Youth Combat Tournament

The Baroness' Heart

Youth Crested Helm Tournament

All entrants in the Youth Combat Tournament must be authorized youth combat participants. They must have parent/guardian present or a properly executed "Medical Authorization Form for Minors" designating a responsible adult, present at the activity and able to authorize medical treatment in the case of an emergency. At least one parent/guardian must be present at the lyst where youth combat is taking place at all times for youth ages 10-13 years. 

The SCA Minor's Combat Waiver Form can be found on the Kingdom Website - HERE!

Who says that the grownups get to have all the fun? 

This year we're letting our youth fighters have a crested helm tournament too!

(We will have a couple loaner crests available for our youth fighters, but strongly suggest that you make your own so that it will be properly sized for your fighter!)

Youth Crest Instructions:

Note - These instructions are generalized. You may need to adjust them to the size and shape of your fighter's helm.

1. Find a suitable stuffed animal to use for your crest. Your stuffed animal should be at least 6" tall and at least 3-4" wide by 3-4" long in order to provide enough of a target to be fair to the other fighters.

2. Your stuffed animal should be firmly stuffed. If it is soft and "floppy" you can add additional stuffing to make it firmer. You can use poly-fill stuffing, Poly-Pellets, or a combination of both. Keep in mind that you do not want to add too much weight to the stuffed animal - you don't want it to be too heavy for your fighter!

3. Measure your fighter's helm from just above the face/eyes - over the top of the helm - and down the back to the level of the shoulders. If you prefer, you can increase the length to reach slightly below the shoulders, but don't make it too long!  This measurement will be the diameter of the fabric circles you will need to make. 

4. You will need 2 pieces of fabric (outer fabric and lining) of your choice about to the size measured in step #3, 1 piece of grip stop fabric (or similar) about 11-12" x 11-12", thread to match your fabric, and 1 yard of 1" wide elastic. We recommend cotton or poly-cotton fabric as it is lightweight and reasonably sturdy. You can also use the same fabric for both the outer fabric and lining.

5. Cut out two circles 18" in diameter out of your fabric - one in your outer fabric & one in your lining fabric. Stitch the outer edges of the circles together. Use whatever method you are comfortable with - you can simply use a zig-zag stitch over the edges; you can place the right sides together, stitch, turn the right sides out, and press; or you can even cover the outer edge with bias tape if desired.

6. Cut a 10-12" diameter circle out of your grippy fabric. Keep the size proportional to your fighter's helm.

7. Lay your large fabric circle, lining side up, on a table. Mark the center line of the circle with chalk, then mark a spot about 1 1/2" from one side of the large circles. 

8. Mark the center line of your grippy fabric circle with chalk. Then lay it on top of your lining fabric so that the chalk marks line up and one edge is 1 1/2" from the edge of the lining fabric. Pin the grippy fabric to the large circles, and then stitch into place. 

9. Lay the fabric circles, lining side up, over the top of your fighter's helm. Pin or tie the elastic around the helm so that it secures the fabric in place. The front edge (where the grippy fabric is close to the edge) should be just above the fighter's eyes. Be sure that it does not hang down low enough to impair the fighter's vision. Smooth the fabric around the helm and adjust the fabric and elastic as necessary. Use chalk to mark the top and bottom edges of the elastic all the way around the helm onto the lining fabric.

10. Remove the fabric and lay it flat. You will need to make a method for threading the elastic through the fabric and around the helm. 

    1. 1. You can sew a casing by sewing along the top and bottom lines you marked. Cut a slit in the outer fabric at the center back. Using a large safety pin, thread the elastic through the casing, leaving the two ends hanging out the back. 

       2. Sew a series of 1" buttonholes, spaced about 1" apart, along the length of the casing lines. Or, alternatively, cut 1" slits around the length of the casing lines and reinforce the fabric of the slits with Elmer's Glue or Fray-Check. When the buttonholes are completed, or the glue is dry, thread the elastic around the circle by weaving it in and out of the buttonholes. Leave the two ends out at the center back.

11. Put the fabric circles, which now form a mantle, back onto the helm with the grippy side against the helm. Tie the elastic around the helm to secure the mantle in place. 

12. Take your stuffed animal and place it on top of the mantle and helm. Mark where it need to sit in order to attach the stuffed animal to the mantle with chalk.

13. Remove the mantle and securely sew the stuffed animal onto the fabric mantle. You're done!