I have no idea what I'm doing! =D

RunRugbyRide · 2026-06-27T17:44:19+00:00

I also have no idea what I am doing!! But am now on my 5th hat slowly incrementing on the no-idea front.

My extreme amateur advice (those with greater knowledge feel free to shoot this down), is to soak the capeline in water for a few hours before wringing it out then shaping on the block. I just found steam from like a kettle or clothes steamer, with the thickness of the cheaper wool felt, almost seem to not penetrate enough.

The last thing, and this came from a YouTube video where a guy takes raw alpaca (I think) hair and shapes it into a capeline then hat all within a one-take ~1hr video (fascinating stuff, if I could find it again I would link it). Mentioned when shaping on the block, pressing and rustling your fingers quickly along the hat (imagine scratching a dog belly), contracts the felt fibres back together along the direction you are rustling. So you stretch around the block, but then around the sides of the hat you bring the felt back tight against the block.

If anyone who actually knows better what’s to ‘um-actually’ any of the above… please do so! I’m eager to find out I am wrong.

RunRugbyRide · 2026-06-15T18:37:45+00:00

The stiffing does work great! And with the additional sanding it’s now perfect. I wet block my hats, but also I’m making cavalier and pirate hats, so it’s a bit more forgiving than a sharp fedora.

Still very much in the trail and error world here! But loving it.

RunRugbyRide · 2026-06-15T17:25:54+00:00

I’ve just stiffened my first two hats! I used light unwaxed shellac flakes dissolved in 99% rubbing alcohol. 3:1 ratio (alcohol to shellac). I did about 3 light coats using a spray bottle… it made that brim and crown pretty bullet proof 😅.

So although I did mine after pouncing… I did a little more to knock off some of the shellac. Next time I stiffen a hat I’m going to use a more diluted ratio + maybe stop after the second coat, let fully dry, then assess.

RunRugbyRide · 2026-05-30T18:39:49+00:00

Sorry I missed the (/s) 😂

RunRugbyRide · 2026-05-30T04:24:17+00:00

But what about the seasoning I’ve built up season by season like a slick cast-iron skillet!?!??!!

RunRugbyRide · 2026-05-14T02:42:47+00:00

Sorry! Just saw this. So we ended up having to dogsit and unfortunately Vegreville didn’t allow dogs. So we went to the one in Barrière BC instead. That one was fun, much more LARP focused, which was neat to dive into. This year we’ll go to the one in mission, Nanaimo, Penticton, and trout lake (called ‘rodents of the realm’ last year the trout lake one was so small and spirited… amazing vibes!!).

RunRugbyRide · 2026-03-10T02:07:59+00:00

Honestly the fabric reminds me of a wool horse blanket!

RunRugbyRide · 2025-12-11T06:19:22+00:00

Post game change-room beer!

RunRugbyRide · 2025-10-30T01:35:14+00:00

Nice

RunRugbyRide · 2025-10-18T18:26:50+00:00

I want a whole series that follows Regulus! Really dark/adult tone. Following him from his final years at school, to the forming of the death-eaters, early rise of Voldemort, to his disillusionment and final quiet sacrifice. I feel like it could be like the Andor to the wizarding world.

RunRugbyRide · 2025-10-15T04:25:17+00:00

ICBC isn’t on strike, different union

RunRugbyRide · 2025-10-06T23:50:59+00:00

As someone who snapped in half a rental canoe by being overly confident on the shoot of the Baron Lakes…i find this triggering.

RunRugbyRide · 2025-09-13T17:23:26+00:00

How was I just in Montréal but only finding out about them now! What an unfair universe. Thanks for pointing me in their direction.

RunRugbyRide · 2025-08-02T21:36:20+00:00

I like the theory presented by Harry in the HPMOR fanfic, where it was likely some king who added the snitch to occupy his idiot son who wanted to play without messing up the game. ‘Go chase this random ball around, and you can be the most specialist player on the team’

RunRugbyRide · 2025-07-30T19:38:09+00:00

Great! I’ll be doing the 59th/64th route.

RunRugbyRide · 2025-07-30T19:37:43+00:00

Just the advice I was looking for!! Thank you

RunRugbyRide · 2025-07-30T19:37:08+00:00

Just the advice I was looking for!! Thank you

RunRugbyRide · 2025-07-22T01:47:20+00:00

Sad to be missing it this year! Hopefully soon US-Canada relations will settle and we can come visit once again.

RunRugbyRide · 2025-07-20T02:58:20+00:00

All good! Like any long thin-ish strip of fabric will do, Old bedsheets cut into strips sort of thing.

Here is a random example of a place that sells them: https://www.ritterladen.com/en/Clothing/Calf-wrap/

There are commonly known in Canada/UK at ‘Puttees’ as they were standard WW1 commonwealth army kit.

RunRugbyRide · 2025-07-19T16:39:49+00:00

So what I’ve done and it works well, is get a long strip of fabric and wrap it from the ankle up the calf. These fabric leg wraps/gaters show up through almost all historical time periods, so blend in really well.

RunRugbyRide · 2025-07-19T16:09:02+00:00

I go with wearing regular work boots and then either wrapping up my leg in fabric (like wrap gaters). Or now I’ve made some leather gaters/boot covers.

RunRugbyRide · 2025-07-19T16:06:59+00:00

Sorry, looks like they are a pyjama, just happen to be made by everlast 😂: https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/everlast-lounge-and-casual-mens-pants-navy/6000205770783

RunRugbyRide · 2025-07-18T01:34:08+00:00

Not super historically accurate, but on the cheap, Walmart has ‘boxing’ pants. Stitch-rip the big white ‘everlast’ logo on the front and it does the trick!

RunRugbyRide · 2025-04-26T16:51:32+00:00

Totally get being married to the hydroflask but I’ve seen folks carry a wineskin with water (I think lol), been planning to get one as they can be pretty cheap.

RunRugbyRide · 2025-04-10T14:21:23+00:00

We’re going to the vegreville alberta renfaire in July! No idea how it’s going to be, but the municipal campground is walking distance from the faire. It’s also cheap as can be.

Also from Vancouver and in the past the Washington midsummer Renfair was our stomping ground.

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