Greetings to all weavers, dyers, tailors, spinners, and textile workers of all persuasions!
FFF XXI will be in-person, at a new site and on a new weekend, but with the same textile fun that we are known for! We will be gathering at the Forrest D. Brown Conference Center, Mifflinburg, PA, on the weekend of November 10-12, 2023. This site has bunk space for travelers, and we will have the library, the silent auction, and all of the activities we love.
Please note that the site is smaller, and preregistration is required. The full event announcement has all the details.
Teacher registration is now open.
We look forward to seeing you in November!
Mistress Elyse la Bref, Autocrat
Mistress Phiala O'Ceallaigh, Chancellor
Making your SCA T-shirts into a Pillow or Quilt
Mistress Rowena ni Dhonnchaidh, AEthelmearc
All the thing I learned, both to do and not do!, when I started embroidering my tshirts to make the faded ones 'pop' back into life again. and then realized I had so many of them that I should make a quilt.
1 hour; no fee; no limit.
16th Century Cross Stitch Taught by the Left Hand
Baroness Antoinette deLorraine, AEthelmearc
16th century cross stitch is simply a style of spirals; and knowing how to apply it makes the stitches come alive. This class will be taught by a left handed instructor.
1 hour; $5 for materials; no limit.
Bitty Bags
Mistress Phiala O'Ceallaigh, AEthelmearc
Let's make a very small bag as a way to practice setting up, working, and finishing a sprang piece.
Time tba, no fee; limit 5.
Intro to Baltic Pickup Weaving
Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope, AEthelmearc
While not provably period, the Baltic Pickup method of weaving narrow bands is an alternative to tablet weaving that still allows you to create custom designs. Warp threads are either picked up from the bottom shed or dropped from the top shed in order to build a design from a pattern. A limited number of pre-warped looms will be available, or bring your own. This class is for people already familiar with basic inkle weaving.
2 hours; no fee. I will have seven looms; if more people attend, they can audit or take turns with other participants.
Introduction to Fingerloop Braiding
Master Bedwyr Danwyn, AEthelmearc
This is an entry level class into the world of Fingerloop Braiding. In just one hour, learn how easy it is to make lacing cords for garb, armor, document seals, keys, knife scabbards, points, etc. These braids can be as plain or fancy as you wish, in any color and at little expense. I'll also show you how to make a simple parking stand!
1 hour; no fee; no limit.
Plying Yarn 100
THL Glenna Cholmondeley, AEthelmearc
Exploring Techniques for plying yarn
1 hour; $5 includes spindle, handout and yarn to ply
Support Spinning 201
THL Glenna Cholmondeley, AEthelmearc
A look into the history and techniques of support spinning. Basic spinning knowledge recommended.
1 hour; $5 covers spindle, bowl, fibers and handout. $6 with premium spindle.
UNspinning Bast Fibers
Mistress Rhiannon y Bwa, AEthelmearc
Use fiber and thread analysis to separate poor quality, weak, fuzzy linen thread, yardage and rough bed linen from the smoothest, strongest, shining-est linens of past/present. Hands on. Old examples.
1 hour; no fee; no limit. Students bring scissors and magnifying glass appreciated.
But Is It Really Flax?
Mistress Fiadnata o Gleann Alainn, Midrealm
Linen is one of the most popular period fabrics, and one that many Scadians use for warm-weather garb. The near-universal assumption (shared by textile archaeologists and the public) has been that all linen in period was made from flax. Recent research now shows that the plants used were often other bast-fiber plants. Let's look at the new findings to see what bast plants are being identified and how they are being differentiated.
1 hour; no fee; no limit.