Projects

I have quite many new projects in progress. Some of those are going to be surprises and I will publish them later. But I have been bitten by German brick stitch bug that has been very effective lately, as can be seen in other re-enactors blogs. Some time ago I started to make brick stitch using wool on linen. I went to Medieval Arts and Crafts blog and picked one of her patterns and started to make the embroidery.

But.. alas as a beginner I found all of my linen fabrics not good enough and I felt that wool was too hard material for me to use for this project and the pattern was too complicated. I finally find linen evenweave fabric that was little bit starched, which means that the fabric is stiffer and easier to use. I decided to use normal DMC cotton thread and I picked another easier pattern for my first project. When I have finished this one, I will buy silk which is more authentic for German brick stitch than cotton.

Here is also a picture of my madder knee high socks in progress.

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Minulla on tällä hetkellä muutamia erilaisia käsityöprojekteja työn alla. Osa niistä on vielä yllätyksiä, joten niistä myöhemmin :). Myös minua on purrut saksalaisen lasketun kirjonnan kärpänen, joka on lennellyt keskiajan elävöittäjien blogista toiseen jo useamman vuoden ajan. Löysin Medieval Arts and Crafts blogista kivan mallin ja aloitin kirjonnan villalla pellavakankaalle.

Mutta valitettavasti ensikertalaisena huomasin, ettei yksikään kaapissani ollut pellavakangas soveltunut kirjontaan, mikään ei ollut riittävän tasaista tai jäykkää. Villa jota käytin kirjontaan ei soveltunut työhön tai oli minulle ensikertalaisena liian vaikeaa käyttää ja malli liian vaikea. Lopulta löysin kangaskaupasta tasaista pellavakangasta, joka oli hieman tärkättyä, mikä tekee kankaasta jäykemmän ja helpomman kirjoa. Päätin kokeilla normaalia DMC puuvillakirjontalankaa tähän ensimmäiseen työhöni. Lisäksi valitsin vielä helpomman mallin. Seuraavalla kerralla voin tehdä sitten vaikka silkistä, joka on paljon autenttisempi materiaali tähän kirjontaan.

Tuossa ylhäällä on myös kuva mataran värisistä polvisukista, jotka ovat myös hieman edistyneet.

Questions about naalbinding

I have got some questions about naalbinding and how to make spiral start etc. Sanna-Mari Tonteri has made this fab pages about naalbinding http://sites.google.com/site/neulakinnas/ also you can follow her interesting blog here!

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Olen saanut kyselyitä neulakintaan tekemisestä mm. tuon pyöreän aloituksen. Sanna-Mari Tonteri on tehnyt upean sivuston aiheesta ja olen varma, että sieltä löytyy vastaus moniin aiheeseen liittyviin kysymyksiin. Lisää mielenkiintoisia juttuja löytyy hänen blogistaan!

After Christmas and New Year celebration

Yes, I was right I feel now more and more inspired. I have made plans for this year and it looks like I will be busy :D. I have couple of projects that I will start soon. And everything will be now a lot merrier when I opened one of my Christmas presents and there was the better camera that I have longed for! Now it is only up to me to learn how to use it.

My first naalbinded socks with round start are finished. I posted at October that I have learned how to make round start . Elsa got the socks for Christmas present.

I will start making new knee high socks using the round start for me soon. I bought wool from Elzebet at Dies St Anna event for the socks. She has hand dyed the wool with madder and it is very pretty. The socks will be great for my new garters also. I got these pretty garters with bronze spiral decorations from Sahra as Christmas present :). The graters are perfect Iron Age bling bling! Sahra has also hand dyed the wool with madder and the garter is based on findings at Kaarina Kirkonmäki cemetery (grave 27).

I have decorated my Birka coat with linen tablet woven band (also a gift but I got it at Academy) made by Tece. Now my coat looks more finished.

And I have started making Viking baggy pants for UlfR :D. But more about pants later I still have lots of sewing to do.

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Joulun ja uuden vuoden juhlien jälkeen olo on inspiroitunut ja rentoutunut. Ensi vuoden suunnitelmat on tehty ja kaikenlaista kivaa on luvassa. Muutamat projektit alkavatkin jo heti miten. Projektien valossa tilanne näyttää entistäkin hauskemmalta, kun sain lahjaksi uuden kameran, jota olenkin pitkään toivonut! Nyt täytyy vaan oppia käyttämään sitä kunnolla.

Ensimmäiset pyöreällä aloituksella tehdyt sukat (joiden aloittamisesta olikin jo lokakuussa juttua) ovat nyt valmiit ja annettu joululahjaksi Elsalle.

Seuraavaksi teen uudet polvimittaiset sukat itselleni pyöreällä aloituksella. Minulla onkin kaunista Elzebethin käsin mataralla värjäämää villalankaa sukkiin, jotka ostin Annanpäiviltä. Sukat sopivat sitten mahtavasi Sahralta joululahjaksi saatuihin pronssisipiralleilla koristeltuihin sukkanauhoihin. Nuo sukkanauhoihin käytetyt langat on Sahra myös itse käsin värjännyt mataralla. Ja sukkanauhojen malli on peräisin Kaarinan Kirkonmäen haudasta nro 27.

Olen koristellut joulun alla Birkan takkini pellavasta tehdyllä lautanauhalla. Sain lautanauhan lahjaksi ruotsalaiselta Teceltä Akatemiassa :). Nyt takkikin näyttää viimeistellymmältä!

UlfRille olen aloitellut hiljattain myös tekemään viikinkiaikaisia pussihousuja. Niistä myöhemmin lisä.

Luxury - Medieval bling bling and naalbinding

Week ago we went to Aboa Vetus to see the exhibition Luxury – Medieval bling bling with Elsa and Suski . We don’t get to see often this kind of exhibitions at Finland. The exhibition will be at Aboa Vetus till 16.1.2011. We have seen Aboa Vetus’s permanent exhibition many times. The Luxury exhibition on the other hand was a smallish addition to the permanent exhibition. Luxury exhibition is recommendable especially if one hasn’t seen the permanent exhibition. I was very happy to see all the texts in English, Swedish and Finnish! I will not put all the photos here because someone would want to see the items live (and because there weren’t that many things at the exhibition)… which doesn’t mean that there weren’t any exciting things.. but yeah.. you might read a tiny little disappointment between the lines ;). The photos will be at Flickr soon, if someone wants to see them and are not able to go there.

Last weekend we went to Medium Aevum Hollolense group’s party. Sahra and Liisa with Katariina and other helpers did once again very tasty food. While waiting the food I sat at the feast hall and tried naalbinding using my left hand. Yep, I can now make naalbinding (spiral and line) using my left hand!! So I might be able to teach some basics to people who are left handed :).

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Noin viikko sitten kävimme Elsan ja Suskin kanssa katsomassa Turun Aboa Vetuksen keskiajan ylellisyysnäyttelyn. Näyttely on vielä Aboa Vetuksessa nähtävillä 16.1.2011 asti. Koska olemme nähneet Aboa Vetuksen perusnäyttelyn monia kertoja lähes juoksimme sen läpi kunnes pääsimme itse asiaan. Ylellisyysnäyttely oli pienehkö lisä perusnäyttelyyn ja ihan käymisen arvoinen etenkin jos ei ole nähnyt perusnäyttelyä aikaisemmin. Oli hienoa nähdä, että näyttelyssä oli opasteet suomeksi, englanniksi ja ruotsiksi, joten sinne voisi viedä vaikka ulkomaalaisia vieraita. Tällä kertaa en laita kuvia blogiin, mutta Flickriin ne tulevat hetken päästä. Loppukaneettina todettakoon, että olimme odottaneet näkevämme vähän enemmän kamaa, mutta oli siellä muutama ihan hienokin juttu joukossa.

Viime viikonloppuna taas olimme Hollolan keskiaikaseuran karonkassa. Sahra, Liisa, Katariina ja muut ahkerat apurit tekivät jälleen kerran maittavaa ruokaa. Ruokaa odotellessa istuskelin pitosalissa ja aikani kuluksi treenasin neulakintaan tekemistä vasemmalla kädellä :D. Onnistuin yllättävän hyvin! Nyt voin opettaa alkeita myös sellaisille, jotka ovat vasenkätisiä.. sekä pyöreän että suoran aloituksen.

Naalbinding and spiral start

Yes, finally!

I came home today from Stick and stitches -event. At there I once again said to friends that no, I don't know how to make naalbinding using spiral start. Well I haven't tried to make spiral start for years. Now I tried and tadaa.. I know how to do it!!! I am so happy :D

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Niin.. vihdoin. Tulimme tänään kotiin Keppiä ja käsitöitä -tapahtumasta. Tapahtumassa jälleen kerran tuli sanottua, että ei en osaa tehdä pyöreää aloitusta neulakinnasmenetelmällä. Että osaan vaan sen suoran. Mutta jos totta puhutaan, en ole edes kokeillut (uskon puute kenties ollut esteenä) vuosiin sitä. Mutta nyt, aivan yllättäen ja ihan itte.. se on siinä. Että mahtavalle viikonlopulle hieno huipennus :D

Finding inspiration

I am not sure what to do next. We need new clothes (for example UlfR needs another braies) for Cudgel War (most of our clothes are old and not in very good shape). Or should I start something bigger… If so then I have to find out what I would want to do. Renaissance still interests me most. I think I will make something for Cudgel Wars and start the bigger projects after that. There are only about month left to the event. We need new “summer” nalbinded socks so I have started to make them for UlfR and I.

Yesterday I ordered first time by myself fabric from Handelsgillet . I ordered red thin wool and white linen. I decide that I’ll do a new Flemish peasant underdress for me and this time it will be woollen and I will make two lacing rows at backside (not one), because that way it’ll be more authentic I think. I was thinking about making a simple new linen partlet for me also for the Cudgel.

Also I am very exited about the news that Helena is going to held a class about fitting Herjolfsnes dress at Cudgel War. I am really looking for that :D.

Btw the biggest news is that a miracle has happen! I cut UlfR’s braies and he has started to hand sew it. Before this he has only done some emergency sewing for his fighting gear. I have a photo to prove this miracle:

I am so happy and proud about UlfR he’s the best ;).

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Inspiraatio on ollut häiden jälkeen vähän kateissa. Olen yrittänyt katsella kuvia ja miettiä mitä sitä haluaisi tehdä seuraavaksi. Me tarvitaan uusia vaatteita Nuijasotaan se on varma. Uffe tarvitsee toiset braiesit (suurin osa meidän vanhoista vaatteista on huonossa kunnossa.. johtuen ehkä siitä että niitä on käytetty lähinnä keittiöhommissa). Toisaalta mietin, pitäisikö aloittaa jotain suureellisempaa. Jos niin sitten pitäisi tietää mitä. Renessanssi kiinnostaa yhä kuitenkin eniten. Ehkä teenkin niin, että teen jotain ”pientä” Nuijasotaa varten ja aloitan isommat projektit Nuijasodan jälkeen. Tapahtumaan kun on vain noin kuukausi jäljellä.

Eilen tilasin ensimmäistä kertaa omin päin Handelsgilletistä kangasta. Tilasin punaista ohutta villaa ja valkoista pellavaa. Päätin, että tarvitsen/haluan uuden flaamilaisen maalaisnaisen aluspuvun ja tällä kertaa teen sen paljon oikeammalla tavalla villasta ja siten, että taakse tulee kaksi nyöririviä yhden sijaan. Lisäksi voisin tehdä itselleni yksinkertaisen toisen valkoisen partletin Nuijasotaa varten.

Nuijasota tulee kohta ja olen erittäin innoissani uutisista. Helena on pitämässä Nuijasodassa työpajaa Herjolfsnes-mekon sovittamisesta. Todella upeeta!

Asiasta toiseen, suurin ja mahtavin uutinen on se, että ihme on tapahtunut! Leikkasin Uffelle braiesit ja hän aloitti ompelemaan niitä käsin, ihan itse! Tätä ennen Uffe on tehnyt vain lähinnä hätä ompeleita rottinkitaisteluvarusteisiinsa. Tuossa ylhäällä on valokuva ihmeestä.

Olen muuten aika iloinen ja ylpeä tästä maailman parhaimmasta ja mukavimmasta miehestä ;).

Dies St Anna

We were at Dies St Anna last weekend. During our SCA history we have missed only one Dies St Anna event and that was last year. We were helping Sahra and Knut weekend before their wedding. And our first Dies St Anna was in the year 1998 (if I remember right…we waited and were at the Society almost one year before we had enough courage to go to an event). I will never forget that event! And also I do remember this one for long time I’m sure! We were happy to have little snow in the ground so it wasn’t as dark as some year it has been. We had a small market (a chance to buy Christmas presents), baking competition and people made their handicrafts etc. Food was very tasty and the company excellent. What can I say, it was one fine event and I am still smiling.

Last week I made naalbinded mittens to Sigrid as I had promised to her to make her the mittens almost year ago. I started to do the mittens and I made them at Summer Coronation, but there were too many flaws that I wanted to start over. Now I have made mittens that have no visible flaws in it. And it is the first time I manage to do that.

Next weekend Jon is coming to visit us. I was thinking about maybe to cook medieval food and serve Elsebeth’s pepper cookies and made Claret or Ypogras using her spice mixtures. I will also concentrate on making the tunics for my Dad and little brother to wear at our wedding… I have started to make them already. Only five working days left until Christmas holiday!

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Annanpäivät ovat nyt takanapäin. SCA -harrastuksemme aikana olemme missanneet ainoastaan yhdet Annanpäivät, viime vuonna, jolloin olimme auttamassa Sahraa ja Knuuttia häävalmisteluissa. Ja jos muistan oikein, niin olimme Annanpäivillä ensimmäistä kertaa vuonna 1998. Ehdimme olla seurassa mukana lähes vuoden ennen kuin uskalsimme lähteä ensimmäiseen keskiaikatapahtumaamme. Olimme iloisia kun ulkona oli vähän lunta, ei ollut tällä kertaa niin pimeää kuin aikaisempina vuosina. Annanpäivillä järjestettiin viime hetken mahdollisuus ostaa joululahjoja. Lisäksi meillä oli leivontakilpailu ja tehtiin yhdessä käsitöitä ja niin edespäin. Ruoka oli mahdottoman hyvää ja seura loistavaa. Kaiken kaikkiaan jäi todella hyvä mieli tapahtumasta.

Viime viikolla sain aikaiseksi tehdä Sigridin neulakinnaslapaset, jotka olin luvannut tehdä hänelle jo melkein vuosi sitten. Itse asiassa alotin tekemään lapasia ja teinkin niitä kesällä Ruotsissa kesän kruunajaisissa, mutta tein niihin niin paljon virheitä, että en ollut tyytyväinen lopputulokseen. Nyt ollaan sitten kuitenkin päästy siihen tilanteeseen, että näissä uusissa lapasissa ei ole yhtään näkyvää virhettä, mikä tarkoittaa sitä, että edistystä on vuoden aikana tullut :D..

Jonttu tulee viikonloppuna kyläilemään. Ajattelin, että jos olisin ahkera, voisin ehkä tehdä jotain keskiaikaista ruokaa pitkästä aikaa. Voisin tarjota myös Elsebethin pippuripipareita ja tehdä Elsebethin valmiista mausteseoksesta Claret tai Ypogras- viinejä. Tästä edespäin pitänee myös keskittyä enemmän häävaatevalmisteluihin, isälle ja pikkuveljelle olen jo aloittanut tekemään tunikoita. Enää viisi työpäivää niin pääsee lomalle!!

Knee lenght socks

Last night I finished my third naalbinded socks. The socks are knee lenght and warm and they are made with using the Finnish stitch. Now the winter can come!
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Sain valmiiksi eilen kolmannet neulakinnassukat. Sukat ovat polvimittaiset ja lämpöiset. Tein sukat suomalaisella pistolla. Nyt saa talvi tulla!

Stick and stitches

Last weekend we went to Stick and stitches event. It was the first event for Village of Routakero but everything went so smoothly that it felt like they have done this before. UlfR was more than pleased about having a chance to play with sticks. All in all they spend almost 6 hours in armours. At the same time others made their unfinished handicraft projects and start new ones.. also Sahra taught different naalbinding techniques for those who were interested. I spent most of the time making my new naalbinded knee length socks (pictures coming soon). It was very relaxing event, good food, good company, enough sleep :D. Ah.. and the mushroom pie was excellent!! For this event UlfR had new braies and new chausses to wear and new shoes. Also he has new woollen leg wraps, but I have to fix them little bit before he can wear them. I am trying to write a separate post about this as soon as I have time. Now there are only three weeks before Dies St Anna event. I am not going to make anything new for the event.. Instead I am going to (trying to) relax and do some cleaning here (I heard a rumour that Christmas is coming, maybe not yet but soon…).

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Viime viikonlopun vietimme Keppiä ja käsitöitä tapahtumassa. Tapahtuma oli Routakeron kylälle ensimmäinen, joskaan se ei tuntunut siltä, koska kaikki sujui niin mallikkaasti. UlfR oli enemmän kuin innoissaan päästessään harjoittamaan keppijumppaa (rottinkitaistelua). Kaiken kaikkiaan taistelijat viettivätkin lähes kuusi tuntia haarniskoissaan. Samaan aikaan me muut teimme sisällä keskeneräisiä käsitöitä ja aloitimme uusia.. unohtamatta Sahran mainiota neulakinnasopetusta (tarjolla oli mahdollisuus oppia useita eri pistoja). Minä taas tein uusia polvimittaisia neulakinnassukkiani (joista kuvia lähettelen heti kun sukat ovat valmiit). Tapahtuma oli rentouttava, oli hyvää ruokaa, mainiota seuraa ja sain riittävästi unta (mikä on harvinaista) :D… ja päivällisellä tarjottu sienipiirakka oli todella hyvää!! Tätä tapahtumaa varten tein UlfR:lle uudet braies-tyyppiset miesten (alus)housut ja villaiset lahkeet, lisäksi olimme tilanneet hänelle uudet kengät. Ja uudet jalkarätitkin olisi, villaiset, mutta niitä pitää vielä vähän fiksata ennen kuin niitä voi käyttää. Ajattelin kirjoitella näistä lisää heti kun on enemmän aikaa. Annanpäiviin (seuraavaan tapahtumaan) on enää kolme viikkoa aikaa. En ajatellut tehdä mitään uutta Annanpäiviä varten.. sen sijaan ajattelin yrittää ottaa rennosti ja siivoilla täällä (koska Joulu on kuulemma kohta tulossa).

22.10.

I decide not to write about last weekend and the things that I have been doing yet. I want to do more research first. I still have a major problem with starting to make something new and make research after that. It would be better to try to learn as much as possible before starting to make things. But it is sometimes too easy just to start making something after seeing some pictures or somebody wearing something at the event and only after that start finding more information about the item. Maybe I think that I am in hurry and I have to start making something and I think that I don’t have time to open books and internet… I have to promise myself to read more and start at the beginning..

I mean that at first there is a thought about the thing I want to make, let’s say it is a certain type of tunic from some certain time period. Ok, so I want to make this tunic.. now I will not go to my fabric boxes and start making it… instead of I will open a book and internet and try to find information about it. After that I will decided what type of seams I want to make. And after that I’ll find the fabric and the sewing thread. And if it needs a pattern I’ll make one.

Blaa blaa… anyway, the second naalbinded hat (made using the Oslo stitch) is done. I made it last weekend. There are no pictures abut it because it is a gift for somebody who might read this. I am aware that I should be doing things for our wedding… and I have already done something but not enough. For these projects I have made research before starting to do things.. but not enough yet.

Tomorrow I will go to Helsinki Book Fair with Tofa like last year. And next weekend is going to be once again Lahti Handicraft Fair and we are going to be there with Medium Aevum Hollolense re-enactment group. It’s going to be more than awesome!! So I’ll go to pack things and go to bed.

My first attempt to make Oslo stitch (naalbinding)

The first hat is done. Sahra was right about it is very fast technique! It took only some hours (maybe 4) to make a hat. It is a lot easier than the Finnish stitch I have used but also as they told the structure of the “knitting” is looser. I used quite thick thread and tried to keep the loops as tight as possible.. so I don’t think that this hat is going to stretch too much. I don’t know how to make the start using the Oslo stitch…. so I used the Finnish style for that.

So why suddenly start practising the Oslo stitch? Well our friends Suski and Minttu went to European Textil Forum http://www.textilforum.org and after that they have been teaching the Oslo stitch. Textil Forum was held at the same time than our Investiture (otherwise I would have probably gone there). Today I was surfing in Internet and I end up reading Phiala’a blog (who also have wonderful web pages http://www.stringpage.com/ ) and I found out that she was at the Textil Forum also! And the last picture she had posted in her blog, I found some familiar faces… Suski and Minttu http://stringpage.com/blog/?p=355 :D. There are more photos at the Textil Forum web pages also.

Next thing is to finish the Giant pants I am currently making… but more about those surprisingly huge pants soon!

Turku Medieval Market

We are back from Turku Medieval Market with lots of new things. I now have for example a new back basket. I am very tired and somewhat in pain now and I don’t know why because I have slept a lot during the weekend.. it might be the warm weather? UlfR has asked twice today that why I am sighing all the time… (I don’t know… I haven’t noticed about doing that…and he is sighing also). But anyway I had a wonderful weekend with wonderful people at Turku. Sigrid’s mittens are almost done (only thumbs are not done). I started to do a naalbinded hat for me for next time we are sleeping at a tent. Ahh.. I can't write more today my brains are not working :). But here is some pictures..

Sahra and me at the Market with our new strawhats

Elsa making a cord with lucet

Computer problems solved and socks

I am so happy that our computer is finally fixed, thanks Robert! The problems took too long in my opinion (over a month). It is very frustrating when you can’t use your computer at home. It feels like you are missing a limb or something. I have to admit that I am that I am very much hooked on computers. But anyway yesterday Elsa and Robert take a short visit to us. It was very nice to have quests (we seldom have). They promised to come to visit us more often, next time after two weeks :D. Elsa and I made plans for Elsa’s dress and for her Flemish kerchief. And plans for lots of other things. Today I finally made my order for some of the fabrics for our wedding dresses. I am still thinking about ordering some very light weight hemp and some medium hemp for our shirts. Ordering the fabrics from the internet was the biggest order for me this far (from internet I mean), so I am looking for very anxious what’s going to happen.

My first naalbinded socks are done. I made the socks last weekend for me (to wear at summer with the Viking shoes). I have started to make socks for Ulf also. Sahra is making at the moment a woollen cloak with real wolf fur decorations for Ulf. She is thinking about having it done till Summer Coronation. Can’t wait to see the finished cloak..

The Mooseskiing, Viking Clothing and Flu

After the Mooseskiinig (eight days ago) I got a bad flu and I couldn’t do anything except sleep and watch TV. I still have this week off from work and my fever is almost gone so I can stay little bit at the computer and write something. 

The Mooseskiing was very fun event. I missed the actual Mooseskiing but I heard that it was very cool. The idea was something about the populace of canton of Torna had made elfs angry and the people at the event had to do different tasks so we could get dinner. And at the end they tried to kill the moose (made of snow) with spears. Later during the feast the moose appeared to the feast hall and it yelled and pooped golden chocolate eggs. Very extraordinary :D. I am not sure if the Torna people have now made the moose angry or what. Ok.. but anyway there was some heavy fighting as well and a archery competition. It was the first archery competition for me (I was miserably bad.. only hit once to the sack … but not the animal figure at the sack which I was supposed to shoot). And it was Ulf’s first time to try archery also and he liked it very much. Now I have to start talking about buying the bow and arrows to us :D. Our (Sahra’s and mine) handicraft workshops went also well. We end up cutting a Eura style under dress for the baroness Katariina and Rikissa and Elzebeth got their patterns for the dress also. I taught little bit naalbinding to Kaukameeli and Sahra was very busy with teaching the tablet woven basics for Torna’s young ladies. And what about the food! I was absolutely fantastic!! Very simple ingredients, enough spices lots of Laplander touch at the menus.  

The journey to the event and back was also easier and funnier than I thought. It took about 9 hours in one way to travel. We went to the event with Robert and Vilhelm (Robert was driving) by car. So I had plenty of time to do things. I started to do a naalbinded hat for Vilhelm (as I had promised couple months ago). Here is footage about the progress of making the hat while going to the event and back again: 

8th of April at 11.30 a.m.

at 3.43 p.m.

at 5.35 p.m.

11th of April at 6.41 p.m. ... Done

Besides the apron (and a headdress) I now have a set of Viking Finn outfit. The white linen Eura style under dress is a little bit too long and I am going to fix it as soon as I can. My blue wool upper dress is very good and I am happy about it. Still I am planning to put some bronze spirals to the end of the tablet woven decoration. I am very happy with the brown wool Eura style under dress also (unfortunately I don’t have very good pictures about the dress yet). I can wear the linen and the brown dress together with or without the blue over dress, or separate with the blue over dress. How versatile!

Back home, before the flu, Ulf and I put together my Eura style necklace. I am planning to change some of the glass beads to the better ones as soon as I can. It is very pretty, but looks too “clean” to me. Oh, and I almost forget… I bought the bronze brooches and some bronze chain from Thorstein at the event.

9.3.

We attended to Hukka Spring Ball last weekend and I think that it was our first Hukka Spring Ball event ever (it's hard to remember.. but I am quite sure). That is because we don’t usually dance... well we can dance some very easy dances but that’s it. Anyway it is a very good event for people who love dancing. I spend most of my time at kitchen. Well there weren’t so many things to do and it was pretty easy job. I had also enough time to finish Elsa’s mittens. The weekend’s result: lots of new books (mainly about embroidery patterns or making embroidery), finished mittens, cheerful feeling, increased courage in driving at Helsinki area and a notice that my old dark woollen gown needs some serious fixing if I want to use it again.. I have almost worn it out. So more excuses for making new dresses :D.

The most interesting news I read today was about this perfume bottle from about 1350 and especially the findings of cotton wadding inside of the bottle:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/feb/14/perfume-bottle-erfurt

Winter Eve

Last weekend we went to traditional Winter Eve event hosted by canton of Humalasalo. It was a small and very warmhearted event. And we really enjoyed every minute of it (it was the first Winte Eve event for us). At Friday I started to make naalbinded mittens for Elsa and the mittens are now half done. I also promised to do some other naalbinded thigs for friends (good way to practise). At Saturday Ulf attended to heavy fighting tournamet with his new heavy fighting gear and the new tunic. I was happy to have time to watch the whole tournamet it was the third tournament in over ten years that I have watched from at the beginning to the end (I am usually doing something else at the kitchen or thigs like that). The tournament was very finely organized and the tournament herald made it amusing. And of course I was happy to see Ulf’s progress in heavy fighting.. he was very good at time to time and in the end he came second (Lord Oliver was the winner). I didn’t have any “boring moments” at the event. And I think that it was because I had things to do with me. I didn’t even go to take a nap during the day.

I promised at the event to send the Flemish kerchief web page address... so here it is:

http://www.heatherspages.net/flemish_kerchief.htm

Mittens and a new book

My first naalbinded mittens and the second mittens (Ulf's) are done:

My mittens (with funny looking thumbs :D)


Ulf's mittens

It is very difficult to make two exactly same looking mittens.

And this new book arrived yesterday. I am very excited about this one..

30.1.

Short update...

Life has been very hectic during this week. I spent two days at Lahti (at work related education days). So I had lot time to do naalbinding. My first mittens are done... something weird happen and I figured out by myself how to do thumbs. Just like that... well maybe not... Suski told me that I just have to start doing it the same way I started to do the mittens at the beginning. Ulf's mittens are halfway finished and I have started to make nalbindeed socks for me. And during my visit at Lahti I stayed at Sahra's and I had a change to look how to make heels for the socks. I am pretty sure that I can make heels without any additional help because I figured out how to make thumbs also. And I am not afraid to make mistakes :)

Today we are going to Helsinki to play roleplaying games with friends and I have SKA board meeting at Sunday.

15.12.

No miracles for me this time. I have had problems with my shoulder again (somekind of inflammation) and I have tried to stay away from my unfinished gown. And writing is not doing any good for my shoulder either. But I am trying to stay in positive mood.

Sahra’s and Knut’s wedding last weekend was a very beautiful event (sad that I don’t have any photos about them but there are some pictures at Sahra’s blog: http://hibernaatio.blogspot.com/ ) . I hope that she will put some close ups about the wedding gowns for her blog. 

I am at sick leave from work until Thursday. So I have some time to slowly clean our house for the Christmas and bake things for next weekend’s party. 

And one more photo... aboutUlf’s Christmas present (one f them) the naalbinded hat which is done :). 

Clay idols and not so much progress with the gown

Looks like I might need a miracle soon if I want to have my Flemish open-fronted gown ready for Sahra's and Knut's wedding (I have ten days left..). The bodice is ready, but I haven't cut the skirt and the lining for it yet. Hmm.. I will have to do some cutting today. Next weekend we are going to Lahti to help Sahra and Knut so as soon as I have done the cutting part I can start sewing and I can sew as long as my hands let me :D. But I have made some progress with my first naalbinded mittens (yeppee!), but I will not continue doing those and other things (except Ulf's hat) before the wedding. Anyway I want also to do some onion jam today :) The recipe is not period... I have promised to me to have time to make some onion jam and fig jam (this is not medieval either) for Christmas.

Last weekend we (Ulf&I) went to Kotka (our old hometown) to visit our relatives. At Sunday was also my mom's birthday so I spend most of the Saturday with her (not because it is my "duty" but because I really don't remember the last time I have been at Kotka at my mom's birthday). After some shopping we went to the Maritime Centre Vellamo <http://www.merikeskusvellamo.fi> . The Main Exhibition of Museum of Kymenlaakso is at the same building as well. The museums are interesting but I think that there isn't much to see for the person who is mostly interested in Viking/medieval/renaissance things. And as usually happen… there was too little information available about the items.

Mysterious clay idols from Comb Ceramic period (more photos in Flickr)