This is a list of the classes currently planned for Hrim-Schola XV, hosted by the Shire of Frosted Hills, East Kingdom, Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., on 12 March 2011. Please check back periodically to keep abreast of the offerings and their descriptions as they are added, changed, or deleted. Last updated 10 March 2011.

For further class information, you can contact the instructors or the Chancellor, Þóra Sharptooth. You can consult this list for information about motels and other accommodations near the site. (Please note that the pricing information is a bit out of date, and the Alka Inn has been torn down.)

This document is a work in progress. It is provided as is without any express or implied warranties. While every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained, the authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

© 2011, Carolyn Priest-Dorman and the instructors

Here below are the confirmed classes. Please stop by often to view updates as they occur.

Fiber Prep: Period vs Modern, Industrial vs Home Processes – Mistress Scolastica la souriete, Lady Michele of Unclaimed Crown Lands. The class will give a brief survey of period methods of fiber preparation. Then we move on to a discussion of more modern industrial processes and then the more practical consideration of you are in your home and have a fleece, so what next? We will have combs, cards, flickers, drum carders, and some other tools available as well as an assortment of fibers mostly wool for people to sample and play with. Please feel free to bring your own fleeces and fibers and we can discuss how you may want to process it depending on what you want to do with it. Class participation and discussion is encouraged and welcome. Please feel free to wander off at any time. Materials fee about $2, depending on amount of fleece/fiber you use. Two hours. 1:30pm.

Icelandic, Soay, Shetland, Karakul – It’s All Sheep to Me! – Lady Siobhan MacConmara. What’s in a name? A discussion of period sheep breeds and the characteristics of their fleece, followed by a hands on look at wool samples from their modern day namesakes and those with period qualities. One hour. 12:15pm.

Period Spinning Tools – Mistress Scolastica la souriete. A discussion of medieval spinning tools based on evidence from period illustrations and archeological finds. One hour. 11:00am.

Selvedges: The Woven Edge – Lady Siobhan MacConmara. A selvedge (or selvage) is literally the “self-edge” of a woven fabric. The class will start with a discussion of different selvedge techniques and how to design the pattern for the edge of a fabric. It will end with hands on weaving to see a few. Hour and a half. 1:30pm.

Basic Kumihimo – Lord Mikael “Kael” McCue. Students will learn how to make two basic braids using kumihimo disks. The instructor will also have a wooden maru-dai set up to allow people to see the difference between working on one as opposed to the disks. Materials fee: $5 (includes disk, bobbins and string). One hour. 11:00am.

Tips and Techniques of Sprang – Lord Mikael “Kael” McCue. A free-form class where the instructor will be prepared to discuss the how-to’s of a variety of different sprang techniques from basics to more complicated maneuvers, depending upon the desires of the students. The instructor will have samples of his work as well as frames set up to demonstrate techniques and tricks learned over the years. One hour. 1:30pm.

Intermediate Fingerloop: Lace Condrak – Lady Rosina von Schaffhausen. The lace condrak, or lace cowe de race, is a pretty round lace with a two color spiral pattern. The instructions are easy but consistent tension is harder than usual, and the cord requires a swivel to make (provided in class, take it home for a fee). One hour. 2:45pm.

Introduction to Fingerloop Braids – Lady Elizabet Marshall. Learn to manipulate thread with your fingers to make a braid. You’ll learn to make two different braids with practically the same pattern of finger movements. No experience needed. Knowing left from right is good, but even if that gives you problems, we can work. We’ll also talk about “reading” the patterns. Based on the Compleat Anachronist issue. Limited to 10. One hour. 12:15pm.

Block Patterns for Tablet Weaving – Mistress Phiala O’Ceallaigh. Come learn a new approach to weaving elaborately patterned bands without much if any pre-planning. Hands-on and discussion, suitable for beginner to intermediate tablet weavers. 1 hour, no fee. Limit 6. 2:45pm.

Introduction to Tablet Weaving – Lady Irene von Lassan. This will cover a short history of tablet weaving, then will go on to allow everyone to try a couple of weaves, ending with how to set up tablet weaving. No fee. Two hours. 12:15pm.

Pattern Drafting for Snartemo – Lord Gauen Wydfare. We will discuss how to create patterns for Snartemo style tablet weaving in three and four colors. You will not need a computer, only some colored pencils and graph paper (provided), and a desire to create! One hour. 11:00am.

Beyond the Oslo Stitch: Intermediate Nalbinding – Lady Ose Silverhair. You know basic nalbinding. Now move on to some more complex stitches. Mammen, Vendal and Dalby stitches will be covered. Bring your own needle. Two hours. 11:00am.

Early Knitting Techniques and Tools: Clues from Extant Middle Eastern Socks – Lady Susanna Lockheart. Among the oldest pieces of knitting are a number of Middle Eastern cotton socks dated to between 1000 and 1500 AD. Through experimentation and direct study of several of the extant socks, evidence has been found which points to unique construction techniques and the use of a specific set of tools. Time permitting, we will informally discuss problems/questions relating to the study of historical knitting. 11:00am.

Nålebinding Tutorial – Lady Ása in Svarta and Annys Tadcaster. Revolving tutorial on how to get started with nålebinding. Yarn and needle provided. Drop by any time, all afternoon. The Library.

Anglo-Saxon Embellishments – Hlafdige Arastorm. How to ornament your garb as an early Anglo-Saxon. I’ll be concentrating on the Migration and Middle Saxon periods, not so much the later AS period. We’ll discuss the embroidery that survives, the use of various furs, as well as what we can infer from surviving tooled leather and metalwork (Sutton Hoo and the Staffordshire Hordes). One hour. 1:30pm.

Constructing a Comfortable Underdress (but how do I make it fit my body?) – Lady Ose Silverhair. How do you take that itty-bitty sketch you found on the internet or in a book and turn it into a garment that actually fits your body? Discussion includes 10th, 12th and 16th century styles. Leave the class with all the measurements you need to go home and sew. One hour. 2:45pm.

Cover That Head! – Lady Isabel de Bayonne. The goal of this class is to introduce the student to women’s simple head coverings from the 15th century and earlier. What would your persona have worn on a daily basis to work and play? Only very basic construction and sewing techniques will be covered; resources will be included for further study in that area. One hour. 11:00am.

Making Bezants – Frigga Halladottir. Cross-listed; see “Fun with Sharp Things,” below.

Making Clothing for Heavy-Weapons Fighting – Master Grim the Skald. Do you want to stop wearing UnderArmor, but really need some ideas? Is the dirty t-shirt you wear under your period-looking breastplate getting old? This will be a course in making clothing for heavy weapons fighting, either to wear under your armor, or over. We will discuss options for clothing, some basic techniques for putting it together, and durability issues. Grim will share his patterns, which are good for a 9th-11th Century Norse Fighter, but we will discuss applying them to other personas too. One hour. 12:15pm.

An Overview of 12th Century Women’s Clothing – Mistress Briony of Chatham. This class examines the basics of 12th century clothing, particularly the elusive bliaut, using period illumination and sculpture sources. One hour. 1:30pm.

Russia In the Middle Ages – Lady Katrusha the Skomorokh. Cross-listed under “Other Fun Stuff,” below.

Anglo-Saxon Embellishments – Hlafdige Arastorm. Cross-listed with “Clothing and Embellishments,” above.

Beginning Appliqué – Lady Elizabet Marshall. Make a felt needle case with appliqued design. General familiarity with thread and needles helpful but not required. Limited to 10. Fee $2. One hour. 1:30pm.

Counted Embroideries, Not On Display at the Met – Lady Mariot Carllein. Close-up photographs of 14 counted work embroideries from the 16th and 17th centuries, which are in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum but are not on display. Nine have photos of the embroidery backs. While the agreement with the Met that allowed me to make the photographs forbids giving copies, we can examine and discuss them. One hour. 12:15pm.

V&A Study Room: Embroidery Photographs – Lady Mariot Carllein. Look at photographs of all the pre-1600 embroideries from the V&A study room. It’s a big stack of pictures, with the reference slips. (The color values are poor on some due to the low light conditions, but images are sharp. These images came to Hrim-Schola a few years ago on a laptop, so you may have seen them then.) One hour. 2:45pm.

Beginning Stone Carving – Herr Steinmetzmeister Alaric Jäger von Bremen. One hour. 1:30pm.

Making Bezants – Frigga Halladottir. Add some bling with bezants! Bezants are small metal shapes used to decorate early period clothing and accessories. Discover more about how to make and use them. Hands on class after which you will leave with a bezant of your own. Open to all ages (although children need to attend with an adult). No fee. One hour. 2:45pm.

Medieval Leatherwork with Period Tools – THL Thorvaldr Frithsamr. No jiffy rivets, rotary punches, swivel knives or speedy stitchers – great gods, how did they ever get anything done? Survey of period leather tools and techniques, modern sources of equivalent tools, and tool making hints for the deep period experience and appearance. Cutting, marking, incising, awl work, and very basic stitching. One hour rambling lecture with show and tell followed by one hour (plus?) practicum - feel free to bring your leather projects, in process or in concept, for discussion. First hour unlimited attendance; practicum limit of of six. 12:15pm.

Medieval Mini Book: Covered Vade Mecum – Lady Heather Rose Gordon. This small book fits in the palm of your hand, a little wider than a modern quarter and a little taller than the short side of a dollar. This unique and portable book is a great way to carry information around with you without excess weight and digging through your pouch or basket. This is a hands-on class. $3 donation suggested, walk away with a mini leather covered book. No children under 16. All materials and equipment will be supplied for use. One hour. 12:15pm.

Blade Metallurgy in 14th Century England – Lord Fergal the Smith. A brief discussion of the metallurgy of blades in 14th century England, specifically small blades. In this class we will touch upon the methodology and materials available to the typical blade smith of 14th century England – the wheres, whats, and hows so to speak. Handouts will be made available. This class is “new to metal” friendly and is geared towards those who know little or nothing but would like to understand more the art of forging steel in period. One hour. 2:45pm.

Celtic Illumination – Lord Fergal the Smith. The basics of how to draw knots and zoomorphics (beasties), how to arrange panels and borders. Bring your favorite sketchpad (large), a ruler (long), and pencils (sharp). One hour. 11:00am.

Russia In the Middle Ages – Lady Katrusha the Skomorokh. There are many things that Russia had in common with other areas of the world as well as a wide variety of differences. This class will speak about the typical roles of men and women (who will be our focus) as well as clothing, food, celebrations, and what a typical day in the life of these people would be like. With your help, we can compare and contrast medieval Russia with the areas your personas are from. One hour. 11:00am.

• Athena’s Thimble – Stitch ‘n, well, you know, with the East Kingdom’s embroidery guild. Paneling may take place. One hour. 4:00pm.

• The Guild of St. Severus (EK Knitters) – Come bring your knitting and chat about what you’re working on. We will be having a paneling if anybody wants to panel. One hour. 4:00pm.

• Spin-In – An opportunity for spinners to get together and just do their thing. All day, The Great Hall.

• Stash Buster! – Meet to swap yarns; one string maniac’s trash is another’s treasure! One hour. 4:00pm.

• Weaving Round Table – Meet, greet, catch up on, and chat with other weavers here. Bring your samples, photos, or anything else you’d like to share. One hour. 4:00pm.

• Worshipful Company of Narrow Workers – Meeting of the East Kingdom guild for narrow wares, which includes tablet weaving, fingerlooping, netmaking, and similar techniques. One hour. 4:00pm.

This page was created on 8 November 2010 and last updated on 10 March 2011.

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