It's SITH time!!!

Just a quick rundown in case any new members want to join.  The SITH (sling in the hat) is a sling exchange.  Any forum member is welcome to join.  We'll collect names for a month or so, and then do a drawing to see who is sending to who.  It's that simple!

There are a couple things that come up often so I'll bring attention to them right away.  There are members of the forum who send multiple slings or include extra gifts in the package.  This is in no way required.  Entering the SITH only requires you to send one sling to another member.  Anything extra is totally up to you!

And second, sometimes people don't want to join because they're worried the slings they make aren't good enough.  Please don't let that dissuade you, and dismiss the thought immediately.  We're all at different levels here and do things in different ways.  The SITH is not a contest.  What most people actually want is a sling like the one you personally use.  It's great to try out a (style of) sling that another member of the forum uses regularly.

So who's in for the SITH this year?!  Drop a comment saying you want in and your name will be added to the list.  I'm certainly in!
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***UPDATE***

And the SITH drawing is up!  Kudos to Zud for doing the drawing this year.  The list of participants below has been updated to the pairs.  As always, if anyone has already sent or received a sling from the partner they got and would like to swap, just let it be known in a comment.  There was a little mix up in the order, but we'll just go with the final order Zud shows in the video.
Happy SITH everyone!

https://youtu.be/i3TpC2JzuJE

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SITH 2023 participants:

joe_meadmaker - xud9a - call me zud
IronGoober - blargslap
hubert - JudoP
NooneOfConsequence - StaffSlinger
Mersa - GT
kgsaturn - AndyC

I'm in! I have a bunch of "cheat code" (polysteel balearic with an Acroballistics release) thumb tab slings that I just made, so mine is ready to give away.

I'm in

In!

Let’s do it!

Of course I’m in

Count me in...

Is it too late to join this year? If it's not too late, count me in

Nope, you're good!  We'll probably keep the list open for a couple weeks yet.

I humbly submit my entry.

Hey stranger!  Good to see you back!  :)

I think Ill give this a crack. I may not be able to braid anything fancy for this year as things are ramping up at home; but id be more than happy to make up a replica of my favorite everyday sling!

Count me in :)

I think we'll cut things off at the end of 2023.  So about a week and a half left to join if anyone else wants to get in on this year's SITH.

Something else I want to mention too.  I've done the drawing the last 2 or 3 years.  If anyone else wants to give it a go, just say so.  The chore...err, I mean the honor, is open to any volunteers.  ;)
And if you don't have a channel on YouTube, we can just make arrangements for me to get the video file from you and I'll be happy to post it.  Or I'm happy to just do it again too.

Hope everyone is having a Happy Solstice!

Hey Joe,
I am happy to volunteer to do the sith draw.

I don't do ewe toob but I have arranged technical support in the shape of Mrs. Zud to do the filming and forward it to you.

As there are only 10 names in the hat I would like at least 2 more so we get (at least) a nice round dozen.
I will post to that effect in general and other.

Cheers

Zud

👍😁

Thanks for doing the drawing this year Zud!  I don't mind doing it, but it will be nice to see someone else. :thumb:

😁👍

Just finished my sling destined for far lands. It feels special knowing its going to someone else! Looking forward to the draw!  :D

Know what you mean.
This is my first time of throwing in the hat and I more people join in 👍😁👍

I'm in! first time

Added to the list.  Welcome!  :)

Glad I saw this before the deadline. I'd like to join!

Yay, looks like you are in 😁👍👍

Happy new years eve to all and their pet sundries.
Just so no one gets anxious, stressed, fraught, confused or otherwise discombobulated I hereby out lay out the draw timetable for SITH 2023.
Cue drum roll.
We are in Sherwood forest in England and working on G.M.T.
So, allowing for the after effects of New year celebrations to subside we : Mrs.Zud and Zud, intend to make the draw at 3pm G.M.T.
Once the draw is filmed to completion Mrs.Zud (being the artistic tech wizard type) will forward it to Joe who will post it for all to see.
Using the awesome power of the interweb I find that Joe is on E.S.T. and 5 hours behind G.M.T.
So, allowing for the after effects of New year celebrations to subside, Joe could (in theory) post the video before we make it.
Or I'm just getting confused, or excited !
Either way I think this is the final call for SITH 2023.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
👍😁🍾🎉🎆

Happy New Year Xud! Thanks for doing the drawing!

😁😁👍👍

One more change from the last few years.  For a while we've been doing person 1 sends to person 2, person 2 sends to person 3...etc.
This year we'll just pair everyone up.  I know there are a few guys out there who prefer this method, so we'll go with it this year.  The drawing won't be any different, but the first and second slingers pulled out of the hat will send to each other.  The third and fourth slingers will send to each other, etc.  At the moment we have an even number, so it works out fine.

If there are any last minute entries (and we have an odd number), the last three names will become a trio.  It will be up to slingers in the trio to decide what to do.  They can each send a sling to one other member, or everyone in the trio can send a sling to both of the other members.  If that doesn't make sense we can go over it again if the situation arises.

Everyone have a happy and safe New Year!

Hey Joe,
I'm so glad you posted that because that is the way I was doing the draw. ! 😆😂🤣🤣🤣
The names are now written up and ready to go. If more names are added  ( not looking at anybody missing, Morphy, Jaegoor .......🥰) before the midnight GMT deadline I will simply add them in, the writing may be a little scrawly, but what the hell.
Otherwise, even allowing for a state of fuddlement, I should be able to make a job of it by 15.00GMT.
Cheers.
👍😁

And the SITH drawing is up!  Kudos to Zud for doing the drawing this year.  The list of participants in the first post of this topic has been updated to the pairs.  As always, if anyone has already sent or received a sling from the partner they got and would like to swap, just let it be known in a comment.  There was a little mix up in the order, but we'll just go with the final order Zud shows in the video.

Happy SITH everyone!

https://youtu.be/i3TpC2JzuJE

Mine came in yesterday.  Thanks Zud!  For the sling and the extras!

I have your sling started.  But I'm an admittedly slow braider.  Your sling should be ready to go in a week or so.  I'll keep you posted.

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Oooo very nice ! Slick looking pouch, nice work zud!

There’s something about SITH which is extremely exciting  ;D

Thanks blargslap,
It is the third iteration before I felt I got it right and I am looking forward to Joe's feedback on usability.
I know the pouch is wider than "most" but in testing I found it worked well with small, multiple small, large, smooth or jagged rocks and of course tennis balls.
I particularly want Joe's feedback on ice balls.

👍👍👍😁

My SITH sling arrived yesterday, thank you so much IronGoober!

It’s such a gorgeous color!! You have very nice braiding, I can’t wait to give it a go. This was a really great thing to be a part of, and I’ve had fun. I definitely will be doing it again for the next SITH.

Thanks again IG, I hope mine finds your doorstep soon  :)

IG’s SITH sling

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Nice !
😁👍

@blargslap Glad it got there, and relatively quickly! Let me know what you think of the tab design. I stole it from Sarosh but thickened it up a bit( another idea stolen from Archaic Arms).

My SITH slings from Mersa came! They look great:) kevlar seatbelt and a little edc of unknown materials. ;D

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Hope they both find a place in your collection

Mersa wrote on Jan 31^st, 2024 at 5:15pm:

Hope they both find a place in your collection

I have a feeling they will  ;)

Got this great leather and Paracord sling from Blargslap! The stitching and leather work is very stylish. Can't wait to chuck some stones when it stops raining!

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I’m glad yours arrived safely, IG! Enjoy  :)

Also, nice GT, that Kevlar sling looks trick !

Nice IG! looks like a great sling  :)

IronGoober wrote on Feb 1^st, 2024 at 12:59am:

The stitching and leather work is very stylish.

That looks sweet!  I love it!

Nice looking stuff from Mersa too. :thumb:


@blargslap - I look forward to hearing what you think of that sling from IG.  I got one from him a little while back and I love it.

A shame I missed this, would have loved to participate.

Yfir wrote on Feb 1^st, 2024 at 8:46pm:

A shame I missed this, would have loved to participate.

Next year !

😁👍

xud9a - call me zud 👍 wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2024 at 3:51am:

Next year !

Hopefully I won't miss it this time! It's a fair while away.

Yfir wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2024 at 9:10pm:

xud9a - call me zud 👍 wrote on Feb 2nd, 2024 at 3:51am: Next year ! Hopefully I won't miss it this time! It's a fair while away.

Why wait? Pm me your address. I don’t mind doing an extra  sling trade.

Nice one NooC.
👍👍👍😁

Right on Nooc! :thumb:

I should have posted an update here.  I did contact Yfir and we have a trade arranged.  That said, he can certainly do one with you too if he wants.  Double SITH!  :)

Absolutely, thanks to both Joe and Nooc for helping me not miss out!

I’ve given the sling IG sent to me quite a good go, and I will say the wee thumb tab release is actually pretty good! It took some getting used to, but I find it helps with getting a clean release; more so it seems to help with adjusting wrist angle too. Feels really deft and it’s something I want to try incorporating into my next Balearic sling.

Cheers again !

blargslap wrote on Feb 14^th, 2024 at 1:27pm:

I will say the wee thumb tab release is actually pretty good

I'm a fan of it too.

Joe's sling arrived this morning !
It is indeed a thing of beauty and inspires me to try harder.
Like a bowstring with a loop and pouch -first throws are favourable and I'm looking forward to taking the dog lead for a walk to give it a good try out.
Many thanks Joe.
😁👍😁🖖

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You're welcome buddy!

One thing I forgot to mention, the leather part of the pouch is attached to the cord at a slight angle.  I know most people put the finished side of the leather on the outside, but I do the reverse.  So the way the leather is connected, the finished side of the leather should hold the projectile.  You may have been using it that way already.  Just wanted to mention it.

Something else, I did do some ice slinging with the sling you sent me.  I'll admit I was a little worried about the pouch holding an ice ball well.  It's certainly large enough, but also pretty flat.  But there was no issue whatsoever.  It's a quicker release than I expected, and that took a little while to get used to, but no misfires.  I wanted to try some snowball slinging with it, but I missed the chance with the one snowfall we had.  The weather already seems to be turning mild here.  I think snow is done for the season.  :(

Cheers Joe, I had noticed the offset and that accounts for releasing unexpectedly far to the left.

I'm delighted you find the release is quick and I designed it as " a sling for all" so a beginner should find it easy but an experienced slinger would be happy with it.

As to the snow, climate change is here and we need to adapt !

Slinging will become useful again !!

😁😆😂🤣🤪

Almost forgot I received my SITH slings.
Received these Absolutely gorgeous slings from GT
Very impressed with his choices of slings to send to me .
A balearic and a seatbelt. Almost feel like he knows what I really suit but like many other people would like me to submit to the shorter natural fiber sling.
Both are very well made and clear to me that there’s enough detail in the execution that it’s been made by a slinger not just a sling maker.
Unfortunately I’m yet to take either to the range even though it’s literally in my back yard . As I type this is see the obscene nature of that comment. But in my defence I’ve probably taken less than 100 shots in the past 2 months. I had an injury to my wrist and slinging aggravated it a lot . I continued to work and slowed down on slinging and archery. It’s almost 100% . Weird injury, I feel it only in tension not compression. Anyway enough rambling.
Thanks GT

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Glad to hear it! I hope your wrist gets better soon  :(

Nice looking slings!  The tail of that Balearic looks wicked!  :)



Mersa wrote on Apr 18^th, 2024 at 4:22am:

I had an injury to my wrist and slinging aggravated it a lot .

Heal up brother.  Wrists and ankles can take crazy amounts of time to get back.  Certainly no fun, but there's no rushing it either.

Here is a gorgeous sling I received from Hubert. His is in production- sorry about the delay!

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Amazing, as all hubert's slings are!  :o

That is an absolutely breathtaking sling! Amazing job Hubert.