Robin did such a fantastic job recreating this Distaff! If you want to spin with your own Lendbreen Distaff or any of the other amazing reproductions Robin has crafted, you can find them in his shop here -----> (affiliate) shrsl.com/2sgy1 So many people are suggesting tucking the distaff into a belt and I love all the suggestions! I wanted to talk about that idea. Medieval pictures frequently show a distaff that is tucked into the belt of the spinner. Those pictures are not Norse though, and this distaff is. The closest parallel to this Lendbreen distaff would be the Osberg Burial Ship distaff which has a very similar design. If the Lendbreen distaff was functionally similar to the Osberg distaff, then it would be held in hand as the Osberg distaff was. As it is, it is too short to tuck into a belt, and too heavy to tie to the wrist, so it must be held in hand. Perhaps the metal pin attached an extension? We just don't know for sure. The archeology team from this discovery was speculating that the pin held a decorative globe at the bottom. My personal guess is for a counter weight.
I don't think there was a counterweight attached to the distaff, as it would have become heavier by additional weight. I do believe at the bottom of the distaff was some kind of thing, that helped with resting the distaff by the waist, maybe holding it in place directly on the body of the spinner, or within a sort of anchor on a belt worn around the waist. It is known that also a special technique for knitting was used, when women knitted while walking. With this technique, they rest one of the knitting needles' end in their belt. So maybe the sort of rested the distaff in a similar way in their belt. This actually would make sense, because then they wouldn't have to deal with the weight at all and their hands would be free for spinning work. Just imagine holding the heavy dstaff all day long and every day while spinning.
That's what I was thinking, too. There's a TH-cam series by Crow Productions or something, the video to look for is Getting Dressed in the 14th century, and they say something about putting a distaff through the belt to leave the hands free for spinning.
My Lendbreen distaff from DancingGoats arrived yesterday. Wonderful example of the woodworker's art. I noticed that the design has changed. There is now a ridge below the hexagonal piece. It makes the distaff more comfortable to hold.
I believe that the reason the lowest part is flared for putting under the upper arm. I haven’t tried it, but my husband is making one for me and that is how we’ve designed it for that reason. Also, if you measured your body dimensions carefully, you could wear a wrap/belt that the end of could be tucked into to help support the weight of the whole distaff.
That's so cool! (sidenote: When my kids were like 4 and 6, and I learned how to spin on a drop spindle, they would both call out "drop spindle!" every time I dropped it... Yeah... That got old quickly... ;) )
I don't think I have EVER seen anything more relatable than that moment between the drop and the reluctant "...I dropped it 'cause it's a drop spindle." I legit LOLed, thank you for including that. (I don't even do spindle spinning -- I tried it for a weekend when I was a wee baby many eons ago and loved it then but never did anything with it -- I'm just super enjoying your videos as I learn wheel spinning and yarn making.)
Oh! re: top and bottom whorl use of the viking-style spindles, I find the easiest way to get started is to finger-spin a few inches, trap the end between the whorl and the stick (which also seems to help the whorl stay put), put a half-hitch on the short end and use it as a top whorl for the first make, then turn it the other way up and continue with it as a bottom whorl. I've also sometimes switched back to top whorl near the end of a spin when really I've got too big a cop already and it's spread far enough up the stick that it's getting hard to keep anchored, but I wanted to finish up my fibre, and the easiest way to fit more on was to take the whorl off and flip the other way up, as then I had more space above the cop again.
I wonder if the pin was to attach the distaff to a belt or other thing to support the distaff, so you had hands free for draft control. Perhaps the distaff could be fixed to a belt and held in the crook of the arm?
Another excellent video by the way and in archaeological terms you just did what is called experimental archaeology and that is how we do it in archaeology to find out the viability of the artifacts identified. Keep on keeping on!!
I love your historical or historically inspired videos! It's so interesting to learn about the past through physical movement the way you do here. I'd love to see a project recreating the mitten!
Eve, could that metal pin connected the top piece to a bottom pole? That way it would rest on the ground or surface, and then leaning up against the person to free up the hand to help with drawing the wool. What do you think? It is an awesome 😎 distaff.
Re: the pin on the end: we've made some grave finds associated with Vǫlur, Viking-age seers/priestesses, of iron staves that are proportioned and shaped like distaves. A few of them have captive rings with dangling iron objects on the pommel end. I wonder if the two are related.
I've wondered about the significance of those, your experimental archaeology re: "Okay it feels like a weight would help counterbalance/stabilize this and give me more room to load on fiber or less fatigue" is excellent!
I'm still playing around with it and I plan to flip it over and use the pin (as it was in the original) to tie my fiber to it. I want to try it all the ways and see what feels comfortable. I'm not sure we can ever be 100% historically accurate, but maybe we can be historically approximate or at least historically probable! Happy spinning! 🧶🐑✨
Would love to have one of my own, with the pin. I think it was likely used stick onto a higher surface, or table, that had a hole sized for it. Looks dual-use to me, since that lower mid-section fits your hand well.
Seeing that the weight is on one end and that the other is pointed, plus taking into consideration this distaff’s great length - I’m curious as to how it would work if You used it in a sitting-position; thighs spread, with the weight on top and the point resting in a bowl? In my mind’s eye, I can see it working this way - but would love to find out if it actually does!
I saw an image in a Scottish text many years ago that showed a similar distaff with a ring at the fat end that was tied to the belt allowing the spinner to pull up from the distaff to draft.
I've been checking TH-cam all day for this, 🤣🤣 it's 1am here, and I want to watch this over again! So interesting and informative! And exciting to imagine the way things were done, and if we are indeed replicating ancient methods. Love, love, love this! 💖🙏🏻😊
Totally naive idea, but could you rest the bottom flared end on your leg and prop to top on the front of your shoulder/chest while seated? Then you wouldn’t have to support the full weight with your hand while you try to spin and might be able to regulate the first method you showed more easily with one hand.
Possibly, but I tend to think not and here's why. The distaff was found in a mountain pass where people were traveling. It was common for people to spin as they moved about doing chores as documented in medieval images and surviving spinning traditions from various parts of rural Europe where distaves and spindles are still used. The base of the distaff is well shaped to be held in the hand. We also have other contemporary Viking age distaves discovered in tombs and burial sites with the same shape, that were used in hand. Of course we can't know for sure and it is entirely possible that we are missing a whole other piece to give us the whole picture. For now though, I think this was used while held in the hand. I've had more practice with it and I really need to make a follow up video! I love thinking about and problem solving with old tools!
I agree with some comments already posted. Whole way through I kept thinking it looks as if it would hang down better, maybe that is what is missing from the end of it 🤔
I want to flip this over. The pun at the wide end could have had the pin for attaching the ribbon. The extra ridges then help to hold the fiber stable along with the ribbon. The smooth, tapered end, I would use to put under my arm or stick in my belt, leaving that hand barely helping to stabilize the distaff and mostly free to draft.
It might be easier if you put a strap around your head and shoulder then under your arm at an angle. Place the distant through the strap and stick the bottom end into your waistband or a belt. This will comfortably hold the distaff and allow both hands to be empty. One can be used for drafting (closest to the distaff) while the other hand controls the spin and take up on the spindle. Hope this helps. Vivian Ann on the side of the mountain in northeast Tennessee
I was wondering if they used a belt to hold it The metal pin could have been a way hold up on table or chair. Not sure but could be weight on end. Lol just guessing
@dwanariley my thoughts exactly. Many British knitters (the further north you go the more common it is) used to use a knitting belt so why not a distaff belt? If you go to the Shetland Islands it wasn’t that long ago you could see them in use everywhere, there are many old photos. In the Hebrides too. Both heavily descended from Vikings.
I found you the other day on my recommended and I’m so glad I did. Everything you do is fascinating! I’ll probably never have the opportunity to do any of these things but I will enjoy watching.
You might want to attach it to your waist with a belt as that is how many of the ancient medieval paintings show it and also this following painting Jeune Bretonne (fileuse) by Jules Breton.
The Oseberg burial ship had a hand held distaff very similar to this one, just a bit shorter. That's why I tried it hand held. As it is, it's too short to spin from the belt. Maybe the missing piece was an extension?
@@JillianEve A lot of existing distaffs in Norway from between 1600 to 1900 are very long, although most of them are two-part, meaning that the upper, shorter part could be taken off and used separately. I've had the pleasure of handling a few of them, and I could easily see the Lendbreen distaff belonging to a longer piece and looking an awful lot like the ones I've seen. Never had the pleasure of trying one in action yet, so an interpretation on this find with a counterpart might be a cool future project.
just a thought but the shape of that bottom bit makes me think maybe tuck under the arm? With a counter balance weight on the bottom that may have really helped to free up the hand for drafting.. all the possibilities
What a useful piece of art and artifact (replica)!! That is lovely always makes our crafting/making so much more fun when we have such beautiful tools!!
Could this have been a floor spindle, like a Navajo spindle rather than a distaff? That pin on the bottom could have been used to get better spin? Anyway, just a thought.
Aren't there a lot of manuscripts that show a weaver seated with a full distaff wedged between the legs, it's tip leaning away from the weaver, the drop spindle hanging just beyond the bent knee? I almost never see anyone try that. Perhaps the 'pommel piece' was actually a hitch to hold the base in place so it wouldn't shift? Something to tie down?
There are a lot of illuminated manuscripts showing that style of spinning but none of them are specifically Scandinavian as far as I know. They are also from later centuries than when this distaff was dated (~800ce). Hand held distaves seems to have come before the belted style. However, there's no way to know for sure. Maybe this distaff was part of the shift from hand held to belted? I do have a belted distaff and will be doing more of that style of spinning in some upcoming videos soon. I want to learn more about all of this kind of historical spinning! 🧶🐑💜
Hi Evie, you have only just come up on my feed. That Distaff is beautiful, thankyou so much for sharing this. I loved the way you was using your Drop Spindle together with the Distaff. There's a lady on TH-cam who does Spinning with a Distaff on a Drop Spindle. I guess dressed bout 1800's im not sure whether she's in Ireland or Scotland but she's well worth checking out. Loved the "bloopers" too!!! Happy Spinning. Take care & stay safe. Love Jen xx
I'm wondering if the pin allowed it to be put on a stick/pole. There are depictions of distaffs that were held between the knees. Something like this could have been a versatile version to have it on a pole OR connected to a chair or table.
the distaff could have a vertical or horizontal base that supports both ends, or it could be attached to a belt at both ends so you could stand and spin with a drop spindle. just some engineering thoughts, you know. check out the US patent database
could it be that there is too much wool on your distaff? so that you could run the strand through that little wooden swirled knot in the middle of the distaff?
Lovely videos! Been catching up all your videos today! Reminds me of the English knitters that uses a belt to hold their needles. Perhaps they had the distaff into a belt or something and used inside elbow or armpit to hold it up? Either way great sleuthing! ** I thought it looked similar to a Navajo spindle. Using the metal tip to get it to spin quickly. 🤷♀️
In most of the illustrations I found of women spinning with a distaff, they had it tucked under their arm! :) so they can draft with the left hand and hold the thread and spindle with the right.
Wow, that's so cool! I love archaeology! I wanted to major in it in college, but I could only find one small liberal arts college with an archaeology major at the time I was applying for college. Unfortunately I didn't get accepted, but I still like history.
I would think a rotating distaff would be put on a spinning base and that's what the pin was for. the handle is just that, a handle to put it into the lazy susan type base and remove it from there. nice video. check and see if the pin wi pull out from the base for more stability too. and look around for ancient rotating distaff pieces. the pin may just spin in the base too you know
why why why do you have to keep showing us cool stuffs that i need to save up for? i'm still saving for some of those replica spindle whorls. (please don't stop tempting me!!)
Hello :) I love your videos and all you are doing. keep up the fantastic work. Now for my question..... what weight is a good weight for your whorl? does it matter? does a heavier whorl produce a finer yarn? I would like to purchase a medieval spindle and whorl but have no idea how to choose.
Heavier makes a thin yarn tricky because it can snap or fall apart under the weight of the whorl if there's not enough twist. Watch out with spindles, it's hard to only have one...they multiply! 😊🧶
Caveat: I know nothing. That being said, the original seems to have a different pattern on the spiral-shaped "decoration", compared to the reproduction. There appears to be a double-layer design which leaves holes through the material rather than just a surface spiral. That could be merely showing off woodworking skill for a neat decoration, but it seems possible that may have had a function. Possibly for looping or tying a cord through to help keep the distaff properly dressed in the top section? Please forgive, if that's just arrogant spitballing. I saw you tie from top down and wondered if bottom-up tying might have had a use.
Are you Sure that this ist only for Holding the wool? Its reminds me in at, we call ist in german, Spinnstock. Spinnstock is for Spinning. Its layi g in the Hand, the wool Turns around the top.
I'm not sure. It could be some other tool unrelated to spinning. But, I think it is fun to imagine and explore and maybe discover something in the experiments. 😊🧶💜
Hi, I really enjoyed your video. I've been experimenting with medieval spindling using a hand-held distaff (bamboo back scratcher) and a telescoping metal painter's pole, thanks to Kathelyne Aaradyn's TH-cam channel. I prefer the painter's pole, because I can prop it up between my leg and the chair and use my left hand to draft while the right hand manages the spindle. But the hand-held distaff/back scratcher still works really well because it's light enough to grip with the outer three fingers, leaving the index and thumb to pull down for drafting. That Viking distaff is massive in comparison; there has to be a benefit to having the additional weight though. If your whole family depends on you to keep them in clothes, you're going to work as efficiently as possible, right? More experimenting! As soon as my husband finishes re-arranging the workbenches in the basement, I need to finish the distaff I'm turning. I'm curious to see how I spin with a heavier oak distaff. Looking forward to seeing more from you!
I like your weight/pommel theory a lot. With a substantial enough weight, it would be easy to sit and rest it on your thigh, leaning into the crook of your arm. In that case you wouldn’t need a belt or anything (unless the pin somehow connected to a belt?) to support a fair amount of wool.
Robin did such a fantastic job recreating this Distaff! If you want to spin with your own Lendbreen Distaff or any of the other amazing reproductions Robin has crafted, you can find them in his shop here -----> (affiliate) shrsl.com/2sgy1
So many people are suggesting tucking the distaff into a belt and I love all the suggestions! I wanted to talk about that idea. Medieval pictures frequently show a distaff that is tucked into the belt of the spinner. Those pictures are not Norse though, and this distaff is. The closest parallel to this Lendbreen distaff would be the Osberg Burial Ship distaff which has a very similar design. If the Lendbreen distaff was functionally similar to the Osberg distaff, then it would be held in hand as the Osberg distaff was. As it is, it is too short to tuck into a belt, and too heavy to tie to the wrist, so it must be held in hand. Perhaps the metal pin attached an extension? We just don't know for sure. The archeology team from this discovery was speculating that the pin held a decorative globe at the bottom. My personal guess is for a counter weight.
I don't think there was a counterweight attached to the distaff, as it would have become heavier by additional weight. I do believe at the bottom of the distaff was some kind of thing, that helped with resting the distaff by the waist, maybe holding it in place directly on the body of the spinner, or within a sort of anchor on a belt worn around the waist. It is known that also a special technique for knitting was used, when women knitted while walking. With this technique, they rest one of the knitting needles' end in their belt. So maybe the sort of rested the distaff in a similar way in their belt. This actually would make sense, because then they wouldn't have to deal with the weight at all and their hands would be free for spinning work. Just imagine holding the heavy dstaff all day long and every day while spinning.
That's what I was thinking, too. There's a TH-cam series by Crow Productions or something, the video to look for is Getting Dressed in the 14th century, and they say something about putting a distaff through the belt to leave the hands free for spinning.
My Lendbreen distaff from DancingGoats arrived yesterday. Wonderful example of the woodworker's art. I noticed that the design has changed. There is now a ridge below the hexagonal piece. It makes the distaff more comfortable to hold.
Fascinating! Thank you for working out how this may have worked. I’m going to watch the follow-up.
Vikings and spinning? Oh my yes! Where have you been all my life?
There is more Viking age spinning coming right up! 💖😊🧶
Love history and figuring out how things use to be done.
I believe that the reason the lowest part is flared for putting under the upper arm. I haven’t tried it, but my husband is making one for me and that is how we’ve designed it for that reason. Also, if you measured your body dimensions carefully, you could wear a wrap/belt that the end of could be tucked into to help support the weight of the whole distaff.
So cool to see 🙂 you trying The Lendbreen Distaff
That's so cool! (sidenote: When my kids were like 4 and 6, and I learned how to spin on a drop spindle, they would both call out "drop spindle!" every time I dropped it... Yeah... That got old quickly... ;) )
Haha! My husband still teases me about it too! 🙄🤣🧶💜
😂 I have already told my kids this each time I drop the spindle as I’m spinning. They’re 7 and 5, so they’re getting started with park and draft.
I don't think I have EVER seen anything more relatable than that moment between the drop and the reluctant "...I dropped it 'cause it's a drop spindle." I legit LOLed, thank you for including that.
(I don't even do spindle spinning -- I tried it for a weekend when I was a wee baby many eons ago and loved it then but never did anything with it -- I'm just super enjoying your videos as I learn wheel spinning and yarn making.)
Oh! re: top and bottom whorl use of the viking-style spindles, I find the easiest way to get started is to finger-spin a few inches, trap the end between the whorl and the stick (which also seems to help the whorl stay put), put a half-hitch on the short end and use it as a top whorl for the first make, then turn it the other way up and continue with it as a bottom whorl. I've also sometimes switched back to top whorl near the end of a spin when really I've got too big a cop already and it's spread far enough up the stick that it's getting hard to keep anchored, but I wanted to finish up my fibre, and the easiest way to fit more on was to take the whorl off and flip the other way up, as then I had more space above the cop again.
That is brilliant! Thank you for these tips!
I wonder if the pin was to attach the distaff to a belt or other thing to support the distaff, so you had hands free for draft control. Perhaps the distaff could be fixed to a belt and held in the crook of the arm?
I love the domestic bits of history, and I've started a story with a spinster as a character so now I'm on this weird rabbit hole of research.
Another excellent video by the way and in archaeological terms you just did what is called experimental archaeology and that is how we do it in archaeology to find out the viability of the artifacts identified. Keep on keeping on!!
I think I'm doing more experiments! So fun!
I love your historical or historically inspired videos! It's so interesting to learn about the past through physical movement the way you do here. I'd love to see a project recreating the mitten!
Eve, could that metal pin connected the top piece to a bottom pole? That way it would rest on the ground or surface, and then leaning up against the person to free up the hand to help with drawing the wool. What do you think? It is an awesome 😎 distaff.
Point of interest - Luca Costigliolo - he has several videos on distaff spinning where he attaches it via a belt and also Lois Swales.
.
Excellent video. Thanks so much. I’d love to knit the mitten. I love the Viking history of fiber!
The mitten is really cool!!!
I LOVE TOO!!!🌷💖🌷
Was the mitten knitted or nålbound?
Re: the pin on the end: we've made some grave finds associated with Vǫlur, Viking-age seers/priestesses, of iron staves that are proportioned and shaped like distaves. A few of them have captive rings with dangling iron objects on the pommel end. I wonder if the two are related.
I've wondered about the significance of those, your experimental archaeology re: "Okay it feels like a weight would help counterbalance/stabilize this and give me more room to load on fiber or less fatigue" is excellent!
I'm still playing around with it and I plan to flip it over and use the pin (as it was in the original) to tie my fiber to it. I want to try it all the ways and see what feels comfortable. I'm not sure we can ever be 100% historically accurate, but maybe we can be historically approximate or at least historically probable! Happy spinning! 🧶🐑✨
When I saw that distaff teaser on ig I was sooooo excited to see it in action. I was not disappointed!! Yay for experimental archeology!!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Experimental archaeology makes me very happy!
Love love the distaff and your leap into the past
Would love to have one of my own, with the pin. I think it was likely used stick onto a higher surface, or table, that had a hole sized for it. Looks dual-use to me, since that lower mid-section fits your hand well.
Nice! I wonder if the peg at the bottom may have been to make it stationary on something? Great video, thank you!
Seeing that the weight is on one end and that the other is pointed, plus taking into consideration this distaff’s great length - I’m curious as to how it would work if You used it in a sitting-position; thighs spread, with the weight on top and the point resting in a bowl?
In my mind’s eye, I can see it working this way - but would love to find out if it actually does!
I just received a lead/pewter whorl with Rune writing on it that I had ordered. Still waiting on the spindle part. I can't wait to try it out.
Brilliant! Your videos are the most enjoyable and informative. Thank you.
So much fun in this channel 😊💕
I love it and it ain't a little.
I love how you teach, your videography skills, and your beautiful smile. You are doing an amazing job!
Thank you so much! 💜🧶
I've never used a distaff but you're making it awfully tempting to try 😄
They are so helpful! 🧶💜
that distaff is spectacular!
I saw an image in a Scottish text many years ago that showed a similar distaff with a ring at the fat end that was tied to the belt allowing the spinner to pull up from the distaff to draft.
Do you know what text it was? 😲
What a treasure! Your new distaf is stunning. Thanks for sharing it.
Robin did such a fantastic job! This was such fun!
The thumbnail is so cute!
*edit* so are the bloopers! Thank you for an incredible look at old techniques. I love it!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 😄💜🧶
What if that pin held spindle whorls?
I've been checking TH-cam all day for this, 🤣🤣 it's 1am here, and I want to watch this over again! So interesting and informative! And exciting to imagine the way things were done, and if we are indeed replicating ancient methods. Love, love, love this! 💖🙏🏻😊
I'm sorry I kept you up! The editing took forever! It sounds like it was worth the wait? 😅 xx
@@JillianEve oh it was! 😊🙏🏻💖 Thank you.
Love your nerdiness! You're so great!
your spinning looks absolutely beautiful.
Thank you!
I love the historical aspect. Thanks. ❤️💐
You're welcome! 💜🧶😃
That's so awesome and I bet you feel connected to the past
Yes, my family came from that part of the world. Part of me wonders if my great-great...grandmother dropped the distaff all those centuries ago!
Totally naive idea, but could you rest the bottom flared end on your leg and prop to top on the front of your shoulder/chest while seated? Then you wouldn’t have to support the full weight with your hand while you try to spin and might be able to regulate the first method you showed more easily with one hand.
I'm making a drop spindle for a show I'm directing, and I can't tell you how helpful your videos have been!
Glad to hear it! 💜😊🐑
I commented before i got to the end of the video, but i love the idea of larger spindle spinning projects and weaving with them!
I think that's the way to really try out the tools! Beginning to end! 😃🧶💜
Love your videos and sense of humor!!! And the history lesson is pretty awesome too
🧶💜😁
So beautiful!!! I just love these historical/educational type episodes 😁 Keep up the great work Evie
Thank you!
Have you checked out the Oseberg artifacts? Pretty neat stuff! They found an entire loom, and, if I recall correctly, a distaff as well.
Yes, amazing artifacts! The hand held distaff from the Oseberg ship is what gave me the idea to try this one hand held. 💜🧶
Maybe that pin/nail on the end was for placing it into wood/ ground to free up both hands??🤔🤔
Possibly, but I tend to think not and here's why. The distaff was found in a mountain pass where people were traveling. It was common for people to spin as they moved about doing chores as documented in medieval images and surviving spinning traditions from various parts of rural Europe where distaves and spindles are still used. The base of the distaff is well shaped to be held in the hand. We also have other contemporary Viking age distaves discovered in tombs and burial sites with the same shape, that were used in hand. Of course we can't know for sure and it is entirely possible that we are missing a whole other piece to give us the whole picture. For now though, I think this was used while held in the hand. I've had more practice with it and I really need to make a follow up video! I love thinking about and problem solving with old tools!
How fun and interesting! That distaff is so big!!!
It is! 💜🧶
I just watched watched the northman and was trying to figure out what bjork was doing. Thanks for explaining!
Fascinating history! Beautiful distaff and spindle
Thank you!
I agree with some comments already posted. Whole way through I kept thinking it looks as if it would hang down better, maybe that is what is missing from the end of it 🤔
It's totally possible! I would need the attachment to try it that way though. I'll keep experimenting! 🧶💜😃
Love this video. I have a spindle like that and I only use Viking combs.
I want to flip this over. The pun at the wide end could have had the pin for attaching the ribbon. The extra ridges then help to hold the fiber stable along with the ribbon. The smooth, tapered end, I would use to put under my arm or stick in my belt, leaving that hand barely helping to stabilize the distaff and mostly free to draft.
Perhaps the lower portion was held close to the body under the arm?
Excellent video! I love viking history and look forward to more of your fiber adventures! Thank you!
Yay! More adventures coming up!
maybe the pin fit into a socket of some sort to hold the distaff when not in use, or when in use when seated?
👏 I applaud you for your experimentation. There's so much you can learn by doing. Well done!
Thank you!
You have awesome toys.
The fanciest sticks! 😁💜🧶
It might be easier if you put a strap around your head and shoulder then under your arm at an angle. Place the distant through the strap and stick the bottom end into your waistband or a belt. This will comfortably hold the distaff and allow both hands to be empty. One can be used for drafting (closest to the distaff) while the other hand controls the spin and take up on the spindle. Hope this helps. Vivian Ann on the side of the mountain in northeast Tennessee
I initially tried that, but it isn't long enough. Maybe the pin was for an extension?
I was wondering if they used a belt to hold it The metal pin could have been a way hold up on table or chair. Not sure but could be weight on end. Lol just guessing
We are all just guessing! That's how we start to figure things out! 😁
@dwanariley my thoughts exactly. Many British knitters (the further north you go the more common it is) used to use a knitting belt so why not a distaff belt? If you go to the Shetland Islands it wasn’t that long ago you could see them in use everywhere, there are many old photos. In the Hebrides too. Both heavily descended from Vikings.
Norwegian archeology, experimenting, spinning, and wool! What more could you ask for? Such fun!
I found you the other day on my recommended and I’m so glad I did. Everything you do is fascinating! I’ll probably never have the opportunity to do any of these things but I will enjoy watching.
Welcome! 😃🧶💜
You might want to attach it to your waist with a belt as that is how many of the ancient medieval paintings show it and also this following painting Jeune Bretonne (fileuse) by Jules Breton.
The Oseberg burial ship had a hand held distaff very similar to this one, just a bit shorter. That's why I tried it hand held. As it is, it's too short to spin from the belt. Maybe the missing piece was an extension?
@@JillianEve A lot of existing distaffs in Norway from between 1600 to 1900 are very long, although most of them are two-part, meaning that the upper, shorter part could be taken off and used separately. I've had the pleasure of handling a few of them, and I could easily see the Lendbreen distaff belonging to a longer piece and looking an awful lot like the ones I've seen. Never had the pleasure of trying one in action yet, so an interpretation on this find with a counterpart might be a cool future project.
just a thought but the shape of that bottom bit makes me think maybe tuck under the arm? With a counter balance weight on the bottom that may have really helped to free up the hand for drafting.. all the possibilities
As it it, it's too short to tuck under the arm. Maybe the broken piece was an extension? 🤔 I wish I could go back and ask someone! 😄
Could the metal bit be for an anchor or hook. Perhaps to hang unfinished works while the spinner sleeps or attends other duties?
What a great video. Love the history lesson.
I'm so glad! 💜🧶
Loved this video! What a cool piece. I cant wait for the flax video, thats what i am trying to learn with!
Me too! I've been waiting so long for my flax. It's hard to find good line flax!
What a useful piece of art and artifact (replica)!! That is lovely always makes our crafting/making so much more fun when we have such beautiful tools!!
Could this have been a floor spindle, like a Navajo spindle rather than a distaff? That pin on the bottom could have been used to get better spin? Anyway, just a thought.
Aren't there a lot of manuscripts that show a weaver seated with a full distaff wedged between the legs, it's tip leaning away from the weaver, the drop spindle hanging just beyond the bent knee? I almost never see anyone try that.
Perhaps the 'pommel piece' was actually a hitch to hold the base in place so it wouldn't shift? Something to tie down?
There are a lot of illuminated manuscripts showing that style of spinning but none of them are specifically Scandinavian as far as I know. They are also from later centuries than when this distaff was dated (~800ce). Hand held distaves seems to have come before the belted style. However, there's no way to know for sure. Maybe this distaff was part of the shift from hand held to belted? I do have a belted distaff and will be doing more of that style of spinning in some upcoming videos soon. I want to learn more about all of this kind of historical spinning! 🧶🐑💜
Hi Evie, you have only just come up on my feed. That Distaff is beautiful, thankyou so much for sharing this. I loved the way you was using your Drop Spindle together with the Distaff.
There's a lady on TH-cam who does Spinning with a Distaff on a Drop Spindle. I guess dressed bout 1800's im not sure whether she's in Ireland or Scotland but she's well worth checking out.
Loved the "bloopers" too!!!
Happy Spinning.
Take care & stay safe.
Love Jen xx
Hi Evie, Thankyou so much for the Heart reply. I love them.
Happy Spinning
Take care & stay safe.
Love to you all.
Jen xxxx
There's another ❤ for you! 😄
I'm wondering if the pin allowed it to be put on a stick/pole. There are depictions of distaffs that were held between the knees. Something like this could have been a versatile version to have it on a pole OR connected to a chair or table.
I would like to see you use this distaff tucked inti a belt at your waist allowing use of both hands. great videos by the way.
Thank you!
Beautiful thank you evie x
the distaff could have a vertical or horizontal base that supports both ends, or it could be attached to a belt at both ends so you could stand and spin with a drop spindle. just some engineering thoughts, you know. check out the US patent database
Maybe the pin was used to stand the distaff upright if you didn't want to use it in hand 🤔
Totally possible! 🧶💜
Truly amazing. Thanks for sharing
🧶💜
could it be that there is too much wool on your distaff? so that you could run the strand through that little wooden swirled knot in the middle of the distaff?
Awesome 😻😻😻
Uffda! 😂 Being from North Dakota originally, your comment at the end made me laugh!
Lovely videos! Been catching up all your videos today! Reminds me of the English knitters that uses a belt to hold their needles. Perhaps they had the distaff into a belt or something and used inside elbow or armpit to hold it up? Either way great sleuthing! ** I thought it looked similar to a Navajo spindle. Using the metal tip to get it to spin quickly. 🤷♀️
This is such great content! I can't wait to see what you will do with the yarn next!
Maybe the metal part on the bottom was to stick it in the ground or something and not have to hold it
When I spindle spin I wrap my fleece around my wrist. A distaff looks like it would be cumbersome to manage? But I will have a go when I can make one.
Awesome ❤️❤️
Thank you! 🧶💜😄
In most of the illustrations I found of women spinning with a distaff, they had it tucked under their arm! :) so they can draft with the left hand and hold the thread and spindle with the right.
Yes, maybe it had an extension? We also have a lot of pictures of hand held distaff spinning so it could be either. 🤔🧶💜😁
@@JillianEve true! So cool :) I love watching your videos!
Wow, that's so cool! I love archaeology! I wanted to major in it in college, but I could only find one small liberal arts college with an archaeology major at the time I was applying for college. Unfortunately I didn't get accepted, but I still like history.
I love archeology too!
@@JillianEve Have you ever watched Ancient Aliens on the History Channel?
I would think a rotating distaff would be put on a spinning base and that's what the pin was for. the handle is just that, a handle to put it into the lazy susan type base and remove it from there. nice video. check and see if the pin wi pull out from the base for more stability too. and look around for ancient rotating distaff pieces. the pin may just spin in the base too you know
why why why do you have to keep showing us cool stuffs that i need to save up for? i'm still saving for some of those replica spindle whorls.
(please don't stop tempting me!!)
💜😁😁😁😁
Hello :) I love your videos and all you are doing. keep up the fantastic work. Now for my question..... what weight is a good weight for your whorl? does it matter? does a heavier whorl produce a finer yarn? I would like to purchase a medieval spindle and whorl but have no idea how to choose.
Heavier makes a thin yarn tricky because it can snap or fall apart under the weight of the whorl if there's not enough twist. Watch out with spindles, it's hard to only have one...they multiply! 😊🧶
Love love history
Me too! Such fun! 🧶💜
Caveat: I know nothing. That being said, the original seems to have a different pattern on the spiral-shaped "decoration", compared to the reproduction. There appears to be a double-layer design which leaves holes through the material rather than just a surface spiral. That could be merely showing off woodworking skill for a neat decoration, but it seems possible that may have had a function. Possibly for looping or tying a cord through to help keep the distaff properly dressed in the top section?
Please forgive, if that's just arrogant spitballing. I saw you tie from top down and wondered if bottom-up tying might have had a use.
Ufda, don'tchyaknow. ;) Hello neighbor! (Wisconsin)
👋 How 'bout that snow, hey! Is it cold enough for ya? 😂😉
Very, very cool🥰🥰
Are you Sure that this ist only for Holding the wool?
Its reminds me in at, we call ist in german, Spinnstock. Spinnstock is for Spinning. Its layi g in the Hand, the wool Turns around the top.
I'm not sure. It could be some other tool unrelated to spinning. But, I think it is fun to imagine and explore and maybe discover something in the experiments. 😊🧶💜
Hi, I really enjoyed your video. I've been experimenting with medieval spindling using a hand-held distaff (bamboo back scratcher) and a telescoping metal painter's pole, thanks to Kathelyne Aaradyn's TH-cam channel. I prefer the painter's pole, because I can prop it up between my leg and the chair and use my left hand to draft while the right hand manages the spindle. But the hand-held distaff/back scratcher still works really well because it's light enough to grip with the outer three fingers, leaving the index and thumb to pull down for drafting. That Viking distaff is massive in comparison; there has to be a benefit to having the additional weight though. If your whole family depends on you to keep them in clothes, you're going to work as efficiently as possible, right? More experimenting!
As soon as my husband finishes re-arranging the workbenches in the basement, I need to finish the distaff I'm turning. I'm curious to see how I spin with a heavier oak distaff. Looking forward to seeing more from you!
As a norse»man» , I was thrilled to see the Distaff!! It really looks nice 🤩. U are so clever to find a way to use the Distaff 🌹
Have you ever spun Cotton
I have and I'll do more in the future too. 😃💜🧶
You might want to try nalbinding with this thread! It would be very period appropriate.
Definitely! I have a couple nålbinding projects in progress right now! 💖
I like your weight/pommel theory a lot. With a substantial enough weight, it would be easy to sit and rest it on your thigh, leaning into the crook of your arm. In that case you wouldn’t need a belt or anything (unless the pin somehow connected to a belt?) to support a fair amount of wool.
I really want to try it this way!
Is it possible that this distant is ment to be held u set the spinners arm?
As it is, it's too short. The pin may have held a missing extension.