Tacketed Bookbinding
AElfswyth the Gyldenfeax
Tacketed bindings were used for such things as account books that would need to have sections added later. Tackets (twisted cords or strips of parchment) were used to bind as well as decorate books. Participants will each make a small tacketed book.
2 hours
Limit 10
Fee $2 for paper and materials
Where to Stick It: Let's Make a Viking Needle Case
Master Bedwyr Danwyn
This is a hands-on class where each student will make and take a simple brass Viking needle case.
1 hour
No limit
No fee
Introduction to Armoring
Gilchrist MacNaughton
A short demonstration and discussion on tools and basic techniques. If there is time some hands on.
2 hours
Limit 8
No fee
Spinning with Raw Wool
Anne Grout
This class will focus on preparing locks of raw wool for spinning on a drop spindle (though you can also spin them on a wheel), with discussion of washing, picking and combing small amounts of wool, and the particular problems of spinning from locks of fleece as opposed to roving or batting. No class fee, but there will be spindles and wool available to buy, or bring your own. Bring a sturdy comb, if possible--it doesn't have to be a wool comb. A pet-grooming comb is fine.
1 hour
No fee
No limit
So, I'm Thinking About Getting a Fleece
Lady Brienna Llewellyn Lindsay
This course covers why and how to process a raw fleece for spinning. Including definitions. It includes demonstrations of some of the process.
1 hour
No limit
No fee
A Tactile Tour Through the Spinning Fibers
Fiadnata ó Gleann Àlainn
Have you finally gotten the mysteries of spinning wool conquered? Feeling like it's time to branch out to other fibers? Bring your spindles, and we'll play with all four of the Big Four spinning fibers, and maybe add in an exotic or two for good measure. Basic spindles will be available, if yours is full of the latest project. This class is intended for the intermediate spinner, not for someone with no experience drop spinning before.
1 hour (or more)
Limit 8
Fee $5 for fibers; some drop spindles available for $1
Decorative Embroidery for Garb
Mistress Euriol of Lothian
Stem stitch, chain stitch & Blackwork, Oh my! You have learned many of the basic stitches of embroidery, but now what? This class will be an overview of extant secular embroidered garments in order to determine the pratical application of decorative embroidery to garb.
1 hour
No limit
Fee $1 for CD-ROM
Lace Net Darning
Lady Myfanwy ferch Rhiannon
Hands on class in the technques of lace net darning (lacis/Opus filatorium/filet brodé/filet guipure) with information about the history of the stitches and materials used in and just out of period.
2 hours
Limit 8
Fee $6
Accessorize your Documents with Tags and Seals (New and Improved)
Emmelyne de Marksbury
Learn a variety of durable, beautiful, period methods for affixing wax seals to documents. Discussion and examples, followed by some light hands-on to create a sampler. Appropriate for all levels and interests, from scribal to string.
1.5 hours
Limit 10
Fee: Donations welcome for handout and string
Seven-loop Braids for Flexible Fingers
Emmelyne de Marksbury
Feeling nimble-fingered and ready for more fingerloop braiding? We will learn five braids from Tollemache that are all based on the same core set of movements. Practice the amazing "airplane propeller" maneuver! Basic fingerloop skills are needed - taking loops reversed and unreversed, and exchanging loops between two fingers.
1 hour
Limit 6
Fee: Donations welcome for handout and string
Sprang
Lady Gullveig fra Njardar
Cut, Construction, and Decoration of 10th C. Kit in Britain
Baroness Cathryn of Chester
Patterns, period construction techniques, and finishing details, focusing more on Viking and Saxon styles.
1 hour
No limit
No fees
Decoration through Deconstruction
Filipia Capriotti
1 hour
Limit 10
Fee $1 for materials and handouts
The Well-Dressed Mummy; or What to Wear to a Siege
Mistress Mathilde Eschenbach
In the early 1990’s, a group of mummified bodies were found in Lebanon, buried in a nearly inaccessible cave that was the refuge of nearby villagers during a late thirteenth century siege. The bodies were clothed in multiple layers of well-preserved clothing, some of it heavily embroidered. The class will discuss the background of the find, the textiles, and the embroideries.
1 hour
No limit
No fees
Classification of Textile Structures
Mistress Phiala O'Ceallaigh
Understanding the broad classification of textile structures provides a context for studying medieval textiles (and modern ones too). Braiding, weaving, knitting, netting - how do they all fit together?
1 hour
No fee
No limit
Constructing the Proper Medieval Purse
Mistress Rhiannon y Bwa
Medieval (and later!) purses weren't sewn together the way we might think. Most weren't 'bagged' and very few used casings. Come and learn how to make a purse the medieval way. We'll be chaining or weaving stitches down the sides and finishing the top raw edge in a popular pattern. Students will be working together on a few samples. This class is not 'make and take', however. Fingerloop braids were used as the purse strings, but that technique won't be taught in this class. We will be pointing out a few of the popular flb patterns used for purse strings, however - including one that matches the finish on the top of some purses. This work is mainly based on sweet bags I've photographed at the Metropolitan Museum and other extant purses from late in the SCA Period. If students bring large-eyed needles and scissors, it would be helpful.
1 hour
No fee
Demystifying "Snartemo" Tablet Weaving
Rosalind Ashworthe
We will be learning about the structure of the Snartemo technique, graph patterning and then weaving a sample. A solid understanding of basic TW techniques is needed. If you have an empty TW or inkle loom, you may bring it to class.
2 hours
Limit 5
Fee $1
Medieval Egyptian Socks, Part 2
Lady Susanna Lockheart
The Islamic patterned knitted socks in The Textile Museum are among the oldest extant knitted textiles. As such, they provide insights into early knitting as well as the footwear of the culture. Part 2 will be a hands-on session aimed at practicing the techniques while producing an adaptation of the extant socks. While any are welcome to audit, the class itself must be limited to knitters who are comfortable working in the round on double-pointed needles. There will be colorwork! Some kits will be available for $5, including #7 double-pointed needles and 2 colors of cotton worsted-weight yarn. Those wishing to bring their own supplies are welcome to do so.
1 hour
No limit (see description)
No fee (see description)