

My Boyfriend the Fletcher

My boyfriend's archery blog is here: http://greenmanarchery.blogspot.com/
He's always making arrows with new combinations of feathers and cresting and shafts. As soon as he delivers one set of arrows he gets orders for 3 more. I wish he made enough doing that so he could quit his day job. But CA prices are so high you practically need 3 jobs just to have a normal life. Not even a life of luxury, just a life of paying bills on time and fixing your car when it breaks.

I've made some arrows, but I don't have the patience to make 12 things that match. So I'll leave the arrowmaking to him. I do make them for myself.