Pouch Preference

[Peaches McGee]

I will be going to my local faire garbed for the first time in a few weeks and I was wondering if it would be better to get a belt pouch or one that I would carry in my hands.  I was also considering a basket.  I'm not going as a noble.  Don't have the garb for that yet.  Could you all offer some advice.  Thanks in advance my lords and ladies.

[sealion]

A belt pouch is nice if you only need to carry a few light weight items and want to go hands free. A basket is good for heavier or bulkier items but try to find one that you can comfortably carry in the crook of your arm so you still have both hands free (and don't carry too large of a basket or everyone on your group will want you to carry their crap around!)

[isabelladangelo]

I'd think a cross between the two.  Take a circular piece of fabric, gather it with a really long drawstring  around the edges, and attach the drawstring to your belt so the bag hangs down the front.  It's simple to make and looks period.

[Lady Nicolette]

I actually like to do both.   I like to keep the most important things in my pouch and the other stuff in my basket.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Except when wearing noble garb, I prefer pouches.  I like having my hands free and not worrying about whether I put my basket down and then forgot about it.  And a pouch is easier in the privvies, don't have to place it on the floor (yuk) if there's no shelf to rest it on or no friend to hold it.  If you have to eat or drink something while walking or waiting in line, holding a basket ties up one hand, even if you hook it over your elbow.  And if you have a basket and a parasol, you have no hands!

Sometimes, if I have a lot of stuff, I even wear 2 pouches.

[jcbanner]

a belt pouch at faire can be a god-send if you don't have pockets on your garb.  keys, wallet, phone, misc. odds and ends, buisness cards of people I meet, bits of string, everything seems to end up in my belt pouch.  its nice not having to worry about where your stuff is or if anything fell out of a basket.

my pouch is made from a large piece of suede cut into a circle (about a 20" dia, I'm guessing)  but I don't hang it by the drawstrings. did that for a year and got tired of it always swinging on my side and having to untie it from my belt 1st if I needed my something inside of it.  I took a scrap of leather from making a belt about 8" long and attached it to the pouch on the side oppisite of where the drawcord gets tied.  its very easy to attach a strap to any pouch with a few chicago screws that can be found in any store that has farm or horse stuff in it.

[Hoowil]

Remember, a belted pouch is MUCH harder to loose than something you have to carry around, and allows you to not have to carry somehting all day. Personally I carry a couple pouches of different sizes, depending on what I need in them at the time.

[Adriana Rose]

I use a purse, its a purse that I stole from my mom its a leather fringed bag and it works I put all the stuff i need in it, keys, cell phone, I use a cigarette case for my credit card and ID and money.

I always get tangled up in stuff if I have too much on my belt. So when I am not working I use a purse or just stuff the stuff I need down my bodice.

But for a first timer I would use a pretty purse that way if you see some thing else that catches your fancy you can switch!

[analise]

When I don't feel like having too many bulky things around my waist (because if I have a belt, I likely have: pouch, dagger, string of bells, mug, and possibly a smaller second pouch all hanging from it), I'll carry a small purse I can wear messenger-bag style across my body.

Otherwise, pouch all the way. Like everybody else said: hands free and you don't have to worry about accidentally setting it down and leaving it somewhere.

I do, actually, have a basket I've used a couple times, but I really didn't like having to carry it around everywhere.

[gem]

For a first-timer, I'd suggest either carrying a pretty mundane bag (that you already own, preferably!) or making a very simple drawstring pouch.  Then, once you're *at* Fair, you can cruise the merchants until you find a pouch you love.

I typically carry two pouches--one strapped to my belt, and another hanging from long drawstrings.  The one on my belt holds money, CCs, phone, etc.  The extra one holds the package of sugar cookies I *must* buy every weekend at the coffee shop. LOL

[Peaches McGee]

Ooooo.....I didn't think about the on-site shopping option.  I do so love to shop.  I think I have a brown tapestry-like purse that might work for my first time.  I'll try it with my garb.  If it doesn't work, I'll try making a basic drawstring pouch.

[peggyelizabeth]

I've done both in the past, I like a belt pouch for the hands free aspects, but like the basket since I can carry more. That said, it's true your friends will ask you to carry all sorts of things, like their 4 year old's t-shirt when they buy him garb. (really it happened at Bristol this July)

My number one answer to carrying stuff is pockets in my skirts. They are easy to put in and  I always have kleanex or my camera handy.

[Poof Bird]

Belt pouches are the best, if you ask me.  That way, your shoulders don't get tired from a purse, arms are free, and you don't have to worry about loosing anything. 

But, that's my personal opinion.  You'll never see me without 2 pouches!  My chainmaille one for my favors, and one of a few cloth ones i have.  Love 'em!!