Oof.

Back from May War. A very, very COLD and WET May war. o.O

I slept in my car all three nights, and begged and borrowed extra layers from folks to make it through the weekend because stupidly, I went, 'Oh, rain in the forecast - I'll need my cloak!' and thought May = warm rain.

Nope. We beat out the Estrella low temp from this past February, apparently.

Next year, I will be doing a GREAT DEAL of packing of many layers, including silk long-undies. (I will also be setting up my tent and including tarps and a rain shelter of some variety or other.) And now that I know something of sewing, I will be buying some heavy wool and flannel and making a few easy-peasy outer layers (like a second cloak and a hood or three).

I also will plan on bringing more food, and getting up the stones to use the Abbey camp kitchen OR Rowan/Ceridwen's kitchen, rather than run out of money by Saturday morning because it never sinks in that a small lunch in merchant's row is $10.

Got home, took a 3 hour nap that I desperately needed (I've never had to actually stop for a triple-shot coffee before to avoid getting in a crash...), unloaded most of the car,  and tonight, I'll be doing laundry like crazy and packing up things in a newer, better method of organization. And putting up a sign in my closet that says 'bring the goddamned coat next time' so I don't assume I'll be fine in my camp dresses and Mary Janes.

Oy.

Hm.

Getting through the SCA laundry - the cloak is washed and dried and just needs to be taken to Ceridwen's for its Lining 101 class (and once the dryer finishes with the green flannel I bought for that purpose some time ago, I'm all set). The other dresses are hung to dry in the garage, the rest put away in the closet.

I managed to draft a basic hood pattern, but I need to add something like 6 inches to the bottom hem width to make it comfortable. Probably 8, and taper much more, as well as add to the finished length. But it's a start, and not too bad for what started as a sketch on notebook paper, then a sketch on muslin, based entirely on a brief inspection of what was probably the only not-sold hood on site Sunday. I still need to tinker with the opening for the face - it's a bit too deep, even for the purpose of retaining warmth. The prototype (made from a polar fleece blanket on hand) turned out all right, though.

Too bad I broke one of the needles on the serger trying a four-piece hat. Whoops. (The hat fits, BTW. Score!) I'll have to fix that before class next Wednesday. (Yey serger class!) If I get these things figured out, I could SO start a cottage industry catering to those caught unawares by weather at events. MUWAHAHAHAHAH!!! I'd probably even bother to charge reasonable prices, though I could only accept cash. No sense investing in a card machine and setup until I have an actual business going. (Though the idea that I could charge the other Tea students for the stuff I'm sent on errands to purchase, and tack on convenience and gas fees, has some merit to it. Hm...)

I also need to not forget to sign up for the intermediate serger class for some time after July. I doubt anyone will bat an eye if I just say it's an appointment that must be kept, since it's a one-day sort of thing. (The question is, do they have advanced classes? Hm....)