morris baldrick making HELP UK

Subject: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: Cllr
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 06:34 PM

I have joined a morris side.

i have practiced for nearly 6 months and i hope to dance out on May day. I was given material to make baldrik (sp?) and bells etc but i cant sew or stitch leather or ribbons.
So given that i have materials and a vague idea of the design does anybody know anybody who can put the bloody thing together - if i wanted to be a seamtress i would have joined a different guild- or is this some sort of rite of passage where you have to make your own? any all suggestions sensible and non sensible welcome.

Cllr

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: gnomad
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 08:31 PM

I don't dance any more, but during some 25 years dancing in most sides I knew the dancers made their own kit. Straightforward stitching of leather, or ribbons is well within the capacity of most folks, and you are probably selling yourself short unless you have an actual physical problem with needlework.

If you have seen the kit on your fellow dancers you must have a fair idea what you are aiming at, so I would suggest that a good starting point would be to assemble the bits you have been given and try laying them out as a mock-up. Check whether you will need any more bits (for instance several sides using leather dog collars to hold up bell-pads expect you to supply these yourself). Try pinning the bits together and trying for fit.

All OK so far? Some fabric or leather sewn parts can initially be assembled using glue (copydex or similar) so that you can possibly make the whole thing as a try-out without sewing, though not all kits will be amenable to this approach. Do not, however, expect it to last. If the glued version fits & looks OK you will then need to sew it (no need to disassemble, just stitch through the glue) in order to achieve something that will withstand the rigours of dancing.

You have been practicing for 6 months so you must by now know at least one or two other dancers well enough to get a bit of assistance if you are really stuck. Even just borrowing someone else's kit for a few days will enable you to take a close look at how it is put together, you may well be encouraged by just how crude the assembly can be, yet still function perfectly well.

Give it a go, you have little to lose except your dignity.

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 02:32 AM

Best of luck, Mike!

Kitty

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: Little Robyn
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 02:40 AM

Have you checked that your bells have been tuned properly?
You should have C#!


Robyn

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: Cllr
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 07:05 AM

gnomad thanks for the useful advice, most of the others had wives, girlfriends and sewing machines who were willing to help as far as i can tell, i have never even attempted to darn or sew buttons (i'm not lazy just not very good at it) so this could be a life changing experiance, However if any body does have ideas of where i can get it made up proffesionally or someone skilled willing to help for a fee i would be most grateful.
Time is the other factor as i have an exceptionally busy period coming up for the time leading to may 6 and this needs to be sorted by may 1st. I may be able to borrow a set from a former dancer but i would like to get my own kit sorted.
Cllr

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 07:12 AM

A friend of mine couldn't sew, so she always used Copydex!

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 07:17 AM

Ask at your local dry cleaners. They usually have someone who can do repairs and if you can do invisible mending on jackets and trouser then baldrics should be quite easy. I've no idea waht they would charge.

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: gnomad
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 08:38 AM

Most baldricks need to be sewn by someone with access to the intended wearer or they end up not fitting too well, but if you can tack the bits together (just a few soft stitches to hold the various pieces how you want the finished job done, use a contrasting colour thread so that your rough work can be easily unpicked later) Manitas' suggestion of the local dry-cleaners may well find you someone local who can finish-sew them quite easily. Perusing the small adds in the local paper or newsagents window could also lead you to somebody who can help.

If you need leather stitching a handbag/shoe repairer may be able to help, or an old-fashioned cobbler or saddler, though I would expect the latter to want "county custom" money. Any of these will need you to show them what you want, as few will have any idea what you are aiming for.

If your bells are mounted to a pad, or to a leather strap, you can save a lot of sewing by punching a small hole where the bell goes (a bit under 1/4" should do) then just push the bell loop through and keep it in place with soft wire or string. This also allows for easy replacement of a bell that has got crushed or lost its ringer. I used small split rings for a while, but they snagged on my socks when wearing breeches. They would be OK if your side wears trousers.

I assume your side will bulk buy the bells and issue the appropriate number. If they have no side-specific rules on layout I would counsel keeping the largest bells at the top, and not directly in front of your shins, this will save on bruising.

Before buying in bulk was the norm one dancer of my acquaintance went into a pet shop and asked for 3 dozen budgie bells in G (he was a melodeon player) Once the assistant had grasped that he was entirely serious, our hero spent a happy 30 minutes or so selecting his bells by ringing them one by one in his ear. You can get quite a name for eccentricity, even before you dance a step in public, if you go about it the right way.

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 08:46 AM

WRT to bell-pads (AKA ruggles) I use a leather lace to hold the bells on. Just one lace threaded through the loop at the back of the bells. You may think this is a bit dodgier than putting the bells on individually but a leather lace is not very likely to break whereas string tends to fray.

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: doncatterall
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 08:58 AM

Over the years I have used the following solutions:-

Got my Mum to make kit
Got my first wife to make kit
Got my sister-in-law to make kit
Got the wife of another member of the side to make kit
Done it myself
Joined a side where one of the founder members is a tailor!!
Got my second wife to make kit

good luck & happy dancing

Don

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: Marje
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 10:43 AM

If you find you have to sew leather by hand, or even if you have persuaded someone else to do so, the trick is to get a leather needle. It looks a lot like a fairly tough normal needle but the sharp end of it is square in cross-section rather than round. This makes it much easier to push through the leather. Craft shops etc should sell them.

I suppose you can get something similar for a sewing machine - I certainly wouldn't expect a normal sewing machine needle to cope.

Marje

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: JohnB
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 10:46 AM

Glue and (little split rivet thingy's that come in two parts and stay together when you hit them with a hammer)and a buckle, for the bell pads. the string/thong thing through the holes in the bell pads also works great.
If you are really desperate, the glue and a stapler would provide a quick and dirty method for the Baldrick's as well.
Happy Dancing, we will be with you when dawn hits Toronto Canada.
JohnB

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 09:29 PM

Assuming you are right-handed, take needle in left hand. Close inspection will show a small hole in one end. Keep this end pointing upwards.
Find the end of the cotton on the reel. Sometimes this can be difficult. Take end of the reel of cotton in right hand, poke it through the hole. You have now threaded the needle..............
Maybe politicians should get a proper job.......
Hope to see you soon, Mike
Colyn.

Subject: RE: morris baldrick making HELP UK
From: Gurney
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 10:26 PM

Sewing leather, mark out and bodge the holes first!
Despite what dictionaries say, a bodger is a metal spike with a comfortable handle. An awl.