Weld and Woad are historically important when it comes to natural dyeing. It’s a peculiar quirk of natural dyes that no one dyestuff produces a good, true green. The only way to achieve green is by overdyeing a yellow dyed yarn with a blue. For centuries weld and woad was the go to combination in…
Tablet weaving is a technique for making braids and bands. It uses tablets or cards to create the shed through which the weft is passed. It dates back millennia and was much used by the Vikings to create trims around their overwise plain garments. I have had a dabble before with mixed results. But now…
Woodturning has been a quiet itch waited to be scratched for a while now. Since before the move last year. It was one of the reasons for wanting a ‘proper’ workshop (with cottage attached). The main aim for this woodturning itch, as well as the challenge for its own sake, is to be able to…
We all need a proper tool shed. Although, after clearing A LOT of crap, the workshop had plenty of space. But there was no organised space for tools and chicken feed. The obvious place was directly in front of the main entrance. A door to the left leads into the workshop proper with the ‘storeroom’…
So last time in Part One we were looking at Textiles in Medieval Wills and finding primary source evidence of the value put on clothing and other textiles in bequests. There were gowns, some lined in fur, kirtles, sheets and smocks a-plenty and it was proof positive that these items were of worth. These transcripts…
So, textiles in Medieval Wills. What’s all this about? Sometimes you go looking for something but end up finding something else, something that you didn’t even know that you were looking for. It started with an idea to unearth some pre-industrial wills to look at how frequently clothing and textile items came up in bequests.…
Distaff Day, also called St Distaff’s Day although there’s no actual saint involved, falls on the 7th January, The day after Epiphany and the end of the twelve days of Christmas celebrations.. Traditionally it was the day when women went back to their household duties and once again took up their distaffs and spindles to…
This is a lovely, slightly wonky and very old little crochet blanket. It’s about 120cm square. It was found bundled into a box outside a charity shop a few years ago. Perhaps because of its wonkiness, felting and seams coming open it was only a couple of pounds, probably destined for nothing more than a…
What a year it’s been. And it’s not over yet. Time for some stash busting. But, if (like Tom Daley) you knit and/or crochet you have an invaluable resource to help you get through these strange times. It is creative, labour intensive and mindful, perfect for long winter days when there’s nowhere else to be.…
The Great Wheel, or Walking Wheel, was the first spinning wheel used in Europe. It is a spindle wheel, working on the same principles as wheels already known in the East for cotton spinning and adapted for wool spinning. This lady, depicted in the Luttrell Psalter, is spinning on a great wheel whilst her friend…