Medieval Archeology Online
The Society of Medieval Archeology has just put volumes 1-50 of Medieval Archeology online. In toto. That’s 1957-2006. I will definitely be spending some time on their site. Continue reading Medieval Archeology Online
Author: Greet Gijsberts
Greet Gijsberts is a persona created to play in the Society for Creative Anachronism. She authors this blog in order to document her projects and adventures, and share them with a wider audience.
Linen hose
Above-the-knee linen hose. Made of the same stuff as my smocked apron. I haven’t finished the top edge yet – not sure how and where to cut them off. I’ll probably work on it at Saltare, where I plan to wear them. A quick recap of 14thc garb, linen version: Hair – Sewn-up doubled plaits, as in AOTC listpic. CHECK.Shift – Still wearing my very first ‘made from a diagram not a pattern’ cotton shift. Must replace soon with a linen version that has a smooth hemline. But daggy hemline doesn’t show.Hose – Almost CHECK.Shoes – CHECK.Pattens – Still to … Continue reading Linen hose
St. Distaff’s Day
St. Distaffs Day is January 7, the day after the Epiphany, a churchfestival celebrated in commemoration of the visit of the Wise Men ofthe East to Bethlehem. As this marked the end of the ChristmasFestival, work with the distaff was commenced, hence the name, St.Distaffs Day. It is also called "Roc Day" in Scotland, rock being another name fordistaff. "Roc-ing Day" was a feasting day when friends and neighborsmet together in the early days of the New Year to celebrate the end ofthe Christmastide Festival. ST. DISTAFF’S DAYAs the first free day after the twelve by which Christmas was formerly … Continue reading St. Distaff’s Day
Spliced cord
I’m getting ready for Saltare, and using the event as a deadline for some new accessories. This here is a new drawstring pouch, which is more appropriate for my 14thc versatile gown than my leather pouch. (Also the leather pouch won’t work on the dainty loveliness that is my apprentice belt. I think the leather pouch has been Overcome by Events, and didn’t even last a year. Oh well.) I used the wool bits I got out of that thrifted men’s wool blazer (remember my detachable sleeves?) and some blue wool/silk embroidery floss that I originally thought I might use … Continue reading Spliced cord
Sampling quandry
This is the same picture as yesterday, which excited some fiber-geek-type discussion. You need to know that weavers generally ‘sample’ their projects before doing a lot of work on them, much like knitters knit a swatch. Although I’m a great believer in swatching, and of washing one’s swatch as one wants to be able to wash one’s finished object, I am so new to weaving, and am unlikely to put these particular yarns together again (many were gifts, and I just wanted to put something on the loom), that I skipped the sampling bit. I figured that if the … Continue reading Sampling quandry
The uses of cotton
(Disclaimer: I have no real idea of how cotton was used in period. The following is based on my own observations and experiments.) "Cotton kills." That’s what they say in mountainy places. Now that I’ve been playing with linen and wool enough to have a few garments to test different combinations, I’m starting to understand why. Cotton absorbs fluid really fast, and holds it well. This is great for diapers and sanitary pads, but really awful in cold weather, and I’m learning not so great in hot. The weave makes a lot of difference, too. I have a plain-weave, tightly … Continue reading The uses of cotton
It’s sock season
Temps this morning dipped to 28. On the beach. I was sitting here in my enclosed-porch-office wishing I had a pair of fingerless mitts (it was 55 in the office) and that I knew where my one pair of wool socks was. (They are now found.) I am wearing a hat. I have been experimenting with my various garments in this cold and blustry spell, and have discovered that the only thing cotton is good for is (A) a tightly woven windbreaker and (B) diapers. More on cotton later. Really. I wear my cotton athletic socks with my running shoes … Continue reading It’s sock season
Holiday wrap
Just a quick post to sum up what I managed to do over the holidays. (Note to self: Close office from Dec 24 to Jan 1. Just give in.) Added about 20" to my weaving project. This brings the total to 51" woven so far. I warped on 5.5 yards, so there’s a LONG way to go. 20" represents 1 day’s spinning, which yielded 8 plied bobbins of semi-worsted yarn. (Carded, not combed…but I haven’t figured out how to ‘spin woolen’ versus ‘spin worsted’. I think I’m probably spinning worsted.) Bluebonnet gown is wearable. Yes, I want to see a … Continue reading Holiday wrap
Mulled Cider
Now that temps have finally dropped on the Gulf Coast (~28 F this morning), it’s time for hot drinks. My aunt Amanda brought a wonderful cider to our Christmas, and I fooled with the recipe some more. Here’s my version, with some cost data too: Greet’s Mulled Cider Total cost (outside of household spices) ~$4/per batch for the cheap version, and $8/per batch for the real cider + liquid honey version. Prep: 5 min. Cook: 45 min. 4 cups water2 tsp ground allspice (you can substitute nutmeg if you’ve just used all the allspice on gingerbread)1 cinnamon stick (3 inches)Dash … Continue reading Mulled Cider
Plimoth Stockings
(Hey! It’s not a garb post! Yes, I know someone will wear these stockings, but my interest in them is not as clothing for me or Daan….come on, I gotta take it where I can find it. This is a Break From Garb.) I volunteered to help knit stockings for the garbification of the costumed docents at Plimoth Plantation. Gabrielle brought me a kit with yarn and instructions at Magna Fair, and the following Monday I swatched the yarn. It’s interesting yarn. Came on cones, is clearly two-ply, with rather a lot of extra twist energy. An itchy wool. I … Continue reading Plimoth Stockings