My Historically Accurate Viking Dress Project - How Accurate? Scouring the Wool
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มี.ค. 2023
- I have wanted to start this project for years but I was holding myself back because I set an impossible standard of historical accuracy. I want to address the concept of "historical accuracy" so I can reframe it in a way that is helpful for moving my project forward, and then I'm going to actually get started by scouring this Icelandic fleece from a sheep named, "Kol."
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Video Sources
Valkyrie's Loom: The Archaeology of Cloth Production and Female Power in the North Atlantic by Michèle Hayeur Smith- www.amazon.com/Valkyries-Loom...
Washing Fleece www.spinningforth.com/articles...
Viking Women: Aprondress By Hilde Thunem urd.priv.no/viking/smokkr.html
North European short-tailed breeds of sheep: a review pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22444...
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Here's the thing, my fellow perfectionist, we tend to forget that our modern times and equipment have eliminated the need for lots of people to be involved in the making of clothing (well, anything really). It takes/took a village. No single person did all the steps alone like we do nowadays. So, don't sweat the small stuff in your time travel quest. I can't wait to see your process. It's gonna be spectacular! (Kol's fleece is gorgeous BTW)
I was thinking the same! Well said!
This! we don't even have some of the systems that would have existed in the time in question! Some times 'historically accurate' is what gets the job done, I imagine any village woman at the time would have jumped at the option to do parts faster or less labor intensively, the tools and tech used where not used from a place of a perfection judgment but the limiting factor of the age in question
This! our community spends so much time complaining about historical accuracy when truth is, we don't have access to 100% historically accurate cloth. We can do what we can, sure. Personally I won't sweat on interior seams being sewing machine stitched. The outer layer hand stitched is what I'd personally judge by. If a garment is polysatin but isnt like, obviously so, then why should it matter?
Wow well put and makes me feel better. I'm doing a project of Ancient Middle Eastern/Israelite textiles and I've been so upset about my inability to find goat hair from the right breed of goat common in the region at the time. Like, even saying this, it still feels like it needs to be that. But this is a good reminder
This is so true. Those cheap woven baskets from Vietnam? My sister in law produce some of them. For the napkin holders she gets the equivalent of US25 cents profit. Please don't boycott. Let me tell you the journey in my husband's village. A cousin is married to River dredger. He pulls reeds from the river for his mother in law. She dries them on her land and sells them in bundles. Another relative and his son weld the metal frames. My sister in law buys the frames and reeds. She can weave really well. And her husband helps once she starts it off. The woman down the road who I believe is another relative makes the glue/sealant for the baskets, which my sister in law also buys. My nephew paints the baskets after school and homework is finished. My sister in law then sells the baskets to a man and his son who ride around the farms once per week. You should see how.many they can fit! And then they sell it to a man who has a storage area that he onsells to a larger organisation with a truck. And so on and so forth till it fills shipping containers and comes to us. So many kids get educations and even trades because of this cottage industry.
I like to think that is how spinning and weaving and assembling happened. Everybody contributing their unique skills. Looking forward to seeing more of the project.
If a Viking woman had access to a sewing machine and spinning wheel, she totally would have used them so I say use whatever tools you are most confident with and will enjoy using the most.
Wool from black sheep should really make a comeback (and wool/natural fabrics in general). It's still amazing wool and has so much natural variation in the colour from deep, rich blacks to glossy reddy brown and smokey greys that look beautiful in cloth.
Absolutely!
Agree! I love natural black wool!
Yasssssss.
Just bought a hand full (about 160 gramm) of dark wool from a local to the area sheep where my Rehab takes place. I had a 11 km single trip bikeride through, a beautiful landscape and was able to look at the whole gerd still in winter quarters. They had a newborn just a few hours old, so we did not go close.
I raise angora goats (mohair). From what I’ve seen in the agriculture world the more colorful animals seem to be more in demand. Currently I have red, white, and black angora goats and haven’t dyed any of their hair.❤
To be historically accurate, you'd also have to make it by the light of homemade rush lights, with bone needles, in a room heated only by fire...:) I think you've found a great balance! I loved this discussion and look forward to watching as things develop. Good luck and have fun! (And "spinning in the grease" sounds like a t-shirt slogan I need.)
I find experimental archeology so fascinating. I appreciate both this amazing project you are doing and your thoughts on historical accuracy. This is why I love TH-cam.
I am sooooo excited for this!
On a side note, I often tell people in my group that we have to pick which anachronisms you can live with. I’m not a weaver (yet), so I look for commercially available fabric that hopefully mimics what would have been available. I use modern needles for sewing. I alternate between natural and commercial dyes, depending on my goal for the finished product/project. I think as long as you’re cognizant of the realities of your costuming and eschew obviously out of period choices, you’re good. If I had to be 100% accurate, I’d wind up naked. In a tent. That’s probably made out of machine spun and woven fibers, probably not linen anyway. So pick your anachronisms.
As a fellow perfectionist, I also suffer from "analysis paralysis" on projects very often. I had to just learn to accept my limitations and proceed with the best, most informed path forward. I am so excited to follow this project.
As you said "Historically Accurate" is a never ending game of chasing your tail. I'm all for learning the basic techniques but for the majority do what makes you happy. Sally Pointer has a great series on making, dressing, and weaving on a warp weighted loom. After watching these videos I would be willing to bet that your Wheel Daddy could make you one.
That and much more. Sally Pointer is an incredible and delightful resource on experimental archeological textiles (and hedge bothering, as she calls it, which is for food forage as well as fabric resources). I think I found her after I found you and have been delighted by both of you ever since :)
I love Sally Pointer!
Love your analogy of the two dresses. Your project looks amazing. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
Keeping in mind, I'm currently in the middle of Lambing Season where I help the little ones being born so I can have enough fibre to spin, weave, and sew into historical clothes... I often worry that "Historical Accuracy" does more harm than good.
Historically accurate excels where we get to learn a new technique, or teach something, or like in your case, a whole bunch of both.
But it also provides some nasty gatekeeping. I see this a lot in the environmental and permaculture side of things. During the first year of growing a garden and they often feel like failures because they didn't grow everything they needed to eat. But that's not 'historically accurate'. There aren't many gardens in this world (old or new) where the soil is right for every single crop. Humans lived (and live) in communities. Someone has great drainage for growing Fava beans and another person has enough ducks to keep away the lettuce-munching slugs so they grow leafy greens. People interact and everyone gets enough to eat. What the new gardeners forget is the simple act of growing carrots is a revolutionary act - much like knitting a pair of socks. Small actions make big differences in the world and it's easy to forget this if we listen to gatekeepers.
Likewise, historically accurate cloth takes a village. By the middle ages we see a lot of separation of tasks so that different people might wash or card or spin or weave... this varied between places and times. So every little bit we do we can learn something, we don't need to be perfectly accurate. It isn't so much about reproducing history, but learning from it. What does it feel like to take a raw fleece and wear it? (extremely good!) What can we learn from working with different wool? How can we combine what we learn from trying these things with what we have available today?
Better bottle-feed my bummer (orphan lamb) before she plans the woolly rebellion. Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
I was very much looking forward to your thoughts on this topic! "It isn't so much about reproducing history, but learning from it." I love that so much. 💜💜💜
@@JillianEve Lately I've been falling in love with "historically adequate". There are a lot of historical clothes I want to try making (and possibly growing) but I also want to adapt them for everyday wear. Historybounding meets fantasy practical projects that I can play with historically accurate techniques.
As an archaeologist, when people tell me “do you even know if this is right?” I always answer, “unless you were there 300 years ago to check, I won’t claim it is *right* “
I have never clicked on a video so fast, and I'm so glad I did... what a wonderful take on a topic that I think consumes many of us more than we'd like to admit. And the first thing I thought of when you said that you were going to lean into your strengths (spinning) and not worry about the hand-stitching as much, was that.... hey, who knows, maybe THAT'S WHAT THEY DID TOO! Viking era is not something I know much about, but it seems very plausible that, at least in some situations, a similar division of labor (hey, you weave two chunks of fabric, and I'll sew them, and then we'll BOTH have 2 very cute aprons) would have been used! The concept of "not enough time in the day" certainly applied as much then as now!! (wow, you basically just said that same, last thing... serves me right for writing a comment before finishing the video)
..."let's all give up and buy a dress from SHEIN" 🤣🤣😭
I promise to climb out of the spiral before I buy anything from SHEIN! 😂😂😂
I love your videos too shannon!!!!
The mental image of the sheep going full viking mode to raid my neighbours' alfa alfa made me snort out loud 😂
Historical accuracy would only happen if you were actually living during that time period. I love your videos and learn a lot from you. So just do what you love.
One of the things I love about you is you feel, feelings are hard especially when its over a love for what you do. It took me a long time to get over the same emotions when it came to my handmade projects eventually I came to the realization that perfection is for machines. It's the imperfections that make handmade projects special and unique. I look forward to watching your journey in this project :)
I don’t know if I’ve ever been so excited for a series of videos on TH-cam!! 🤓
I've only made it about halfway through the video (thanks to my toddler)...but here's something I'm having to learn in my own life: you can't do it ALL. People are set in communities for a reason. They didn't ALL do ALL the jobs to make their clothes. In all likelihood, you'd trade your skills for help in other areas. You'd spin & your friend would sew it.
Hearing the history of the sheep and spinning practices for those fleeces and learning about Kol himself made my spicy brain go burrrrr!
In the historical garment sewing community, there's the concept "historically adequate." You do the best you can with what you have, what you can afford, and what your skill level can achieve. Just because someone cannot hand sew does not mean she or he should not machine make a garment that would traditionally have been hand sewn.
Also, when worrying about if you have enough fabric for the project, there is the adage -- "piecing is period."
Or, as I like to say, "Piecing is. Period!"
Basically, it comes down this: if the final result makes you happy, you did it right.
Spin on!
Lol i draw that same line in historically accurate scouring! I don't care that that's how it was done in the past, if anyone tries to put pee in my wool we are going to have problems
As a textile fanatic, I always appreciate when people teach me things about historical methods, styles etc. I personally don’t need for every aspect to be completely accurate in one single project. I gain valuable insight and knowledge from learning about a component. It’s enough for me to talk about how they would have hand sewn the whole garment while demonstrating the spinning or weaving. I can extrapolate. But I am blown away when I see that someone shows their fleece to dress work and tells me how long it took! I guess I’m trying to say it’s about the learning for me - did I learn some aspect of this? Yes? Excellent! We’re good then. It adds to my knowledge base.
Probably my one pet peeve of Hollywood movies is the crazy abundance of clothes they show. Cloth was so precious that most people just didn’t have the wardrobe changes we see in the movies. I enjoy the costumes but think hmmmmn, they have NO IDEA of what it would take to produce that!!
Evie, I am so excited for this project! I love how candid you are. Thanks for being you.
Oh the historical accuracy of it all! I belong to an historical group that re-enacts the War of 1812. I was shamed at my first outing many years ago, for: not having a fichu, where is your cap, are you wearing a chemise? :( Now I have a full wardrope of wonderful clothing, including a wonderful Kinsale cloak with a fantastic hood. Don't get me started on footwear as there is not any historical reproduction that I have found to fit my feet, with the exception of moccasins. While I do sew with a machine, I hand stitch what will be visible. I have been a novice spinner for many years, and am not a weaver, so, I have always looked for fabrics that would suit the historical time, and have patterns from several companies that produce them. Thank you for sharing your lovely project. Kol's fleece is to die for, no dyeing needed! Your tutorials are helping me greatly as I start again my spinning journey. And, as one of my re-enactor friends always says 'If they had it, they would have used it'.
One of the most disastrous things to happen to the world was the shift to fast fashion. When a person was fortunate for 1 new article of clothing a year (or every other year) it was far more possible to produce the cloth and make the item of clothing entirely by hand. They also took care of what they had far better and reused everything they possible could by handing it down or repurposing in other ways.
When we look at clothing as something precious, something to be cared for, something to be kept for a long time, we take ourselves out of that cycle of running out for a new skirt just because we want it, wearing it once and donating/throwing it out when we realize out closet is full. Most donated clothing? ends in the landfill immediately anyways. Stuff we toss out ends in the landfill. If it is modern it likely has manufactured fibers which do not degrade and simply add to the pollution problems we all face.
Even if you do not do the entire project in the historically probable manner. It is still a labor intensive project. You will treasure this dress all the more for the work put into it. That is a big step in the right direction.
Its so interesting to see the process to be as historically accurate in producing historical garnents. I also can't help be smile at the thought that a majority of individuals would have spun and sewn these garments as fast as they could. So if they had access to a spinning wheel they would have most likely have used it. So you can say you were being historically accurate in desiring to complete the garment within the set time you planned for and therefore used a spinning wheel to speed up the process. :)
I've a friend who makes viking age clothing for a living. How historically accurate she makes the clothing is based entirely off of what the person she's making it for wants and is willing to pay for. You want machine seams and hand finishing? excellent, she'll do that for you. You want hand done seams and decorative finishing? Wonderful. That'll cost you extra.
At the end of the day, all you have is time. And it takes several hundred hours to spin enough wool to make a dress using a drop spindle.
I knit my first wool sweater for my dad and he requested it to be extra oily… makes sense now, he’s Dutch
You are no imposter! Your teaching background shines in these type of videos. They are full of information, history and you share your process. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. Appreciate your fun approach and your skills.
Historical accuracy ❤ wool ❤ JillianEve ❤ this was a winning 🏆 evening!!!
It's your project. You explore which aspects of history you're interested in recreating while doing this. You love spinning and working with wool so it makes sense that would be the part that you focus on. You don't sew by hand, it makes sense that you wouldn't be interested in recreating that aspect of this project.
I'm comforted by the thought that my ancestors would be using the new tools if they could.
Over the years I found do what makes you happy. Please don’t listen to hateful jealous people. I love Viking history excited to watch you make a Viking dress Just remember make it the way you want to. Be happy and proud of what you make. Lol I’m like you I’m not going to pee on my fiber I have few Icelandic fleeces I have not tackled due to dual coat. Love ❤️ Finn to.
Ahhhh Kol is lovely!! And he looks like my Icelandic buck! I have to agree! They have personality for sure! Super independent minded. He rules the roost! He runs off the horses cows and the llama at my house lol nobody wants to mess with him! I love all your videos!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!!
The question is what is your goal? Sounds to me like you want to produce a Viking age type cloth and turn it into a nice Viking age dress. In which case, using a plastic bucket for scouring or modern metal needles for sewing is not going to really make any difference. You would still get a dress that behaved and felt like the proper thing. If your goal was to spindle spin your own yarn to make your own fabric, then of course you would not want to use a spinning wheel, but be happy for it to take longer. If your goal was to prepare the fleece like they did in the Viking age, then you’d be needing a wooden trough or barrel or whatever and do that process ”historically accurately”. And so on. You pick your interest and do that bit! Really looking forward to following this project!
Ok I'm still at the beginning of the video and I have to say, I'm loving the hair color!!!! 😍
I can relate to this. I have been hand plucking my Icelandics when their coat breaks. Super cool to peel your sheep like a banana and have a perfect fleece.
I love that you are committed to the historical accuracy And working from fleece to fabric!
I think, ultimately, you will never make others satisfied with how much/little "accuracy" your garment has. And what really matters is that you enjoy your craft, and you enjoy your garment. 🙂 Who cares what others think, as long as you're proud of yourself and that you enjoyed the journey to get there?
You hit the nail on the head. "Historically accurate is a construct." I am certain that if you took a spinning wheel back in time, all of the Vikings would have said "holy cow, this is awesome!" and would have adopted it immediately. It's simply coincidence that the techniques they used are what they are. Just like us, the Vikings back then used the most modern and efficient methods they knew how to use.
It could also be argued that "historically accurate" means you've been using their tools since you were ten years old. :-)
Let's go with "historically respectful." You study them, relate to them, learn their ways, and then respectfully use your tools to actually produce something that respects their work. That is how I approach projects like this. Respect them enough to learn how they worked, work like them, understand the process, and then respectfully move on. That is how you accurately bring history into the things you create.
Thank you for showing Kol the respect he deserves 🙌
Greetings from the Texas Gulf Coast, USA. Congratulations on the Spin Off Article (Spring 2023).
Thank you!! 🥰
Lol, the wool neps at the end remind me of a present I was given as a small child, which surely must have been given by someone who either had no experience with children, or who bore a deep, vengeful grudge against my parents: 1000 assorted plastic beads in a big tub.
We were vacuuming those up for years.
Hi ! I scoured a 🐑 last summer and the neighbours think I am weird lol so funny !
There are two things I have heard that bring some perspective to things like this.
"Anything worth doing is worth doing badly" This is actually in reference to depression, such as "if you can't bring yourself to shower, at least brush your teeth", that sort of thing. But it applies to other activities as well. Particularly, if you happen to suffer from depression and you don't enjoy doing things that you normally do, do them anyway, and if they are not up to your usual standard accept that you are working from a deficit, and that's ok. I think that can be applied to an exaggerated sense perfectionism as well. Perfectionism may not be a mental disorder, but it can certainly hinder your joy in an activity.
The next thing is' "You don't have to be good at something to enjoy doing it" This is in reference to skills like dancing or painting. It is particularly useful to remember when you are stuck in "The Gap" where your knowledge of a subject and your skill in the subject don't correlate. As in, you know what a good painting looks like, but don't yet have the skill to achieve what you envision in your head. You are still allowed to enjoy the process of producing the painting, even if it doesn't turn out the way that you want it do. If you enjoyed doing it, it was worth doing.
Taken together these two phrases allow for the enjoyment of a craft, even when it isn't what you wish it could be. (Such as completely historically accurate) Even if you know you could have done it better with more time, or more practice, or even more motivation. In the end, if you did your best, you did your best. I know that seems obvious and redundant, but sometimes we forget that your best today, may not have been your best yesterday, and it will likely not be your best tomorrow. If you let "perfect be the enemy of good" then you will never get the chance to enjoy the journey of learning.
All this to say, it does not appear that you are lacking for joy in your learning process, so don't be so hard on yourself for being in a state of learning something. If you already knew everything, -and had all of the skills necessary to be perfect, -and had the time to complete everything perfectly accurately, -and had the disposable income to acquire all of the necessary tools and materials, -and still had the motivation to do all of this completely accurately, ...would it be worth it? You wouldn't be learning anything new or gaining any new skills. It's the fact that you are researching new things, and learning new skills, that means you are growing.
And I'm over here in your corner cheering you on. I love your content. It is fantastic, and I learn something new with every video.
So thank you.
I am a philosopher with an associates in philosophy on pause due to financial difficulties. I am so so so grateful for this they should call you the fabric philosopher you use your degree excellently.
You’re not alone in this, I think it’s something that a lot of us have struggled with… Don’t be so hard on yourself, whatever you do, it’s going to be amazing and beautiful.. 💜✨
Get out of my head 😅 I majored in history as an undergrad, and I have been down allllll these terrible rabbit trails. It’s exhausting 😂
The spiral is real!!! 😂
Although I don't care about historical accuracy when I enjoy a craft so much I really really really appreciate that you do and share it all, love hearing you.
It's so fun to hear someone speak so lovely about sheep from my homeland. Many don't like Gotland and sheep like that becaus their fleece isn't as soft as merino. It makes me really happy and brings me tears of joy. Hopefully more people will see and understand this fantasic wools so we can save this different sheep racese we have here up in the north. Thank you!!
I love your energy and enthusiasm. I loved seeing examples of short-tailed sheep. Kol definitely is a handsome sheep and his fleece will make a beautiful garment. I am loving this project. I feel connected to you Jillian and to the people we are learning about. My husband had a Scottish grandmother, while my family was English, Irish, French, and German. I appreciate the technology our ancestors used. I live in Alaska. The native people use animated skins, furs, and plant fibers for clothing. In such a harsh environment, their clothing was paramount to survival. This is still true today. Living in -40° F, Temps requires highly protective clothing. Thank you for the video.
Correction: animal skins, not animated.
I wish that in period movies they would at least attempt “historically plausible”. I appreciate anyone that at least does a basic google search for what styles, materials, are appropriate for the time period. Hollywood ruins it for everyone because they barely try at all. As long as you’re putting in a modicum of effort, you’re way ahead of the curve on historical accuracy.
Nice to open my Spin-off and see your smiling face. Well done!!
I tend to think of accuracy as a understanding, an informing, and a general guideline rather than a whole exacting thing. It's good to know what you can about a subject, but getting so exacting that it becomes an unattainable product takes the joy out of having a piece of history that you created with your own understanding. And I think, if you were to ask the original people what they would prefer, you'd probably find that they would choose some convenience over the extra labor. It's why inventions get invented in the first place... I feel I'm getting lost in the sauce here, but ultimately, use what you got.
I love hearing you talk about being so passionate about this project! Also your hair is legendary. (please don't salt the fields and starve for historical accuracy)
I am excited to watch all of your project. I have Icelandic sheep, I spin, I weave , and am of Scandinavian heritage. I have to say, i LOVE spinning the wool of my Icelandic sheep and even the single ply handspun yarn is amazingly strong. BTW~ one of my Icelandic ewes comes from strong 'leader sheep' lines.
Icelandic leader sheep are such a fascinating feature of the breed! 🐑💜
About the scouring: my mom showed me how to process a freshly shorn (and dirty) fleece into a finished object - in our cases a rug out of the rougher wool and a jacket out of the softer.
She gathered all physically removable dirt (like straw) out of the wool, then she put the uncarded wool into a tub the size you would have washed babies in 50 years ago and added cold water. The next step was the one we kids "were allowed" to do, which is to get into that tub with our naked feet and "walking" on it to get out more dirt. This process was repeated, at least 5 times per batch or until the water was absolutely clear. The woll was then dried and carded. So no soap was added so that all the lanolin was still in there. My mom who did alle the spinning always said that the lanolin helped soothe her hands/fingers while spinning.
But I cannot tell you if that was the way it was done everywhere and through all times. My mom was italian and that was the tradition handed down to her.
Thanks for this and all the other lovely videos of yours!
I understand your struggle with perfectionism. Considering how few extant garments we have from that time (compared to a few hundred years later), or even visual evidence in art and literature (illuminated manuscripts included here), starting with a whole sheep's fleece is an amazing feat of historical accuracy. We're lucky to still HAVE the sheep species that was around at that time, in that region of the world, without them having changed or barely changed since. Brings to mind Norwegian black oats, which are a relatively new thing to come back. It's an older type of oat that was grown back in those days (higher fibre content than modern oats, among other things if I don't misremember) that's been revived through active farming.
So, from another country whose ancetors were Norse as well, your project sounds amazing! Good luck and I'll enjoy watching your progress.
Very nice reflection on historical accuracy. So nice to see the fleece form one know sheep.
As I mostly costume in larp full historical accuracy is less important, even in larps that use historical setting we usually go for 'coolthentic'. I absolutely love that word and it describes pretty well what is expected. As long as it is believable enough to live in that time period it is good enough. So want to use fully historical patterns but synthetic fabric that still looks good? Go for it! Found a dress at a thrift store that can pass with minor adjustments and a shawl over it? Go for it! It makes the entry bar for people who want to get started, but were afraid to do so because of costuming standards a lot lower too. In the end, the most important part is that we all have fun!
"And that doesn't feel like cheating anymore."
This is such a valuable moment. It is so exciting to strive for historical accuracy in a project. Spinning and weaving makes me feel connected to my ancestors in a way that nothing else has. But at some point project enthusiasm becomes project limitations. It is not cheating to make yourself a beautiful dress with modern equipment.
This is a good lesson for us when we look at and judge other people's "historical accuracy" as well! If someone put in a good faith attempt at a historically accurate project, that should be celebrated. If a large production studio puts in no effort when making a period television show or movie though... That seems like something we can all rag on just a little ;)
Thank you for the video. I'm going to share this with all my SCA friends
Love your hair
You know, Gunna Svensdottir probably really loved her grandmother, and was thrilled (also a little scared) to build and dress her own loom the first time. Grossmutti would help, but "Learning is best done by doing."
Now, imagine that Gunna is now a young wife, and a trader brings a New. Thing. to the village. Whatever that new thing is, Grossmutti Did Not Do Things That Way.
Hopefully, Grossmutti was admiring, rather than sourly jealous.
Coming from a re-enactment background, here's my thoughts on 'historically accurate'. Nothing that we create in this modern era can be truly 100% historically accurate. That would mean the tools we use would have to be historically accurate too - but what about the tools used to make THEM? And the tools used to make THOSE tools, and all the way down the line? When we, who are not historians or archaeologists are making something for ourselves, for fun or for interest, it's important not to get hung up on any minor inconsistencies. We can't be entirely historically accurate, but we can be as historically accurate as we can be, and there's a big difference. There are some things that were available back then that simply aren't any more, and sometimes we just have to live with modern equivalents in our historical makes. As long as we are aware of those anachronisms and make choices based around what is available to us and within our means, I think that's the best we can do. I'm a calligrapher, and try to make period-accurate scrolls. Technically I should be doing it on calf-skin vellum. But that's totally outside of my budget, and not everyone I make them for wants animal products. So I use a modern, plant based product that acts in the same way as original vellum. I'm fully aware that that reduces the authenticity, but I use what I can within my means.
I admire you for delving into this project. As encouragement, I would say there are no (insert craft here) police, and anyone acting in that capacity need to find something better to do with their time! As for the “historically accurate” naysayers …I would simply answer them with a challenge to attempt what you are and do it better. I think a lot of people are comfortable criticizing others for things they can’t or won’t do themselves. Good on you for trying! I can’t wait to see your progress.
As a (also neurospicy) history researcher, I got a good chuckle out of the "comments" people would leave against the "accuracy troll."
I'm looking forward to seeing how this project turns out 😊
I came across your videos a few weeks ago and have become addicted to watching you spin and weave. I really enjoyed this video due to the information and considered way you put across the whole issue. I look forward to seeing this project unfold.
I just finished The Valkyrien’s Loom, too! Very impressive book. I’m getting set to make a Viking apron dress as well. I already have my hand-forged brass ‘turtle’ brooches for fastening the apron, plus bits of amber for making a necklace. But I hadn’t considered spinning and weaving the wool for the apron, or the flax for the dress. I look forward to your spinning and sewing videos on this subject!
It IS historical to use the tools and technology at hand, so I say go for the wheel, the counterbalance loom and the electric lights!
Fearlessly tiptoe and leap through the spectrum! This is one of my favorite videos ever! Thank you. Your attitude and sharing in relationship to the content is magical. Did I say thank you!?
Looking forward to the rest of your journey on your project!
I used to get frustrated at the naysayers on historic accuracy til I figured out I could stop them by saying, "You're absolutely right! Can you spot anything else?" Like it's not accurate on purpose so I can teach others. You'd be surprised how quick they quit cuz suddenly they are on the spot and aren't sure how much you actually know.
I had a dress once that looked like the blue dress in your illustration. It was a bedsheet, though the apron was commercial wool. The belt and brooches were crocheted. Ppl looked askance at and asked where I'd gotten the idea that could pass.
I just spun to display the product and said "Not bad for finding out about the renn fair yesterday. We just moved here. Can you tell me where the weaving shops are?" And all but a few were super helpful.
It can still sting sometimes though when someone gets snippy about it. Don't let the naysayers get ya. You're way ahead of me.
I always think that our ancestors would be using our modern equipment glad that the job could be done faster. My grandmother had and old sewing machine that was modern for her day, she was fascinated by my more modern machine and believe me when I got my first machine that did the embroidery my granddaughters like on their clothing I blessed whoever came up with it. I'm all for doing things accurately but I'm not willing to take the time some people think is necessary. I'll never be a spinner, but I love watching you do it, I figure I can concentrate on my knitting and support someone else by buying the wool they spin.
Glad you took a break but it’s great to see you again. Your hair looks amazing!
What a lovely video! Love the hair and your frank honesty about your struggles with historical accuracy. Historical accuracy isn’t really something I think about because I just don’t notice. It’s not something I’ve studied so it just doesn’t mean much to me. I think the joy in creating is much more important and access to that joy shouldn’t be kept from someone based on their willingness to use stale urine or whatever other barriers they may face.
The comment troll sheep running to judge got me good 😅
I have Icelandic and shetland sheep, I'm happy to see people working with their wool. Definitely one of my favorite sheep breeds
This is going to be so fun to follow!!❤
Vis a vis historical accuracy, right on Evie. You seem to be charting a reasonable path through your project. I am looking forward to following your journey through the Viking Dress. You should use your own skills when creating the dress and supplement as you need to (no stinky stale urine). If you lived in a family or village creating clothing, you would likely have your mom or auntie do the hand sewing.
I just received a partial black Icelandic fleece in the mail today myself! I got it for blending into other wools for the natural non superwash wool sock drawer project im working on (hoping the tog makes for a more durable yarn; also thinking about a lopi style yarn but plied) but now you have me thinking about medieval stockings. hmmmmm....
Wonderful and thoughtful video. Can't wait for the rest of the series! But I will. I'm not rushing you 😀
Your view on historical accuracy within our projects (especially if your not a seasoned expert) is truly inspiring.
I’ve come to this video as a complete beginner in the world of wool clothing but keen to learn more as I will hopefully be telling the stories of some Welsh (UK) sheep farmers and spinners, which may include me having a go myself.
To have someone like yourself reaffirm that historical accuracy is fluid and shouldn’t stop you creating us put the biggest smile on my face!! 😊
Thank you so much and hello from Wales UK 🏴
Looking forward to this whole project! I've just gotten into spinning, so I'm glad I've found your channel. Probably the best phrase I've heard to counter being "historically accurate" is "historically adequate." Another sewing TH-camr made a video about that a few years ago, and I've seen a few other videos using the same phrase. It relieves some of the pressure we put on ourselves (and each other) by setting a limit to how far you feel is necessary to go on the historical accuracy spectrum.
Haven't watched the video yet, but the title and description reminds me of the documentary "The invention of trousers", which you can watch for free here on youtube, and in which experimental archeologists recreate the oldest trousers we have found so far. They also had to start with spinning their own yarn.
So I was looking for a video about a gnome hat and I found yours. And then after I watched that TH-cam suggested this video. And I thought "this person is awesome. I have to subscribe to them". And then I was watching the video and you said, "My brain is a little spicy." And then I knew I **had to** subscribe. Thank you for making and uploading this content. And thank you for posting videos with a spicy brain. Because sometimes it is a challenge with a spicy brain, and you're doing it anyway.
It seems to me that one should strive for Historical Adequacy instead of Historical Accuracy.
Go forth and win!
A tribble reference!! Ok, yes, the rest of the video was wonderful and made an important point about perfectionism, but, but... a tribble reference! I knew I loved this channel!
PS: heritage breeds are AWESOME!
If you ever get the chance to spin some north ronaldsay, I 100% recommend.
Something about that seeweed diet makes the wool like nothing else I've spun. It's got some serious character lol.
It's at the top of my rare breeds to try list!
For the record: I am here bc you are an amazing teacher and anything you wish to teach I find interesting. The wool and history are super awesome bonuses but mostly I just like your style. :)
I always find this debate amusing. I’m sure if the people of that era were listening to this type of debate the would be thinking “ why are you doing doing this the hard slow way. “ I’m sure if the people of that era had a sewing machine they wouldn’t have turned their nose up at it and said it’s not historically accurate. They would have used it
OMG! I totally remember the episode with the green nepps! It was the last time you did the wooly wheel of mystery spin😂
It was so long ago!!! 😂😭😭
1. Absolutely love the new hair you gorgeous person you!
2.🌶️🧠💖
3. I think that the want for historical accuracy is wanting to feel a connection with the past and learn how they would deal with life daily. But historically, people are all about shortcuts and innovations to make life easier and products nicer. I think that making a product that you need or will love in a way that makes it easiest on you while still feeling that connection to the past is historically accurate. Feel the feelings, learn the things and teach what you find out with others and I think you will be following the spirit of the endeavor.
I should have read the other comments, lol. Looks like others had the same thoughts as me. But talking about it taking a village... Maybe think of the more modern aspects as being completed by a different crafter. 🤷
My goal is to go down this rabbit hole for traditional Louisiana Cajun/Creole/Acadian dress. I've had help to find some resources. You are my people. 😆
Melissa Weaver Dunning offers programs about Acadian textiles
2:55 I am pretty sure that's why the algorithm mentioned you to me! I've been soaking up historical sewing and textile history videos since the Panini started! It's a really fun rabbit hole to fall down!
I loved this video! I agree with everything you said about HA.
That wool is beautiful!
That hair color and style are terrific and I am here for this project of yours.
I'm glad it's impossible to be historically accurate. Even more so for the time-period of my choice: late neolithic (here in the Netherlands). There are so very few real finds, nobody can tell how exactly the clothes looked back then. We can only make a guess, based on finds from other surrounding countries.
But my aim is only 'being as accurate as possible' and giving the visitors of the Hunebedcentrum (open air museum) an impression of how the people lived thousands of years ago. Also demonstrating some of their crafts (with plant fibers).
The way see it, the kind of accuracy depends on your goal for the garment/craft, and on what Aspect you want accuracy from. Re:goals, do you want the Vibes? The silhouette? Something that will Look realistic and immersive in a re-enactment or educational context? A replica meant to be looked at closely so people can have an idea how things were made? For example, for the educational re-enactment scenario, good weave structure (and/or handwoven) and correct fiber choice with visible seams handstitched but all invisible seams and finishes machined might be a good choice, but for a different context you might have different priorities. Like, say, if you're doing experimental archeology and the technique is the point rather than the finished product.
As for what aspect you want to achieve, see it like this: what do you want out of creating the garment? Do you want to Obtain something that looks authentic? Then you can focus on the looks. Do you want the Experience of crafting like people of the era? Then you might want to try to get the most accurate tools and materials, or try to craft in different conditions (and here too, you can have priorities. If you love spinning but can't handsew or vice versa you can focus on the experience you want). Do you want the experience of wearing clothes someone of the era might have worn and see how they feel? Then getting the construction and underpinnings and the right fiber might matter more than whether you can see a seam has been machined.
Anyway this is long-winded but I hope it makes sense. I agree with the spectrum thing, you can't judge accuracy on a scale because it's all about what you want to achieve with it. (I will continue to judge shows that pretend to be accurate but aren't, though, lol. I'm totally chill with obvious creative deviations, but trying to pass as historical when you're not is just misinformation imo)
Anyway, good luck and sorry about the long rambling. Perfectionism is a horrible, horrible trap, I can't wait to see Evie Without Shackles.
(Ps. great shirt and hair combo)
Totally agree!
There's perfectly recreated, and then there's 'close enough'. I admire and understand those that try for perfectly recreated. That's very important work. If you're going to try for "perfect" then I don't think you can be 'too perfect' and identifying where you are 'perfect' versus 'close' and 'close enough' is very important, so that other people who are studying your work know what they are looking at. Knowing why it isn't quite perfect is equally important, because it is part of the story. For example, "I used this wool instead of that wool, because the sheep I needed are extinct, but this is considered a close analog" is very important information....for a perfect garment. Those that strive for museum quality perfection are worthy of respect. Yes, your family and friends may not understand, and think you're crazy, but don't worry, we understand. There's nothing wrong with a 'close enough' garment either. It's a matter of what your goal is. Something you are happy with? Something museum quality? I just want something about right to wear at a Ren Faire? All of these are equally worthy goals, no garment shaming allowed. Just be honest about exactly what you're producing and why, so others know what they're looking at. If you're going that 'extra mile' we want to know! Us newbies don't have the experience to tell the difference. Thank you for going that extra mile! It's how the rest of us learn, and gives us something to inspire towards. Or not. It's all good.
I love all your projects but I'm excited to be able to look forward to this specific long-form project series for the weeks/next months :~) thanks for talking about the research spiral ! I think it's great when you wanna spend a lot of time doing proper research into methods before starting a project (and having fun doing that research) but I also know it can be kind of a positive feedback loop of discovering that there's more to know before you begin. Hard to break that spiral but really feels good afterwards :~) With historical accuracy, i like to think about connecting to those historic crafters across time and how they'd probably be really excited to try using some of the modern amenities we can take advantage of to make our costuming projects feasible for ourselves. Think about the future tools our descendants will have... I'd like to try some futuristic spinning tools!
Futuristic spinning tools is tickling my brain! You are giving me ideas.... 🤔😄
This is Awesome! Looking forward to seeing your videos as this progresses.
Fascinating video! Great work Evie🤩
This video is the highlight of of my youtube feed for the last half year!
I spin for viking weaving too, but only started half a year ago, so have been hunting information on this subject since I started. I spin from tops, but want to prep the wool too and only this month learned to comb my raw wool and now have 3 spelsau fleeces I need to clean and comb. I already started a dress from gotland tops and just set up the 10 m warp for that (big thing for me!)
I absolutely love your nuanced take on authenticity (love the spectrum!!!) and how you are calm about your choices. I focus my choices on what makes me happy in the process. I enjoy drop spinning but once I got a e spinner I also enjoyed that, and now I prefer that and only 50% of the gotland wool dress is drop spindle spun. With such a time consuming project my main insistence is, that it has to generate joy while making. I enjoy spinning and weaving on a modern loom (but not a warpweighted loom) and as the project is my hobby my own experience while doing it is the most important factor at all.
We are like project twins! Let me know how yours goes too. 💜☺️
@@JillianEve oh no, you are so much more awesome❤ but we do love the same things, and I was so happy to hear about your research on washing the wool, as I have been struggling with that. I am doing a bayeux tapestry style embroidery about the process from sheep to dress, and didn't know if I should put washing before or after cutting. Am so happy to follow your lead and put it after cutting, as I get to show how urine was used😆
Part of historical accuracy is that not every aspect of the garment is made by only one person.... but many different people with different specific skills