Just before I left for Ghana, I received formal notice that my presentation proposal, submitted in September, has been accepted. Around presentations, workshops, and demonstrations will occur. Given my lack of a time machine, we will have to select only a few of the around sessions offered to attend.
Mom and I tend to focus on those sessions that are textile related. But if there are no textile session offered in a particular time slot, we have found that we often enjoy the environmental sciences presentations. Looks like I need to get to nalbinding. But first, find the right yarnβ¦.
Title: Knee-length nalbound stockings from medieval Scandinavia: Two previously unexamined examples Abstract: Over fifty years ago, excavations in the affluent neighborhoods near the Royal Palaces in medieval Nidaros, modern day Trondheim, Norway, and in Helgeandsholmen, Stockholm, Sweden revealed the earliest known knee-length nalbound stockings in Scandinavia.
These extraordinary stockings underwent some conservation treatment but had not otherwise been examined in detail. This paper will address the results of recent examinations. Both stockings exhibit evidence of wear. The toes are damaged or missing. They also share a type of heel, similar to the one on the Uppsala exemplar, that is first seen on socks and stockings of this timeframe.
Nalbound knee-length stockings are extremely rare in the pre-Modern Era as most socks made using the technique of nalbinding are ankle length. There is evidence of later re-use of the fabric of the stockings as both have regular holes that are brought into alignment by fold lines and were found with one or more sticks still in them. The area proximal to the holes shows compression, minimal fulling, and retains flexibility.
