Projects for Less Than $10
So you'd really like to get involved, but don't have two dimes to rub together? I've been there! In consideration, I've put down a list of activities you can get started on for $10 or less. Some are completely free. Now you have no more excuses!
The stuff on this page:
- Bardic: singing and storytelling can be done completely for free. There are great resources for free on the internet and at your local library if you need material. Performances don't cost any money, only your voice and an audience.
- Embroidery: while sewing can cost a great deal (though it doesn't have to), even large embroidery projects can be done on a shoestring. Embroidery floss typically costs about 50 cents Canadian for a skein about 10 meters (yards) long. But this 10 meters is really six times as much, since the floss is 6 strings wrapped together! A piece of aida (embroidery) cloth 12” x 18” runs about $3 Canadian ($2.25 US). An entire project can easily be under $10. If you don't know how, check out my Beginner's Guide to Cross-Stitch for a primer.
- Dancing: if there are people who enjoy medieval dance in your area, you're home free. They can lend you or copy you the music you need, and you can pass many a pleasant evening together.
- Card-weaving: a set of cards for card-weaving can be made very easily from scrap wood or even sturdy playing cards! The thread you might use, again, is quite cheap. Pick up embroidery floss (use only one strand!), perl cotton, or something similar. Card weaving is appropriate to many periods, depending on the pattern and thickness of the band.
- Heddle-weaving: similar to card-weaving, but easier. Heddles are somewhat more difficult to make than cards, but once you've got one, the weaving goes much faster. A heddle, depending on the size, will be about $10-$20. Use the same type of thread you might in card-weaving.
- Spinning: drop-spindles aren't too expensive, and raw wool shouldn't be either. I don't know exact prices on this one, but I don't imagine it would be more than $10 for a simple wooden drop-spindle. Catherine has recommended http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/make-dropspin.html as a useful resource both to make spindles and for more general spinning information.
- Tatting: I have a friend who tats lace. It doesn't look too hard, and all you need to buy is a small shuttle and some thread.
- Knitting and crocheting: all you need to get started are your knitting needles / crochet hook and the yarn you intend to use. (Note that you can knit or crochet things other than wool, if you don't like wearing wool!) Patterns and instructions can be found, as always, at your local library or on the internet. (Isn't it great what you can find on the 'net?)
- Cooking: as long as you don't for exotic ingredients, period cooking shouldn't be any more expensive than modern cooking. If you have a culinary bent, find some period cookbooks (many are available free on the internet!) and try out some recipes.
- Gaming: there are many medieval games that you can play without spending any money. One of my favorites is 9-Man Morris. You can draw the board on whatever blank surface is available (scrap wood, loose leaf, bedroom floor, whatever). Tokens (9 per side) can also be made out of whatever you have lying around (pennies, scraps of paper (half white, half colored with pen or marker), beads, buttons, etc.). Other board games are equally simple to play, as are many more “active” games. Search the internet and see what you come up with.
- Divination: buy a cheap set of Tarot cards or make your own runes out of wood. Find out some period divination methods (even astrology works) and have fun regaling people with tales of their future!
Tips submitted by other people
- Submitted by Teffania Tuckerton: Fingerloop braiding is very cheap - all you need is some string that doesn't stretch. Balls of cooking cotton work, old balls of wool are often good (make sure they don't stretch as you work). You can also ask any local weavers if they can give you the scrap ends of their warps. For instruction books, Creative Anachronist #108 is quite sufficient, and is available on the internet. Your own braid can stop you buying a lot of items - shoelaces, armour straps, couching cord, ribbon for your hair, laces to tie up you underwear or fasten your dress, garters, fillets, etc.
- Also submitted by Teffania Tuckerton: A friend made a stunning tunic by making his own trim - he bought a ball of gold crochet cotton (not very cheap, but many meters), and braided a lot of cord, which he couched in large diamonds onto a contrast coloured band of trim. It looks really rich, but the whole thing cost under $12 Au (around $6 US) and looks quite as stunning as many people's courtwear. (and he still has half a ball of gold thread to do other things with.
- One more from Teffania Tuckerton: There a a zillion things you can do with string and just one or two small tools. Nallbinding is similar to kniting and needs only one large darning needle. Sprang needs a rectangular frame - use an old empty pictureframe, embroidery frame or lash together some sticks. Fingerbraiding needs just your fingers, as do some forms of netting. Find out about even more such crafts from your local "fibrearts" group.
Do you know any projects that are super-cheap to get started? Email the webmistress at julie.golick@gmail.com.
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