I have a new loom! Isn’t she beautiful? I’m starting a new project! I’m giddy with excitement! Keep reading to learn more about what I’m up to.
Contains articles related to viking rus research and exploration.
I have a new loom! Isn’t she beautiful? I’m starting a new project! I’m giddy with excitement! Keep reading to learn more about what I’m up to.
How would you like to know what’s on my loom right now? August was an insanely busy month for me both professionally and personally. My focus was simply surviving and trying not to drop too many balls. Sadly, the big floor loom was naked for all of that month. An air of reproachfulness emanated from the loom room as she doesn’t like being undressed. Good thing that room has a door that can be closed. But,…
Last summer I wove a pair of leg wraps in a color combination that particularly appeals to me, blue and orange, and, recently, I took the time to wet-finish the cloth and hand finish the ends. This is the result.
This weekend I wet-finished and hemmed the blue/yellow leg wraps I had recently taken off the loom. Very pleased with how they look.
Its been four months since I finished the cloth for the Rus kaftan and, this past Sunday, I finally made time to beam a new weaving project on my floor loom – a pair of leg wraps (wicklebanders or winningas) in dark blue and yellow for a viking reenactor friend.
Several years ago, a friend taught me to naalbind using what is commonly known as the mammen stitch. Naalbinding is an ancient needle looping technique that predates knitting for string manipulation. It was used in the Viking age, but also dates to ancient Egypt, I believe.
My big project for last year’s season was to begin to put together a better encampment kitchen setup. I made some good progress and expect to continue to work on it this year. Here is a gallery of photos showing what we were up to. I hope you enjoy these pictures.
Yesterday, I pulled the Rus kaftan cloth off the loom. There is something so lovely about an armful of handwoven yardage. I prepped the cloth for wet finished by pulling out the float warps (I use fishing line), checking for snags, and snipping off loose threads. I cut a piece off to save for my weaving notebook and tossed the entire lot into the washing machine. A few of might be horrified to know…
I am so pleased to have completed the weaving of the Rus kaftan cloth warp. Started back in April, this cloth posed unexpected challenges and new learning opportunities. The finished woven length is 11 and 2/3 yards. I had hoped to make 12 yards even, but that was not to be as one of the sheds became too narrow to throw even my low profie shuttle through it. Through out the weaving, I consistantly struggled…
