2015 was certainly... interesting. There were many good things, however, among the surprises and sorrow that life chose to impart, so my plan is to focus on those and move onward into 2016 with a smile.
Good things include meeting amazing people at events, teaching my Viking Wool class several times, participating in the Pennsic A&S Champions competition, being inducted into the Order of the Fleur, learning to naalbind, getting my Viking swatchbook project off the ground, and writing several articles on Viking textiles or costume that have gotten some good feedback and that have been extensively shared online.
The holidays were too short, but lovely. I got some wonderful SCA items for gifts. My mother bought me NESAT 12 and the book about the Hallstatt textiles (both are pretty amazing). And my BF got me a wonderful Norwegian bentwood box to use as a sewing kit at events (currently my sewing materials are in a small tupperware bin, lol). It is beautiful and I have already dug into my handwoven scraps to make a pincushion to keep in it and will be making a pouch for my period scissors as well.
I did manage, over the break, to finish the rug I have been working on for my tent at Pennsic. I need to finish up the warp with some smaller rugs, but I can start to measure the warp out for a wool tunic for my boyfriend and another aprondress for myself. It will be set at approximately 40 threads per inch, so I have ordered more heddles so that my loom can accommodate the fine weaving.
For sewing, I am finishing up some changes I am making to my green handwoven dress. I have replaced the poofy, stretchy straps with linen straps and have make wool cord that I have stitched to the top of the dress. I am almost done with a cobalt blue pleated aprondress that will be worn under it (as was suggested by one of the grave costumes from Kaupang). I am looking forward to wearing these dresses in pairs, as there are many examples that show this as a possibility, but it is something one rarely sees among reenactors.
And of course, I am already planning on the things I will be working on this year.
- Continue to improve and upgrade my wardrobe with more period garments.
- Weave another aprondress, a tunic, legwraps and additional headcoverings based on the finds from Dublin.
- Add more samples to my Viking swatchbook.
- Weave material for a Hedeby style purse (for both myself and for a friend in trade for handles for said purse).
- Finish the research post I am working on about krabbasnar brocading in period.
- Continue to build out a new class that will cover Viking women's upperclass dress. The plan is to have the class cover things like textiles, colors, patterning (not how-to, but rather options one can use for different styles), layers and appropriate embellishments. It takes me quite a bit of time to craft materials and handouts for classes, and I am still working on more research as well. I would love to offer this at Pennsic, but am not 100% sure yet it will be ready (my Wool class took several years to put together). There are two books out this year that should give a fresh look at some of this, and I hope that I will have at least one of them soon so that I can incorporate that research into my class. I am exceedingly excited about this project.
- Beyond these things I have several additional small research projects that will help to build out my "Viking Textiles: Looking Deeper" series of articles on this blog. And I also hope to experiment more with brocaded tablet weaving, dyeing, spinning and I very much want to try my hand at making shoes as well.
I am very much looking forward to attending events, even though things at home have not changed much and I will only be able to be there for the morning/afternoon. I have had a great time in 2015 with the variety of events I have attended and the new things I have tried in the SCA.
I will be at AEthelmearc 12th Night this coming weekend, and then hopefully can stop by Sylcan Glen Shire 12th Night next weekend. Following that will be (possibly) Atlantia's KASF event in early February and I will be teaching Spinning 101 in Dun Carraig (my Laurel's home group) at the end of February. Absolutely planning on War Practice this year and, if all goes well, several additional events before that!
Below is a photo of the reworked aprondress and my beloved Nimar (which was my best Christmas present of all). I am overjoyed that he is acting very much his crazy self again and that we had another wonderful Christmas with him.
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