In which JB is introduced to the ancient textile craft of sprang. The fabric produced by this method is like chain link fencing, it is stretchy and is unique for forming from both ends while working to the middle. www.ancientcraf...
Oh Sally Pointer! Make sure to go to her channel and subscribe. She does a lot of ancient textile work including making tools like bone needles and stinging nettle cordage. She covers textiles from the neo lithic to the iron age as well as plant dyes.
TIL that some sprang weave was part of the 15th century "bra" found at Lengberg castle, and now I am thrilled to investigate further and learn how it may have been created and used!
You should absolutely give Sally Pointer the credit for the video (since it's really just her talking) and link to her MANY videos including many about sprang
I know this is nit-picky, but it's also important - See how her clothing, the bottom of her shirt and of her skirt? See how it's all unfinished and raggedy? There would have been NO excuse for anyone in the viking age (who was part of or who ran a household) to have clothing that looked so awful. All edges were always finished nicely, and often had some nice trim on them. People constantly get the wrong idea that people from such ages were dressed in rags or something, but it's not true at all. Vikings in particular were VERY clean and prided themselves on excellent grooming, (bathing every day and changing their clothes weekly) and this extended to their clothing as well, which they kept well mended and washed regularly. I have done viking re-enacting for many many years, and I know how to research properly. This woman might be able to do a bit of weaving, but her clothing is awful. The only people that MIGHT have been dressed like this is slaves, which many households kept, but they were also usually dressed as nicely as they could afford, because it was shameful to treat your slaves badly and have them looking scrappy. To have your slaves dressed at least semi-nicely was a show of your wealth, which the viking people did whenever they could, because it was a status symbol. If you had wealth, you damn well showed it off in any way you could! This particular variety of re-enactment makes me cringe so bad! And yes, I will judge her harshly for what she's wearing, because when you put yourself on display like that, that's what you're inviting. I don't care what quaint weaving craft you're doing. Dress right so you don't embarrass your group!
Sally Pointer is not intending to be dressed as a Viking. She is a specialist in Paleolithic and Neolithic craftsmanship. So accurate Viking culture isn't the point. It's a wildly different time period. So you obviously didn't do your research this time.
Ah, yes, the Vikings: all people during AND before the medieval period were Vikings. Thank God there's a nitpicky person to be an asshole to everyone, assume they know better than everyone else, and be shitty about it to boot. Why would anyone want to start if YOU are the ambassador they meet? And imagine if YOU were the ambassador for Paleolithic reenacting and start off this obtusely wrong. You're all that's wrong with the hobby and I'm SURE you think that you're "fixing" it. Find some other thing to ruin, and let people who care about history more than being "right" (again, you weren't, but ALSO haven't admitted it), alone.
i do a little rigid heddle and backstrap weaving... now i have something new to run out and try! running to google to find instructional sites. ty so much
