Exhausted and excited

[frualeydis]

I'm back from Varberg. I'm exhausted. I have handled the Bocksten bog man costume: touched, looked at seams and construction and the structure of the fabric. I have four CDs with photos from 1936 when they found it and from the conservations in 1936 and 1982. Repeat: I have touched the Bocksten bog man costume!!! The only complete preserved medieval man's costume and 650 years old!!!
I also got a package from Sock Dreams.

Comments

[systemgoddess.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Do you think the hood was felted in order to repel rain? And I wonder if the looser weft was to trap warmth in the cloth of the cloak. Like those loose weave blankets that are so warm? How neat to actually see something that old.

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

Most fabrics were felted. At least if you move away from the cheaper fabrics so it probably shows that a more exepensive fabric was used.
As for the weft, the weft is (almost) always spun looser than the warp so I don't think that was something special. The weave of the cloak is very cleverly used though according to Nockert, who has done the most recent analysis. It's a three shaft twill and on on eside you see more of the worsted yarn warp and on the other more of the woollen wft. The worsted yarn is shiny and rain slides off it while the woollen yarn gives a warm fuzzy surface.

Eva

[systemgoddess.livejournal.com]

I'm just utterly fascinated by this. Thanks Eva!