Joke of All Trades

  I'm excited to finally share this! For a recent gift exchange with a group of friends, I decided to make something special for my recipient-- something that would serve her new kit as an 11th century Norman noblewoman well for many years. The idea was generally to use what materials I had in my workshop. This is a reconstruction of an 11th century pilgrim bag, which were ubiquitous during this time period among the pious Christians of Europe. The design is seen in an 11th century fresco painted at the Novalesa Abbey in Turin, Italy, which depicts St. Eldrad-- a man who was born in France and made the pilgrimage to the site, eventually becoming a beloved abbot. St. Eldrad was wealthy before he accepted the monastic life; this fresco depicts him dropping his very ornate bag and accepting the abbey raiment. It provides a unique snapshot into the sort of fancy bag an 11th century wealthy European might have. I based the construction materials on another bag which was found at York an...

This is the first non-historical weave I've ever done! A short scarf, a Christmas present for my mother. She is allergic to wool, so I used synthetic worsted weight yarn and wove a 2/2 twill in her favorite colors. The pattern is a sort of almost-plaid I drew out, and it was a joy to weave. The fringes are finished with knots and will fray over time without unraveling the weave. It was wet-set and given a minor fulling to bring out that plushy feeling. And yes, she loved it!

Here we have a recreation of a "Birka bag," a type of shoulder pouch colloquially called a "Hedeby bag" based on the better-known finds of bag brackets at Hedeby during the Viking Age. This particular bag is based upon the aquatic find at Birka of what is believed to be the same kind of wooden bag brackets, for which there has been a plethora of finds abroad of all sorts of shapes and sizes. They appear to function just like those found at Hedeby and elsewhere-- all of them are remarkably similar in design. These brackets are carved from red oak, shaped by hand, and sealed in teak oil to bring out the natural luster of the wood. The bag's exterior is made from vintage 20th century fine lightweight wool in a 2/2 black and white herringbone twill. The interior lining is linen, the bright color simulating the vibrant hue one might get from a weld and woad overdye-- one of my favorites. It is hand-sewn to the brackets using green worsted wool yarn, and hemmed using ...

The workshop has lost its first and oldest guardian. Bella has been with me for 13 years, since before I even knew how to sew or paint. She has been in my lap the whole way, and since I started this page she has been here to bless each project as it goes out the door. She passed yesterday while by my side, after a very fortunate few days of getting to spend time together. Before she left, she had a chance to bless one last project. I am forever grateful for her presence for so long in my life. Rest in peace, Bella. The workshop will never be the same.