My Journey as a Viking Age Costumer

More Sampling & Stuff

2/20/2015

I have been keeping busy with sorting through my class materials after University. I need to make some changes to a few things and make a few others more readily transportable. I have registered my class to be taught at Pennsic on Thursday of Peace Week and Tuesday of War Week. It is also my hope to host a Viking Fiber Arts get together at some point during War.

In the meantime, I am playing with more samples. I have some Jaggerspun Maineline 2/20 on my rigid heddle loom to test out sett. It might be a bit loose at 25, but we will see how it washes up. I also plan to test it at 20. Then next will be Jaggerspun Superfine 2/18 if I can find the cone of yarn I ordered. The samples of the EPiC wool are finished and I will photograph all samples when I have wet-finished everything.

I also opted to toss some of the fine wool singles onto my small Cricket loom to test it out (and to try to weave a Dublin scarf). I really thought I would have more issues with it than I am having (especially given that the loom is not equipped for weaving with two heddles). But it seems to be working reasonably well for what it is. I look forward to seeing how this project progresses.

Jaggerspun Maineline on the rigid heddle loom.

Fine wool singles warp on a Cricket loom.

I will note that the Cricket loom (a small rigid heddle loom made by Schacht) is not ideal for 2 heddle use. It does not have the support system for the second heddle, but it can work if you are willing to take the extra time needed for set up. As you can see below, threading can be a bit awkward. I have the second heddle in the neutral postion, while the first is in the "down" position. I used rubber bands around the wooden top of the heddle that attach it to the heddle support to help keep it upright. Additionally, I used a dowel under the read heddle to allow it to sit higher and tilt back for easier threading. (I direct warped through the back one, wound onto the beam, then removed all of the yarn from the heddle to thread the heddles. This might be one case where your warp will be more neat if you use a warping board and warp using a cross.)

The second photo shows weaving with two heddles set for tabby. I just have them rubber banded together at the top and raise or lower both at once.

I will note that it is much, much easier to thread the Ashford Rigid Heddle loom with 2 heddles than this one. The Ashford allows me to thread through both heddles at one time, as they sit close together and the plastic hook (which I LOVE) bends enough to make that possible as you can see in the photo below.

Not sure how this project on the Cricket will work out the further into it I get (or how the fabric will end up wet finishing). But so far it is looking like it might be usable and I am learning more about ways to manage that particular loom in the process.

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Definitive Proof I Have Lost My Mind

2/17/2015

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I do not think I even have an appropriate caption for this save that I clearly have lost it. Photo credit to: Lord Erich von Kleinfeld

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Worth Reading

2/10/2015

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Along with the arguments about embroidery that frequently come up on Viking clothing forums, the topic of contrasting gores also often arises. While this article focuses on the Medieval era, the thinking can still be applied to the Viking era.

Yes, to our modern eye, contrasting gores can be pretty! And sometimes in the SCA you just have to work with what you have and that might mean you are forced to make some choices that would not be historical in nature if you do not have the right fabric or enough of the right fabric. "I only had so much fabric" is a very valid reason for doing something while "If I lived back then I would have done it this way" is really not unless you can show it was done (in other words, do not try to force history to conform to your own ideas on how things should have been).

http://blackcatsews.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/contrasting-gores-in-medieval-dresses.html

And no, the fact that the Lendbreed tunic had different sleeves than body is no evidence of such a practice either. That particular piece was very worn and patched and it is possible that the sleeves were added later to replace the original worn out sleeves. The point being that this was not a garment that, when newly crafted, was designed to sport contrasting sleeves. Just some things to think about.

In the event you want to read more about that early find, you can find the detailed analysis here: https://www.academia.edu/4372500/Out_of_the_Norwegian_glaciers_Lendbreen_a_tunic_from_the_early_first_millennium_AD

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Atlantia U

2/9/2015

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Not much to say other than that it was invigorating. The site (a college campus) itself was beautiful. There were (I think) 280 participants, some being college students that were passing through and stopped to try to figure out what was going on as they were passing through one building to the next. My Laurel, who also happens to be the chatelaine for the local group, was quick to invite them over, toss a cloak or tunic on them and direct them to someone who could show them a list of open classes and get them involved. I really think that some of them will be back for future events.

My class on Viking wool seemed to go very well. Honestly, 2 hours was not enough to let folks really have time to play with the tools themselves, so it might be a bit longer for Pennsic. There were some fantastic questions from people and one woman gave me some information that I did not previously have for possible evidence for period fulling of wool (so I get to do some more research myself, which is fantastic). I will be scheduling my classes for Pennsic this week and am really crossing my fingers that AEthelmearc War Practice is in the cards for me this year.

While at University, I took a class on the Hedeby tunic, taught by Ragnvaeig. It was very good and has given me some ideas for further tailoring my own underdresses. I cannot wait to start playing new pattern layouts. And I am also now armed with some information (or at least as much as I am going to get) about some plaid found at Hedeby so I am already planning on future weaving projects.

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Universities!

2/5/2015

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Reminder that Atlantia University is this weekend! There are still plenty of classes with space in them and you can register for them online or at the event itself. It should be a fantastic weekend. (As of this posting though, my class is full, but I hope to bring it to AEthelmearc War Practice this spring!)

http://university.atlantia.sca.org/

Perhaps more exciting is the fact that Pennsic University has opened their class scheduling up for this year! You can look at the classes already listed or sign up to teach your own here:

http://thing.pennsicuniversity.org/

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Announcement on a new Peerage

2/3/2015

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For those who have not seen it:

Due to the large amount of information surrounding the additional peerage for rapier and cut and thrust, the Board of Directors decided to participate in a conference call on February 2, 2015. The Board received a large amount of additional comments and suggestions in the two weeks following the January 17 quarterly meeting. This was considered in addition to the first Board call for commentary on this issue.

At the February 2, 2015 special conference call meeting of the Board of Directors, the Board discussed the history of the APEC proposal process, the commentary received from the membership, and the various options available to the Board. The Order of Defense proposal was the result of many years of effort, and while the commentary from the membership opened the Board’s eyes to other options and possibilities, the Board decided at this time to reconsider the proposal to change Corpora to create the Order of Defense. During the call a motion was made and seconded to approve the changes to Corpora, and such motion passed 6 votes for and 1 against.

Motion to approve the proposed changes to Corpora that will create the new peerage, Order of Defense, and direct Laurel Sovereign of Arms to submit such name and heraldry to the heraldic comment process, with the intention of opening the Order on May 1, 2015. Voted in favor of the motion: Arthur Donadio, Andrew Coleman, John Fulton, David Keen and Lisa May. Voted against the motion: Lisa Czudnochowsky. Chairman Scott Berk exercised his option to vote and did so in favor of the motion. Motion passed.

Motion in the matter of the Order of Defense to waive the requirements of Corpora Section IV.G that the Crown consult the members of a peerage order prior to inducting new members of that order, but only in the case of the first three (3) members of the Order of Defense. Once there are three members of the Order of Defense in a kingdom, the Crown must consult the Order per Corpora prior to adding members. Voted in favor of the motion: Arthur Donadio, Andrew Coleman, Lisa Czudnochowsky John Fulton, David Keen and Lisa May. Opposed: none. Chairman Scott Berk exercised his option to vote and did so in favor of the motion. Motion passed.

No candidate may be inducted into the Order of Defense before May 1, 2015. All candidates inducted into the Order of Defense on May 1, 2015, will carry equal precedence, regardless of the time of day each such candidate was inducted.

Five years ago, the enormous response in favor of a path to peerage was specifically focused on rapier and cut and thrust combat. When and if another martial activity engenders the response from the membership at large that rapier and cut and thrust did, when another martial activity has the depth, breadth and community as exists for rapier and cut and thrust, then the Board of Directors may investigate the possibility of facilitating a path to peerage for such martial activity.

Comments are strongly encouraged and can be sent to:
SCA Inc.
Box 360789
Milpitas, CA 95036

You may also email [email protected].

This announcement is an official informational release by the Society for Creative Anachronism , Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce this announcement in its entirety in newsletters, websites and electronic mailing lists.

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A Wandering Elf

More Sampling & Stuff

Definitive Proof I Have Lost My Mind

Worth Reading

Atlantia U

Universities!

Announcement on a new Peerage

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