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Fine Fabrics

3/29/2013

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It seems that so many people make the assumption (myself included long ago) that Dark Age textiles would have been coarse, rough fabrics in a limited range of dull, earthy colors.

I remember being amazed when I started seeing dyed yarn displays at Pennsic where people were experimenting with period dyes and showing the hundreds of color and shade possibilities that one could achieve in period (and so many of them are bright and beautiful)!

In more recent years I was again amazed as I started reading archeological reports that detailed the thread count in extant textiles.  Some of the fabrics they had were unbelievably fine.  The Viborg shirt, for example, was woven from a linen that is the equivalent to a 20/1 linen today and had a thread count of 55 threads per inch in the warp and 30 in weft.  The linen in the photo above is what is currently on my loom and that has - in the lower portion - 8/1 yarn in both the warp and weft and in the upper half has 8/1 warp and 12/1 weft.  One sample of linen from Kneep was 70X40 and a linen described as "low-grade" from the Viking burial at Adwick-le-Street was still aprox. 32X22.  While I would consider that last a bit rustic (and I say that kindly, as I love the texture and feel of heavier linen), the rest are far from what I would consider coarse.

As for wool, the yarn in the wool dress that I hand sewed is a twill that is approx 25 threads per inch in both the warp and weft, yet one of the twills from the Oseberg ship (below right is an extreme close-up) had an average of 32 threads per inch in one system and 46 in the other.  Another sample from the same site in a diamond twill was twice as fine as that.  The wool for my dress is a Shetland Wool from Fabric Mart, and I in no way consider it coarse.  The twill texture is actually very subtle (you can see that better in the sample from their website below my dress photo). 

And what is the point of all this?  Nothing more than a reminder that if your are portraying an upper class member the Viking society, you do not need to try to find the most "rustic" fabric you can for your impression.

(And yes, pink IS period!)


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Sneak Peek!

3/26/2013

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Want to get a sneak peak at the classes being offered at War this year?  Follow the link below to the classes that are already approved and schedule!

http://thing.pennsicuniversity.org/calendars
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A Step Further from Fantasy

3/25/2013

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I taught my Middle Eastern garb classes for the first time in a number of years yesterday.  I had a great time and the group of women gathered for the classes were positively lovely.  I am especially thrilled to hear that some were inspired to start sewing because of the class!

My class is actually in two parts.  The first is a sort of overview of what type of Middle and Near Eastern garb you see in the SCA and it includes tips on how to take some pieces from your own garb closet and make them more period.  I will be teaching this class at Pennsic (Wednesday of War Week at 10am).

The second part of the class isn't really one I can teach at War, because it requires more time and things like cutting tables and sewing machines.  But, in it I go into more detail about coats and construction and I help get people fitted for the garments. 

The documents for both classes are below (and have been updated on Scribd as well, in the event you had previously pulled them from that source).  If anyone opts to try to make a coat and needs help along the way, I can be reached at jennelfculler@yahoo.com !  :-)



handout2013.pdf
File Size: 55682 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

completepatternpublic2013.pdf
File Size: 17475 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Reminder about Pennsic's NEW Hours for Troll

3/22/2013

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Hours are listed on the link below.  It might make coming in a bit difficult for a few folks, but it will definitely be a good thing for those who volunteer their own vacation time to welcome the rest of us Home!

http://www.cooperslake.com/prereg
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A&S Display Registration

3/19/2013

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Registration for the display is now OPEN! (The photo is of one of the most impressive pieces I have ever seen on display... it is completely embroidered and each segment shows SCA Kingdoms, people and events in a very hi

http://pennsicwp.org/registration/as-displays/


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Multi-Tasking

3/18/2013

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So many SCAdian projects all in one weekend!  In addition to gathering my books to take to the Middle Easter garb class I am teaching next weekend, I got to work on a variety of projects. 

The first thing I started the prep-work to dye with Weld.  Friday night I soaked my wool and prepared the alum mordant.  The yarn and wool was added to that solution and allowed to sit over night.  (To the left you can see some roving and my Icelandic handspun soaking in the water.)

The roving is pure white but the yarn is actually a natural heathered wool, a pale tan shade.  I am choosing to work with some natural colors, rather than just white because I have never seen anyone's experiments dyeing over naturally colored wool. I added the white roving to the bath as well so I can see the pure resulting color.

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To the left you can see the natural, 2-ply Icelandic handspun that is skeined and hanging up as I tie string around the yarn to keep it organized in the dye bath.

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In this jar is the beginning of the Weld dye.  I have poured boiling water over the chopped up pieces of the plant (which I purchased at Pennsic last summer) to extract the dye.  This sat overnight and ended up as a right, warm brown liquid rather than the pale yellow in this photo.


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Saturday morning I poured the dye from the jar into the pot, added some more water and then put the plant material into a nylon stocking to steep a bit longer while I simmered the pot.  After an hour I let the pot cool a bit and then  I added both the yarn, the roving and a small bit of undyed yarn from Renaissance Dyeing to the bath.  You can see how dark the dye became (yes those are bits of plant material that escaped and were still floating in the water).

I was not getting the rich color that I had hoped for, so I let the wool steep in the brew for about 6 hours before removing to dry.  The resulting color is very pretty (and Easter egg yellow) but very, very pale.



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To the right you can see the dyed wool.  The color is pale, but pleasing (and a little more yellow than cream in real life).  I will get a side by side comparison photo of the dyed handspun this coming weekend.

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I finished the weekend with a lovely class by Marija of Sylvan Glen about Russian and Slavic garb.  Can I just say that I would love to have a set of temple rings???  It was a nice time with fun people, great food and some very lovely books to drool over.

After that I headed home to work a bit on some new garb for my BF, including this linen tunic with some handwoven (not by me) fabric being used as trim.

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A&S Display for Pennsic (Update!)

3/11/2013

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A lovely display of period dyes by a participant of the A&S display several years ago.
From a post to the AEthelmearc list:The Known World Arts & Sciences Display Sunday, July 28th, in the Great Hall, 11 am to 4 pm This is the 17th annual display of the talents & knowledge of the Known World’s Artisans and Craftspeople.
NEW this year is an area for the Performing Arts.  The main Performing Arts Stage will be available from 1pm to 5pm. Performers of ANY type of performing arts may sign up in 10 minute segments – a group for a 15 minute segment, and if there is time, for more than 1 rotation.  Tables will be available in the Performing Arts Tent to display any documentation (optional) from performers throughout the afternoon. 

This is not meant to be a competition, and it is not always finished items.  Some are works in progress, and some are just representations of what someone knows and does.   We have had people discussing how they researched and put on a feast, or something far too large to bring to Pennsic.   Often, you will see something you might want to start investigating, or find someone who has more knowledge in a field you are already interested in.  Other people are exhibiting to find people who know more than they do, and to make contacts in a given field.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.  It lets me print out nice large signs for everyone, and assign table space to the different Kingdoms.   If you have any special requirements of space, please contact me.

  • Space is divided by Kingdom, thus allowing the Royalty, Peers, and Populace to see the efforts of their Craftspeople more easily.  
  • Set-up begins at 10 am, and we end at 4 pm.  Everyone must have their objects/displays out by 4:30 pm., when I hope you will help me take down all the tables and return the Great Hall to its empty state.
  • Only tables will be provided, although some are picnic tables. Please bring your own chair, displays (even tables).
  • There is a limit of 8 sq ft a person (not per item), which works out to 4 ft width, and 2 ft deep.
  • You are not required to be there, and if all you can do is a part of the day, we still thank you for sharing your knowledge. However, please have someone to watch your items when you cannot be there.  We cannot watch all the items, and cannot take responsibility for them.  

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Twins!

3/8/2013

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This image is from Costumes Turcs Vol Í from aprox 1790.
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This image is one I found in 9000 Years of the Anatolian Woman from "Hubbanna me ve Zeanname", 1793.
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For Those Deserving

3/7/2013

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This past year there was a request from the Scribes of AEthelmearc posted to the Kingdom List.  It read as follows:
Without recommendations, there are no awards.  Without awards, there are no scrolls.  Without scrolls, there are bored scribes.

Don't contribute to the boredom of the scribes of Æthelmearc.  Write in someone for an award today.
Recommending others for awards is an important facet of our Society (and not just because bored scribes might cause havoc!).  How many times have you seen someone working their butt off at every event and wondered why they do not have their Millrind (an AEthelmearc award of high merit for service)?  What about that person in your Barony who takes time each week to help newcomers make their first garb? 

There have been many times during conversations with friends and acquaintances about someone with striking talent or commitment and often the discussion turns to musings of why so-and-so is not yet a member of a certain order.

The answer has several elements to it and I will disregard, at this time, that politics can and do sometimes come into play here.  (One can only do so much about interpersonal workings or quabbles, so I am not going to go into my thoughts on that particular matter - it is life, it happens, lol). I guess, really, it is also a very period practice if one wanted to be technical about it.

Often someone will be given an award because they are known by the right people, and are at the right events to be noticed and recognized.  (Note, I am not saying that one has to curry favor, it is merely a fact that if one is more visible, than and order is more likely to take note of their work, skills or service.)  Even then, someone can fly under the radar and be missed by those who have the ability to grant those awards.

Kingdom level awards are given by the King and Queen and typically, for the higher orders, they poll or consult members of an order about individuals that are brought to their attention.  Remember though, Royals are busy people, and do not have time to meet or see every member of the populace, and even those who do impress them may not be known enough to them to make them a consideration for an award.

So if you have ever wondered why a friend or a teacher or other member of the SCA does not have the accolades they deserve, consider writing a recommendation for that individual.  Yes, anyone can do this!  Has someone gone to great lengths to help you out?  Let the Kingdom know!  Has someone constantly produced tasty feasts?  Let others know about it!  Who always fights fearlessly on the field of battle, but rarely makes it to a tournament (where it is easier to recognize one's prowess)?  Write a letter to make it known!  If you truly think someone is deserving, it is up to you to make sure that the folks higher up know about them.  Sometimes it will happen on its own, but often even the best among us can still be overlooked.

If you are unsure of someone's current awards, most Kingdoms have an Order of Precedence listing online.  You can often look up an individual (by their SCA name) and find out what awards they have already received. 

Be thoughtful though, when making recommendations to the Crown.  A person does not deserve an award for just showing up (or for being your bestie).

It also surprises me to discover that there are long time members of the SCA who have never before written a letter of recommendation.  In many kingdoms it is very simple, and there is often an online form that can be filled out.  Links are below for the various Kingdoms so that the next time you wonder why so-and-so isn't a Pelican, you can make sure that your voice on the matter is heard.

  • Æthelmearc - http://www.aethelmearc.org/onlineaward/
  • Ansteorra (will take you to an external link) - http://www.ansteorra.org/forms/award.php
  • An Tir - http://www.antir.sca.org/recommendations.php
  • Artemisia - http://www.artemisia.sca.org/order-of-precedence/award-recommendation/
  • Atenveldt - http://www.atenveldt.org/People/AwardRecommendations
  • Atlantia - http://award.atlantia.sca.org/
  • Caid - http://royals.sca-caid.org/awards/recs.php
  • Calontir - http://awardrec.calontir.org/
  • Drachenwald - http://op.drachenwald.sca.org/recommendation.html
  • Ealdormere - http://www.ealdormere.ca/index.php/award-recomendatins
  • East - http://accessibleek.eastkingdom.org/RecommendAward.html
  • Gleann Abhann (I can find no form for this Kingdom, but their Awards page is as follows) - http://www.kingdomofgleannabhann.org/awards/awards.html
  • Lochac - http://royal.lochac.sca.org/recommendation/
  • Meridies - http://www.meridies.org/olawards/
  • Middle - http://www.midrealm.org/op/recommend/login.php?from=/op/recommend/
  • Northshield (you have to sign in as a member of the populace, perhaps if you are out-of-Kingdom you would direct your recommendation directly to the crown via email) - http://www.northshield.org/orderofprecedence/Recommendation.aspx?Officers/Herald
  • Outlands - http://www.outlands.org/Default.aspx?tabid=683
  • Trimaris - http://www.trimaris.org/recommend
  • West - http://heralds.westkingdom.org/AwardRecommend.htm
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The Great Linen Experiment - Part 1

3/5/2013

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I absolutely love linen.  It is by far my favorite fabric with which to work.  My BF and I go through mass quantities of it every couple of years (all purchased from Fabrics-store.com).  Did I mention that I LOVE it?

So of course, I now want to weave it myself.  Years of research warned me that weaving linen singles is a very daunting and complex task, but I have to say I was still surprised with some of the bizarre things that have happened so far with this weaving.

I mentioned this previously, and you cannot tell from the picture above, but the singles tend to twist.  The wool singles I have used, I have had no issue with because they were blocked or perhaps had sizing applied to them to keep them under control.  The linen, however, actually coiled around itself the minute I hung them on the loom. And I do not mean single threads were twisting, but rather the entire warp chains were coiling when hanging from the beam.
I know now that I could have dipped the chains in a starch solution or a solution made from boiled flaxseeds (more on that later).  I knew about painting on sizing once the warp was on the loom, but I did not actually know at the time that I could apply something to the entire warp before beaming that would help control the frisky fibres.

The twisting fibres meant that I had to rethread 40 heddles.  Not too bad in retrospect, but it was annoying at the time.

Below you can see the Vaxbo linen yarn that I used (purchased from the Woolgatherers).  My warp is 8/1 and the weft for the first portion is the same and halfway through I switched to a 12/1 weft, just to see the difference.
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Here you can see the linen with the header row in ugly cotton.  My weaving width for this piece is only 8 inches as I am just playing with it.  I do, however, have further experimentation plans for the handwoven sample.

Even after weaving just a few picks, my selvages (and a few random other threads) started getting woogly (yes, that is a technical term!).  I actually unwove the entire thing and retied the warp to the apron rod and I still had issues with a few of the strands.  And the most bizarre thing is that it was not always the same threads acting up.  It was nothing so great that it was preventing me from weaving it decently, but I was worried about what it would look like after several inches so I opted to make some homemade sizing by boiling flaxseeds.


I had no recipe with me at the Cabin while I was working on this so I added two tablespoons of flaxseeds to a quart of water and boiled it until it started to get slimy.  As it cooled, it gelatinized further and was very hard to brush on (getting it into the brush or sponge - I tried both - was hard, getting it off of the brush onto the warp was even more difficult).  I managed to make it work, but next time I think I will try only one tablespoon of seeds per quart of water.
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Above you can see the jar of goo (which I considered labeling "Elephant Snot" before I stuck it in the refrigerator for later use).

After I got it on the warp, the difference was rather impressive.  I still had selvage threads that did not want to behave, but the weaving itself changed drastically after I applied the goop.

Look below at the right hand side of the weaving (that is what is closest to the breast beam) compared to the left.  The right is the weaving I did before applying the flaxseed slime.  I could not pack the weft any tighter.  After applying the goop, you can see that I was getting a much closer weave.
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The image above shows the 8/1 weft below the red line and the 12/1 weft above it.  Not a whole lot of difference.  I wish that I had an even finer single in my stash to use for further contrast.  I guess I will try that with the next experimental linen warp ;-)
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