"early period" embroidery: two projects

Project: Embroidered EK Award of Arms for Lady Arnleif the Red.
The design was inspired by the words written by Maestra Dresden Pennello di Quadro Voce.
The red and yallow design is copied from a 12th century silver pendant unearthed in Kiev in 1906 (in the book: The Vikings Life, Myth, and Art by Tony Allan ISBN 0-7607-5369-5)
Materials: White linen fabric appliqued onto black blanket-weight wool using blanket stitch. Stem stitch with Paternaya wool thread. Blue and green (runes and spiral lines) done with silk thread in stem stitch. Amber glass seed beads and matte red glass beads, silver beads and freshwater pearls were sewn for accents.
Project: Blue twilled linen fight tunic, in the anglo-saxon style constuction.
Materials: White wool blanket-weight fabric appliqued and embroidered with Paternaya wool thread in the stem and back stitches. Rolled hems at neck, sleeves and bottom.

Close up of each sleeve design. The hind leg of the dog is now completed. My device is the bunny and his is the hound.


Documentation:
~Anglo-Saxon tunic Dark Age archeological evidence and construction by Historical Enterprises
~Viking Tunic Construction Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1997 Carolyn Priest-Dorman
~Viking embroidery Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1997 Carolyn Priest-Dorman
~AngloSaxon and Viking works Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1997 Carolyn Priest-Dorman
~Five Period embroidery stitches by Jane Stockton, Barony of Mordenvale, Kingdom of Lochac
~early period needlework online "EARLY PERIOD is published quarterly for the personal amusement of Fuiltigherne ni Ruadh O'Finn and for the advancement of early period arts, crafts, sciences and research. EARLY PERIOD deals in the pre-1066 A.D. topics of interest to persons with early period personae in the SCA or similar organizations."

Post edited 12/14/08.

flat weave trichinopoly, or viking wire weaving

I tend to delve into any Viking-related crafts I encounter. In this effort, so far trichinopoly (wire weaving) consumes most of my time. Probably because it is just so versatile.

I photograph the different chains and bracelets I create, but because the metal reflects quite a bit of the flash or ambient light, many of the pictures are not of very good quality.

Tools I use are in the first photo. A double weave 20 G copper necklace is being done on a pencil, which I have used as the mandrel. The second photo is a bracelet displayed on soap (another endeavor of mine :)













The photo at left is another bracelet I made using the flat weave method I learned at Pennsic 37 from an encampment neighbor. I found it very interesting. I have had little luck finding any sort of documentation for it on anything but wool, as a kind of trim. It is very striking visually. It would look rather fine as trim on a Birka-style coat or along the bottom of a hood.
To the left is the trim mentioned above – it is obviously unfinished. I used 28 G copper wire on felted, blanket-weight, black wool.
This is the backside. The curls are the ends and beginnings of wire pieces.






Documentation:
~British Museum - search for Hoxne hoard, Thetford treasure, Winchester hoard individually
~online pdf online by THL Lêofsige Õ Caoimh known as Lyssa October 2007
~wire pendant and the bibliography for class thankfully posted online (since I was unable to attend Hrim Schola last year)
~draw plate mine is made from horn. I have discovered that the cone shaped hole is made naturally by the force of the woven metal being pulled through .
~online pdf with a great bibliography and pictures of wire weaving as trim in fabric