Posament Handout Version 3

Pictures of the Birka posaments can be found at the Swedish History Museum website (http://historiska.se), along with a link to several resources, including Birka III (the textile finds).  

 

Posament group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/679673238710312/

 

Ethni has a lovely spreadsheet of posament finds, relevant links, and she has started adding tutorials.  http://eithni.com/posaments/

 

Tenntråd comes in various dimensions, with .30 mm being fairly common.  The percentage of silver versus pewter also varies.  I recommend the following links for purchasing it:  

Range of sizes and metals http://www.pewterofsweden.com/en/

Ethni’s etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheExcellentFrog?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Caid Populace Badges

Badges are displayed on a circle, and as people get pictures of them to me, or I draw them, I will update this.

Al-Sahid: Scorpion in yellow on a blue background.

Altavia:

Angels: All in gold, with no background color.

Calafia: The same but without the laurel wreath.

Carrag Wen: Purple crosses on a white background.

Darach: White background, surrounded by a blue border, and the acorn in black with the leaf to the right side.

Dreiburgen:

Dun Or: Just the tower, with the left side yellow and the right side blue, on no background color.

Gyldenholt:

Isles: The same, but without the laurel wreath.

Lyondemere: A yellow shell, and a green and white wavy background.

Naevehjem: Two yellow rings on a black background at the top, and a red ermine spot on a white background in the bottom two thirds of the circle.

Nordwache: A yellow phoenix on a blue tower, with no background color.

Starkhafn: A black coffin with a white eight pointed star.

Western Seas: Like the device, except it has a black clarion instead of the boat, and no laurel wreath.

                                Clarion:

Wintermist: Red snowflake with no background color.

Bayeux Tapestry Stitch/Laid and Couching Work Handout

 This is most often done to fill an area drawn onto fabric, which may have already been outlined using stem or split stitches.

As used in the Bayeux Tapestry

 

Step 1:  Lay single stitches from one edge of the area to another, passing slightly to the side under the fabric, before crossing the area again with a stitch from the opposite direction.  Repeat, keeping gaps between the laid threads as small as possible.

Step 2:  Lay single stitches across (perpendicular) the first stitches, in the same manner, leaving regularly spaced gaps between them. 

Step 3:  Couch the threads laid in step two by using a small stitch coming up from the back of the fabric to tie them down.  These should be offset from the previous line.

Norse Embroidery Stitches Updated Handout

 

Nalbinding Mammen Stitch

In progress translation: The gold band of the gentleman from Straubing-Alburg: Investigations of a leg wrap from the early Middle Ages

This is going to be done in pieces, and updated as I translate sections, to assist a friend who is making his own attempt at translating this article. If you have any feedback on my translation, please feel free to share it with me.



The gold band of the gentleman from Straubing-Alburg: Investigations of a leg wrap from the early Middle Ages
By Antja Bartel




On the Hochweg field in Straubing-Alburg, aside from numerous previous reports, examination was made of a grave containing five bodies buried at the same time (grave 493). The bodies had been obviously disturbed, though the golden ribbons on the legs of the second man from the left were discovered later (fig 1). They were in a block recovered, and brought for archaeological textile restoration to the Bavarian State Office for Conservative Care. Which two years earlier had investigated the golden braids of the Prince of Greding-Großhöbing (Germany) from Grave 143.




The present findings of leg wraps are unique so far. Observable grave items allowed the West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin (Poland) to make subject-specific examinations, and answer new questions. The goal was to assess gold undistorted by organic residues. If possible, also use concrete details to make an assignment whether they are gaiters, leggings, or spats.

Basic underdress/tunic pattern and construction

I made this for a friend, so his mom could make him more tunics that will fit like the ones I made him. Since a lot of people ask me what pattern I use, or how I do my armpit gussets and gores, I figured I should post it here.

The main part that changes based on the person is the width of the four rectangles, which depends on the widest part of the body (chest, belly or hips), divide the measurement by 4, then add 1 1/2 if you have small seam allowances, 2" for large or if you want it to be looser. The smaller rectangles which will become the gores use the same width, but the measurement from neck to waist is subtracted from the total desired length (49-24 = 25). I always use a 4" square armpit gusset. On the sleeve, the length is the measurement from the tip of the shoulder to the back of the hand. You can use the measurement around the upper arm for the width of the sleeve, but I taper them to the width around the wrist, because I like how they fit better.

This is how the pieces will go together.