Black Sails Flint (Pirate Flag) Material Suggestions

[Edged]

Skelton Crew got me on a pirate kick the last few weeks which just culminated with the series finale of Black Sails.

Unfortunately, there’s very little in the way of things concerning the show. Which, in a way, is a good thing being I’m trying to save up for a move, but that doesn’t quell the obsession lol, so I was thinking this would be a cheap project.

Of course I did check to see if anyone had bothered to already make one, but Etsy and the like are all silkscreened.

Has anyone gone about making an actual flag from scratch? Any idea what a suitable material might be? I’m thinking linen, but I hate to get anything sight unseen without handling it first. So long as it’s period correct and existed in the 1700s. No vinyl ect.


I would need something white and a base of black. The latter which should be a somewhat lightweight material that would flow in the wind, I would think.

 

[smithjohnj]

Historically flags and standards of the period were made of wool bunting. Cotton and silk were also used but the bunting was preferred as it was a looser weave and allowed the wind to pass through more easily. Also bunting was a narrow strip of cloth which require more seams to make the flag which added strength. Wool also was more durable than the other products. There is a good "how it was done" article on the Museum of the American Revolution. Search for Flags

 

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Thank you! That helps a lot. I was seeing hemp/linen/silk in searches, but it would definitely seem wool would be the way to go!

Rare Flags - Antique American Flags, Historic American Flags

Antique American Flags, Historic American Flags, Flag Collecting, Early Flags

www.rareflags.com

“…its excellent ability to withstand water….it doesn't rot as readily as vegetable fibers like cotton or linen.”

Makes sense if something is gonna be on the ocean.

Found a place called Period Fabrics that sells “flag bunting” by the yard, but they don’t carry black. It’s a start, though!

 

[division 6]

While not period accurate, I made Henry Avery's flag (single sided) from Uncharted 4.
I used light cotton scraps that I had laying around.

 

[smithjohnj]

Although there are mills which make the true bunting wool, it can be expensive. A reasonable and still accurate facsimile is tropical weight worsted wool. Both wool fabric products use long-fiber wool (as opposed to short-fibers which makes up woolen yarn used in other wool fabrics) and the tropical weight is more loosely woven (like bunting wool). Both are loosely woven to allow the passage of air. Plain weave is perhaps more true to form but a twill weave was also used in bunting wool. The extra step to give worsted wool the correct touch is to iron it with a hot iron. This will give the fabric a "shine". Not what you want on your worsted wool suit, but great for catching and reflecting the light - like flag and true celebration bunting. Another term you might come across is tammy cloth or tammy fabric. Experiment with the iron temperature - there is hot and too hot. Also I would guess you would iron first and decorate with fabric paint second.

 

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That looks great, division 6 !

Thank you, smithjohnj, for all the information! I will continue researching. I found a few places that can send swatches before I commit to anything, so I can experiment a bit

 

[joberg]

Now, if you just display that flag, you wouldn't need expensive bunting wool...unless your plan is to fly that flag on a ship over salt water/wind/rain, etc...I would do what division 6 did: black cotton/heavy cotton + stencil of your skeleton in white paint.

 

[Edged]

Haha, true! I could just buy that off Etsy and be done with it, though.

But yeah, it doesn’t need to be wool bunting. I would wanna do it doubled sided and sewn, though. Like Division 6’s flag above.