SMASH VII Embroidery

SCA Magnificently Awesome Scavenger Hunt (SMASH) VII  is a week-long, interkingdom event that occurs online (so participate from anywhere!).  There is no sign-up fee, but you do have to sign-up to participate.  I joined because a lady from the camp next door at Pennsic was talking about it on her FaceBook page.  Teams can have up to 10 people but you don't have to have a team to join - people will grab you!!!!  Each team works from a master list of items to do provided by the organizer(s).  Team members work out who is doing and item, and once completed, they post it on the SMASH FB page for points for their team.  Each item has a points value. This is entirely arbitrary and may be completely disregarded by the judges, who may give you any score they like! It really is a lot of fun and I use it as an excuse to use up some old craft items. I did 24 entries worth ~ 863 points. For word fame, recycling and No Pressure (my team) here are my 7 embroidery entries!!!!

Some stats (because they are fun): 2026 had 60 players, in 8 teams (only 1 team had a full 10 people IIRC). We made/performed/wrote 343 items (there were 88 "items" with 3,564 points listed). Only one item had all teams try it, and only one item had no teams try it!

Item 3: Show us your backside! Do a piece of embroidery that looks as good on the back as it does on the front! Show photos from both sides.  So I did a quick piece with simple running stitch using cotton thread on linen to kick off the embroidery.

Front

Back

Item 28: Clan Blue Feather is an old SCA Tradition, wherein members of the LGBTQ+ community wear a blue feather on their person, as a symbol of identity and solidarity. Embroider or bead a Blue Feather to ornament an LGBTQ+ friend, and give it to them. My beaded feather is lackluster at best, but it is the thought that counts.  I will remake a nicer piece to give away.

Then I noticed Item 48: Create a pouch or bag or fake book or some other camouflage to make an electronics device discreet at events.  So I took the pieces I had made so far (including SMASH V (2024) Item #89 Embroider your personal or household motto.) and sewed it on up!  It does fit my phone, but I needed to take the pic with it!

Closed

Open If I had planned ahead to do the pouch, I would've centered the beading better.

Item 10: SMASH VII; Item 10: Build something that can be used as an embroidery hoop or frame, and use it to do something embroidery.   I used some 1/8" thick acid free mat board I had left over from transporting my embroidery to Pennsic last year.  Folded it in half and then sewed the fabric in between to hold it.  It kept the fabric nice and stiff for the moon face.  Cotton thread on linen.  

I then reused the moon face for Item 49: Make a period style favor or pin or other wearable decoration with your pronouns on it.   So I added the pronouns hastily, removed it from the frame, and sewed it up into a favor with a pocket.

Item 40: Make a SMASH VII embroidery sampler.  Again, cotton on linen.   stitches completed: S - detached buttonhole stitch, M - Chain stitch, A - Cable Chain Stitch, S - Cable Stitch, H - Pearl Stitch, V - Elizabethan Ladder Stitch, I - Overcast stitch and I - Elizabethan Holly Braid. Cotton thread on linen.  That S pissed me off - detached buttonhole on a rounded letter was obnoxious.  

Then I noticed  Item 38: Make a beautiful cover for a beer or pop can. Must be able to drink out of it. Perfect!  We even had a can of something in the fridge - whoot!  So that became a can holder!