Nordic Raven Flag

So if you're planning on raiding a village, attacking your siblings or generally have got a hankering to show off, you've got to show your mighty colors, right?

Well, duh, that's what this I'dible is about, judging from the picture. So I made this for various reasons;

1. I wanted to make something Nordic/medieval and I had just gotten loads of materials

2. It's cool.

3. If you're still struggling to see why this wasn't a good idea, then I've given up all hope for humanity.

Point is, I made something awesome and I'm here to show you how its done. Obviously.

So if you've made it to step 1, you're likely (remotely) interested. This is good. So turn on your sea shanties, gather your fabric, and let's get rollin'.

Obviously, you're going to need a flag. This is Raiding 101, people. You should know that a flag is generally made on fabric. Hence, I collected my canvas and cut it to size.

Before this project, I'd seen various Nordic-y flags, and I'd noticed that a lot of them were triangular, with a rounded edge. So I did likewise. You could go into all sorts of wacky shapes and sizes, but flags are made for one purpose; to show your colors and house symbol. And because they're cool.

So I cut mine to size and, carefully, cut it into a triangular shape. In case it's not clear, THIS WILL BE YOUR FLAG.

After cutting it to the shape I wanted (which was double-folded, btw), I punched some holes with, guess what? A hole-puncher. Getting through two layers of canvas with those wimpy little things was a headache (not really) but it had to be done.

I did two holes on the side, and three across the top edge.

After that, I started to sew. Sadly, I couldn't find any black thread (found it after I finished, for some stupid reason), so I used red, thinking "hey, thread is thread, right?" Personal advice; if you've got a color scheme going, stick with it.

Enough of that.

So I sewed all around, except the side that I double-folded it onto.

So a flag's not very useful blank. Trust me, I've learned. So I scrolled across the internet, trying to find a raven that looked remotely Nordic-like. More Personal Advice: don't do that. After trying, and, (dare I say it?), failing, I just decided to prop myself down and try to draw one.

So if you're making a flag, you need to come up with your own standard. Generally, if you also have a raven symbol, then things get awkward. So make it a horse, bear...parakeet? Whatevs.

In the second photo, I used tracing paper to carefully duplicate the raven onto the canvas. The tracing paper I used was red, and very, very faint. Hence, I went over it with a pen and made it look more bold.

Personal fact; I am by no means a painter. Actually, this was likely my favorite experience with the paintbrush. Nevertheless, it had to be done.

So I got a very small paintbrush (side 00, I think), and got out some black paint. I started painting over the lines, which was only slightly tedious, and ended up blurring several of the lines, which was most unfortunate. Still, it was WAY better than pen.

Pictures 3 and 4;

You need the flag on both sides, no? It'd be weird if your own men couldn't see it, and had no idea who's clan they're in, no?

You get the point.

Being my clever self, I taped the flag up on the window, and the sunlight showed right through the fabric, showing where the lines were. I painted over them, making a near-perfect mirrored image.

All right, I'll admit it; a cheated. Instead of buying wholesome, purified, pre-sanded wood, I went out to our creek and hacked some out with Sharktooth.

Again, I apologize for the upside-down pics. I'm working on it.

Essentially, it comes down to this; hack it, skin it, notch it. Like a boss.

Get the wood

Skin the wood

Notch the wood.

Anything else?

Oh yeah, I'd better explain; I notched the wood so the two branches would fit together better. I thought this would make the two branches fit together much better. And it did.

So, you've got the wood. After waiting a little for it to dry, I sanded it down with a round 80 grit and started fitting it together. It's just like pipe fittings. But worse.

Personal Advice; don't do what I did. I slapped the branches together with nails, hoping it'd hold. That'd be great and all, but I'd advise squirting some wood glue in the notches, then hammering them together. This makes your flag WAY stronger, and holds everything together. Trial and error, people, trial and error. This way, arrows and tomahawks will have a harder time tearing apart your flag.

So I tied it all together with crafting twine (I'd advise rawhide or horsehair, for future reference) and scouted the area to for peasants to attack. To bad, it was just my sister with her horse. And I do not want to mess with that horse.

Don't you feel so proud of yourself? Look at your precious flag!

All right...fine. Confession time; the flag broke. At the point where the branches connected, where I had nailed it together, it broke when I shoved the base into the ground. So I carried it back to the workshop and wood glued it and re-nailed it.

THIS IS WHY I advised you wood glue it before it breaks at the notches. I also put glue on the knots and in the notches I'd carved for the rope. This will give the flag a much better life and (hopefully) prevent any berserkers from ripping it apart.

I also branded it with Flametongue, to double-mark it as mine.

Anywho, I hope you all liked this I'dible, I had a blast with it. I hope to make more Nordic stuff in the future, because not only is it awesome, it's also what I like :)

Brokk out.