The Barefoot SCAdian

Make a Birchbark Cup or Paper Packet

I have no idea if this method of using birchbark or paper was ever used in the SCA period, but it’s a fairly simple and handy use of period materials. I originally learned this from Camping and Woodcraft: A Handbook for Vacation Campers and for Travelers in the Wilderness, two volumes in one by Horace Kephart. Originally published in 1917.

Start with a square of birchbark or paper. Here I’m using an 8 inch square cut from a shopping bag.
Fold the bottom corner up to the top corner. I’ve drawn a dashed line to mark the next two folds.
Fold the right corner as shown.
Fold the left corner on top of the right corner.
Fold the first of the upper corners down.
Having Let the top corner you just folded down flop back up, open the pocket created by the fold of the left corner and then tuck that top corner into it.
It should now look like this.
To make it into a cup fold the remaining upper corner back. Squeeze the edges to open it for use. Press it flat and carry it in a pocket when not in use.
To use it as an envelope or packet, after placing any contents into the cup area, fold the remaining upper corner into the front with the other upper corner.
The completed packet.
Paper packets in use storing dried wild herbs.
Seamus

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