SUN 2025 Class Offerings

An overview of Islamic material culture in the 12th century CE. Students will handle and discuss reproductions of items of Islamic material culture, learn about their use and social meanings, and how these items identified a person’s social status and identity.

This class will examine sixteenth-century Italian lace, focusing on its history, development, and production techniques. Students will also learn to recognize and identify the main types of Italian lace from this period.

Not sure which classes to take at the Catfish Ball? Here’s your chance to sample a few different styles all in one class! We’ll learn and dance at least one dance from each of the following: 15th century Italian, English Country, French bransles, Gresley, and Inns of Court. No experience or partner necessary- beginner friendly.

Learn various ways to alter your clothing to fit if your body changes sizes. Learn ways to alter and adjust your clothing to fit and look amazing.
Students are free to bring a garment that needs to be altered to aid in the discussion.

A study of ancient Roman bread starter as described by Pliny the Elder in Naturalis Historia.

Learn how to make the simplest drawstring leather pouch. This beginner’s class is a perfect place to start leather working. Minimal effort, minimal tools, minimal material! You even get to keep your pouch.

Participants will learn the basics of how to make a mold for casting pewter. They will be able to cast pewter in their molds and take their creations with them.

Learn and practice sharpening edged tools. After a brief discussion on how to get a sharp edge and examples of the process. There will be various stations setup to allow a student to try out sharpening for themselves. If you have a tool that needs to be sharper bring it along. Various tools for example: plane blades, chisels, gouges, knives, axes, and drawknives. Students are encouraged to bring tools they want to get sharper.

In the 13th-16th centuries in western Europe, prayer beads were a ubiquitous accessory. This class discusses the history and development of the paternoster, as well as information on making your own replica.

This demonstration and discussion of the theory behind Iron Age trouser patterns focuses on two extant finds dated between 100 and 300 CE (the Thorsberg and Damendorf trousers). The class looks at the ways Iron Age makers used careful seam placement and pattern piecing to get a well-fitting garment. Attendees will learn tips to create or adapt their own trouser patterns using body measurements and draping rather than math and are encouraged to bring garments for troubleshooting.

If you have have ever said “Do I look like I know what a jpg is?” Then this is the class for you. Topics: Image formats, Pixels vrs Vector, Color formats, Resources & Software, Prepping for Printing Services

Ever wondered what colors would have been possible with the materials available to those in period? Join a roundtable discussion and show-and-tell for beginner’s looking to explore the possibilities for dyeing with natural dyes. Dyed samples of wool, linen, and cotton using madder, buckthorn bark, dyer’s broom, indigo, and blackberries will be available to compare. Discussion will include how to prepare both animal and plant fibers and the use of additives to alter the results. Feel free to bring your own samples to share as well!

This class will demonstrate how to dye pergamenata without its wrinkling, based on Lady Margarette la Gantiere’s class from Pennsic 52. Pergamenata is used widely in the SCA as a substitute for parchment. Unfortunately, it can buckle badly when it gets wet, making the reproduction of dyed manuscripts like the black hours difficult. In this class I will demonstrate how to dye pergamenata using inexpensive and readily available materials that allow it to stay perfectly flat. I will also discuss the use of dyed manuscripts in period by various cultures. Class members will have the opportunity to dye a small piece of pergamenata and, if they bring painting or calligraphy supplies, will be able to experiment with painting and lettering on their sample.

Going over the basics of planning an event including different types of events and event bids.

A discussion of some of the common mental blocks as it pertains to martial activities and exercises and suggestions on how to overcome those.

Learn how to make frilled edge veils.

An overview of the history and symbolism contained in the seven Hunt for the Unicorn tapestries.

Discussion and Slides of Historical Progression of Embroidery in our time period

Horse things for non horsey people, or how to get involved with the equestrians!

Want to enter an Arts & Sciences competition and wow the judges? 2025 Northshield Triathlon winner Leyla reveals her secrets for creating a stellar A&S entry (or three), from ideation to display and judging, for novices and experienced participants alike.

A discussion class on understanding Primary Sources, using rubrics from the National Archives.

Livery collars and badges can be fabulous accessories, but have a practical function of showing which team you’re on. We’ll be focusing on their use mainly in France and England, looking at some examples and discussing how they changed over time. Time permitting, students may start designing their own!

The Kingdom Webminister and his staff will provide demonstrations and answer questions about the new Kingdom website.

A roundtable style class to share some tips and tricks on how we can support the Kingdom and at the same time, making sure we are not burning out.

A skin out description and discussion of men’s clothing in Fatimid, Zangid, and Ayyubid lands from 1000-1250CE

Want to understand how a Magic Tourney actually runs on the list table? Want to feel confident you can run one yourself? Join me as we add names to cards, “fight” with dice, and count points in this mock magic tourney. I will talk through the mechanics and you can see it in action.

Concerning the death and rebirth of western theatre, from the fall of Rome to the rise of the Reformation. Mystery, Miracle & Morality plays were interwoven in medieval life, and represent one of the most democratic eras of theatre history.

Basic nalbinding with the Oslo stitch, but with a twist. Left handed people encouraged to come practice, righties welcome too! Covering the basics to start a hat or hand warmers.
Will have some needles to borrow, please bring yours if you have. Yarn will be supplied.

This class is a hands-on introduction to pottery in the Bundsø style of southern Scandinavia (c.3000 BCE). Participants will make a simple bowl, learn the basics of applied decoration to create the stylized facial features, and complete the decoration using poked and incised designs. This beginner-friendly class will use a non-historic drape-molding technique to create the bowl shape so that participants can spend most of their time decorating it. Participants will have the option to have their work fired off-site and returned to them after the event.
Prerequisite skills: Ability to use a rolling pin and a pencil

A hands on demonstration and discussion of one method to create a shepherds sling for use on a thrown weapons range.
Please already be familiar with a three chord braid.

Painting using modern painting methods to enhance objects in your SCA life.
Class Fee: $3 or bring your own box or game board to paint

Welcome to Mahir’s Percussion Petting Zoo or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cowbell!!! Whether you have zero experience with percussion or are a well-seasoned veteran, come join this class. We’ll go over the basics of what instruments Mahir has in his percussion arsenal, as well as their history, how to hold and play them, basic care, and if gentles are willing to try some basic rhythms together, we can do that too. This is a hands on class and all gentles will have the opportunity to try all percussion equipment as much as you want.

***Note: please remove any rings, watches, or bracelets before playing any of Mahir’s drums, thx!!!

Note: This class will be loud

Various topics to consider when choosing or adding further development to your persona will be the focus of this class. This will be an interactive class with several fun activities to stimulate your creativity.

Do you like potatoes? Wonder where they come from and how they got to Europe? This class is for you. I’ll discuss the history of the Potato cultivar in Peru, and trade to Europe. Discussion will include some genetics, use, preservation, trade routes, and potato in art.

This class is intended to help scribes draft practical award texts. The main focus will be drafting flexibly to suit space needs and allow adjustments. We’ll also talk through some common issues that come up and possible solutions. Time permitting, we’ll practice!

Cooperative best practices for voice heralds, sitting nobles, marshals of the field, and your local Sign heralds.

A discussion of three smelts and several refining operations with products that you can touch and feel from each step. In additional my analysis on the time it would have taken to do the same process during Anglo-Saxon times, breaking down each step for a total estimated time.

Bring your questions about society target archery rules. Will review key areas of society archery rule book and answer your questions.

How to use Symmetry to analyze period designs and to create your own period looking designs.

Ever wondered what it’s like to be landed baronage in the SCA? Join this discussion of the experience of being landed barony.

An overview of the equine related grave finds in Scythian kurgans and what that can help us understand about their particular horse culture.

Fragrant oils, bitters, ointments, herbal waters and infusions… Let’s take a look at the aromatic ingredients and processing methods available to the people of the Aegean Sea region during Bronze Age. Presented reconstructions are based on archaeological samples and information preserved in extant texts.

Most of us are familiar with the famous “puff and slash” feathered hat popularized by the Landsknecht, otherwise known as a tellerbarret or translated, “plate hat.” We will go over not only various styles of this hat but also survey other styles of headwear worn by both men and women in 16th century Germanic regions.

Learn how to select a thumb ring and how to shoot a bow with one. Sample rings available for test fitting. Using elastic cord for practice so a live archery range is not needed.

Review the new (February 2025) Northshield TW handbook and any additional rules updates from Society, including reporting requirements and discussion of examples and incidents from across the kingdom and Society for knowledge sharing. Intended audience: All TW marshals, MITs, or those interested in becoming one.

Join with other TW marshals and MITs to share approaches to tourney and activity design to encourage both newcomers and experienced participant and ways to promote progression in prowess while maintaining accessibility.

You can wear your heart–or title, etc.– on your sleeve! From quick & easy stamps or stencils to Arabic calligraphy to embroidery, we will find the right tiraz for your persona and get you started.

Get Ready With Me in an introduction to women’s Landsknecht clothing. We will discuss what was worn as well as demonstrate how it was worn from the skin out.

This class will feature an in depth discussion of design features evidenced in the historic record of Vendel era Scandinavia grave find helmets.

What do metalsmithing and ceramics have in common? Moldmaking! Learn about non-ferrous metal casting, as practiced during the early medieval period with a fun, hands-on project that will result in the creation of a unique cast bronze object!

The goal of this class is to lead students through the creation of ceramic molds for the casting of small bronze objects. Items such as pendants, small buckles or strap-ends are ideal for the purpose of this class. Participants will create master models of jewelry or small objects, and from these create multi-part ceramic molds to be used in casting bronze objects. The bronze casting will be conducted using a complete set of period appropriate technology and processes but will occur offsite at a later date, as the molds will require several days to dry before they can be pre-fired for use. Cast goods will be returned to class participants in the future. Cast goods will be returned in whatever state the come out of the mold in- students will be responsible for finishing the pieces on their own. Unfortunately, positive results cannot be guaranteed, as there are several variables in play at any given time.

There is no formal lecture component to this class, but an active discussion of the tools, technologies and techniques employed in the instructor’s period-recreated process will be enjoyed throughout the class period.

Required skills: Some basic facility in working with your hands, and the ability to plan and execute the design you wish to attempt.

$15 materials fee and shipping. Students will have to provide shipping information in order that their pieces may be sent to them.

A show and tell / question answer discussion about what I have in my MIC kit for Martialing at a Thrown Weapons range at an event

Join Their Majesties for a roundtable discussion about the next steps after you win Crown.

Brief history on William Marshal, discussion on impact on chivalry and historic relevance