2013 in review

This year has gone by so fast, and once again it is time to look back on what I've accomplished for the year.  What have I done? What have I learned?

Shortly after making my goal list I was surprised by being chosen as the Queen’s A&S Champion, for my research into how spin direction affects the look of the woven fabric.

While my goal had been to do my best work, actually being chosen changed my priorities a bit. I am truly enjoying this honor. I get excited by the intersection of arts and sciences, and my time as champion has allowed me the opportunity to encourage others to look at their work in a new way. I've attended a wider range of events, I've gotten to know many more people, and I've been able to spread my enthusiasm farther than I could on just the Baronial level. Shortly after I was chosen, Kiena requested that I make a gift for the King and Queen of the Mid. That slowed my progress on the goals I had set for the year, but I used it as an opportunity to learn a new embroidery technique.

In May I was off to Kalamazoo to present my research on 8^th century Danish spindle whorls. What an amazing opportunity that was! My paper was well received, but more importantly, it gave me access to many other researchers, not only in textiles, but every other field of medieval study. After the conference I was asked to submit my work for consideration for publication. I've yet to see what comes of that, but after several months of polishing my text, it is off my desk and there is nothing else to do while I wait for feedback.

I also spent time this spring and summer analyzing Egyptian textiles dated to approximately 1000 BC. They are currently on exhibit at the Albany Institute of History and Art. This is something I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to do, and it was especially exciting when we discovered a garment that no one knew the museum had. It was a thrill to examine how the flax was spun, how the cloth was woven and how a garment was constructed. Egyptologists will have new material to study here, and I am glad I was able to be a small part of the research. Some of the research will be printed in the exhibit catalogue in 2014.

At Pennsic I broadened my understanding of textile archaeology, and tried my hand at weaving medieval-style patterns. I still have a mental block about warping the loom, and I don’t get as much pleasure from throwing the shuttle as dropping the spindle. I doubt I’ll ever consider myself a weaver, but my fascination with cloth keeps me coming back. (It is fun to watch the pattern emerge from the threads.) Between weaving sessions, I presented my spindle research to a tent full of interested spinners, which was so inspiring. The art of teaching really is the best way to learn your subject. Students have the most insightful questions, which fuels my desire to know more.

This summer I tackled my goal of learning to spin flax. I still have a lot to learn, but I did have success. One thing I learned is that I prefer spinning animal fibers. They feel so much nicer in the hand. Between spinning flax and spinning quivet, I'm beginning to get the feel for spinning while holding onto the spindle. I'm not that fast yet, but I'm getting better.

I also improved my knitting skills (although this was not one of my planned goals). I learned to knit gloves, expanded my sock knitting, and trained my hands to work with tiny needles. I've learned to “read” my knitting, and I can correct my mistakes, even when I find them several rows later. I did not quite finish my Christmas knitting - my poor husband got 3 socks. I guess that makes my first goal for 2014 to finish that last pair! At least it is already on the needles.

I attempted to work on my goal of recreating the Mammen nalbinding artifact. What I've learned is that this project is going to have to wait a few years until I retire. The stitches are so tiny that it takes a great deal of concentration to make evenly sized stitches. I also find it difficult to pick up the work mid-row (thank goodness for magnifying glasses). This project will have to wait until I can devote several uninterrupted hours of work at a time. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to work on my tablet weaving skills.

I have made progress on recreating the Ribe nalbinding mitten. While work on it was slowed by unexpected projects and family emergencies, I am happy with how the work is going. The yarn is spun and the stitching is started. I completed one final test mitten to work out a few questions I still had. It is meticulous work to recreate an artifact, rather than just use it as inspiration, but I am enjoying the effort.

So once again I have meandered this year, but I have no regrets. I have accomplished some of my goals and I am well on my way with others. I will allow myself to drop one goal temporarily off the list, and I am ready to leap into the new year with new work.

If you are coming to East Kingdom 12^th Night, bring a small project to display, and be sure to say hello. I’d love to hear about what art or science excites you.