Gyllengran | HANDCRAFTED HISTORY

25/01/2020
by Linda at Handcrafted History Leave a comment

Follow me to a SCAevent- DW 2019!

I want to take you with me to an amazing event; the SCA Double Wars in southern Sweden. This time I tried to take lots of photos to show you the camp and living grounds, all the amazing outfits people have made, and the magical setting that always occur during this event. Get ready for lots of photos!

For you unfamiliar with SCA I wrote you a short explanation and added some useful links. I really think this is the society for almost everyone doing viking/medieval/historical fun, and there is so much to experience. I am a member since many years, but I am also a larper, viking reenactor, market vendor and currently infatuated with the 18th century. One can have everything! Like this medieval camping ground, paired with open handcrafting meetings and picnics…

Also, to visit an event you don’t have to know a lot of people beforehand, you just have to have/borrow some basic things, pay for the event fee/food and then participate! There’s more blog posts about the SCA if you are interested, check out the tags on the blog!

Hanging out in the camp, preparing dinner and having a good time are all important activities during Double wars!

About SCA;

SCA is an international organisation devoted to recreating history before the 1600s (in Sweden viking age and medieval period are most popular) “SCA” stands for Society for Creative Anachronism, and the purpose is to create and participate together, rather than recreating the perfect set for educational or museum works. This means there’s many different persons, periods, and interests in the society, which I think give lots of energy and life to participating. I have only visited events in Europe but the soceity is worldwide and have lots of participants in the States.

Ed in his excellent outfit

Marlein in her 16th c outfit

Farkas getting dressed

https://marleina16thwardrobe.blogspot.com/ Lali has a blog on her own!

Look at this awesome early medieval outfit!

Look at these awesome people with their medieval outfits! Handcrafting really is a big part of the society and many makes their own garments and learn as they go along. L for example has a very good blog about 16th c clothing; check out the link in the photo!

To know more and participate check out this links;

https://www.sca.org/

http://www.nordmark.org/ (Sweden)

https://www.doublewars.org/

I always find Double Wars so magical, the event takes place in a lush forest at the high of spring, and mixes modern conveniences like toilets and served food with the medieval camping grounds. During the event there’s lots of fun to do; practice fencing, armed fighting, archery, handcrafting skills, dancing, brewing, cooking over open fire, bathing, go to parties, picnics, lectures… and everything in a historical setting and with historical clothing of course!

During court we play a bit, gather together and salut friends who have worked hard for making everything work; event crew, staff, teachers…

This almost turned into somewhat of an advertisment for the event (yeah, you should totally come and play with us!) but the reason I wanted to show you all this is that it’s winter and dark here in Sweden, and I am hiding indoors this evening longing for the summer with all the medieval events and markets.

Looking back at good events always helps me through the dark months, and makes me want to start planning for the coming season.

And we are almost there, it feels like spring is getting closer for each day, the air has a certain smell to it, and I am dreaming about all the camp gear and dresses I want to get for this year (but that I probably wont have time to do) and planning for which events and markets to visit. Are you also longing for green spring outings and warm summer events?

24/03/2017
by Linda at Handcrafted History 2 Comments

Fencing event & new outfit

Our local SCA group Gyllengran had a fencing event some time ago, a pleasant and small event- perfect to warm you up before the real event season starts. We who weren’t fencing gathered in the big common room for handcraft, small talk and cookies with wine.

Here’s some pictures from the event, and on my new 16^th century outfit. I actually gave the indoor light a chance for pictures, but naw… I’m longing for outdoor events.

Warm and cozy with the fur lined gollar, comfy and easy to wear due to the well fitted bodice and the shorter skirt.

I’m wearing a straight unbleached linen shift closest to my body, and on top of that a simple yellow wool kirtle, without sleeves. It’s laced in the side and well fitted, so it works like a bra.

On top of that I wear my brown woolen over dress, which is based on paintings from Germany from around 1530-1550, mostly on peasants and simple workers. The pattern construction is from the book Drei Schnittbucher, which consists of tailor manuscriphts.

Over it is a handwoven smocked linen apron, a version of the st Birgitta cap (tutorial is out for sale) and last my rabbit fur lined gollar, which is based on paintings from the period. For work, only the Birgitta cap is used, but going out or getting fancy means another weil or two is pinned on top of the cap.

I also wear woolen hose, tied under the knee with wool straps, and a pair of simple leather shoes- much like you can se during the 14th-15^th century. It seems cowmouth shoes were only for landsknechts and their followers and people of higher class, wereas the commoners used sturdy leather boots that reached above the ankle.

The belt is my old simple leather belt and fits well enough, but I’m planning to upgrade to a more 16^th century one. The rosary and bag is a bit fancy for the rest of the outfit, but I liked the red colour on top of the brown dress- a little party fanciness to bling a simple workers outfit.

Now, a little mending of a seam and some improvements awaits the outfit before the season begin. New clothes are always the most fun to work with!

Spara

09/02/2017
by Linda at Handcrafted History Leave a comment

Packing for the year’s first event

My event season will start rather early this year with my local group Gyllengrans event this weekend. It is a fencing camp, but we will be a bunch of people hanging indoors, drinking coffee and sewing during Saturday. Feels like a good and soft start for this year! I like to be out in advance with things, so today I packed my gear and took a look on the clothes I will be wearing.

To attend a medieval/historical event means your’re supposed to dress the time, so I took out my 16th century outfit (my new one- hang in for photos!) and looked it over. Some items needed ironing, and the woolen dresses I just hanged out for some air. I like the outfit to look put togheter, neat and matching- like something a medieval person could really have worn. One of the things that doesn’t belong is wrinkles and creasing in the wrong places, like you get on a garment when it has been in the wardrobe a long time. So take the time to iron your things and hang them out for air- it will do a difference!

Except from my outfit and a warm garment for outdoors I packed my feast gear. Plate, bowl, jug, knife and spoon, my camera and a sewing project to work on all fit in my big basket. Tomorrow I am going to the grocery to pick up some food, some cookies and fruits and then I am ready to go.

Hope you will have a great weekend, I’m sure I will!

Spara

07/11/2015
by Linda at Handcrafted History Leave a comment

Vävgillet 2015

Idag regnar det och är någon grad varmt, himlen är grå och naturen likaså typ. Det känns som att det är himla långt kvar till sommaren och sköna uteaktiviteter, så då passar det ju bra att blicka tillbaka lite…

Gyllengrans VÄVgille är vanligtvis kring maj, så man kan ju tycka att jag är lite sent ute som skriver om det nu. Men ni får se det som en chans att blicka tillbaka och mysa lite inombords över hur trevligt det är att få åka på event, och nu är det ju inte så länge kvar till nästa års VÄV heller. Dags att börja planera tro?

Första gången jag hörde talas om VÄV så blev jag så himla glad; shit vilken hantverksnördig förening som har ett helt gille som bara handlar om vävning! Jag övertalade sambon att hänga med ut och med lite glitter i ögonen och hantverkstankar i huvudet kom vi fram (ja helt ärligt var nog glittret mest i mina ögon) och möttes av en massa fäktning. Fäktning? Men… var är vävningen?

VÄV står för Våld Är Vackert och är ett helt gille tillägnat sporterna fäktning, heavy fighting och bågskytte, allt tränas och tävlas enligt SCAreglerna. Numera är både jag och sambon bågskyttar och brukar ställa upp i bågskyttetävlingen, medan resten av tiden ägnas åt kaffedrickande (börjar ni ana ett mönster?) småhantverk och umgänge med trevliga medeltidsmänniskor. Årets VÄVgille bjöd på underbart väder så vi höll till utomhus på picknickfiltar, skickade runt godsaker och hejjade lite förstrött på alla kämpar och fäktare som orkade hålla igång hela dagen. Sambon som är mer intresserad av mig av fäktning snappade upp lite bra tips, filmade turneringen och övade bågskytte.

Hur det gick när vi besökte VÄV för första gången? Dagen slutade med att sambon ville bygga plåtrustning medan jag hittade några likasinnade och kunde sy och dricka kaffe under trevliga former.

Lite sköna mingelbilder för att kunna drömma sig tillbaka.

27/10/2015
by Linda at Handcrafted History Leave a comment

Vackra medeltidsmännikor

Har ni också tänkt på hur vackra människor blir i sina medeltidskläder?

Ja, nu menar jag ju inte att folk inte kan vara snygga till vardags och så, men det är ju något alldeles speciellt som händer när ens vänner drar på sig ett par lager ylle och sätter fast omsorgsfullt hantverkade accessoarer. Förutom att kläderna förstås är vackra och skickligt gjorda, och oftast kanske till och med passar bättre än dagens massproducerade kläder, så händer det något med människorna också.

Jag är likadan. Jag sträcker på mig lite, och axlarna faller nedåt och slappnar av. Medeltidskläder för mig är förknippat med härliga äventyr, mysiga semestrar och trevligt umgänge med vänner. Jag ler oftare. Det är så härligt att befinna sig i medeltiden och få äventyra lite! Och förutom att jag känner mig snygg, bär vackra kläder som sitter bra och har fina tillbehör så är kläderna så praktiska. Ullen värmer bra, linnesärken är sval och gör så du inte bränner dig, och hattarna fungerar utmärkt som solskydd.

Varför är det så långt till nästa medeltidsäsong?

Här är tre vackra medeltidsmänniskor från VÄVgillet i våras, iklädda 1500tal och vackra leenden. Bli inspirerad och längta till våren tillsammans med mig!