The Medieval Merchants

So, the new season is opened! The long May weekend we spent with our friends in an educational farm in Osice near Pruszcz Gdański. Nights were cold but fortunately we had enough wool blankets to be warm. There were quite many guests visiting the farm and press, TV, radio...

Our stall (photo made by Klaryssa)

 Of course we took all our stuff to show. My laces, yarns and naalbinding goods, Klaryssa's beautiful pincushions, weaved textiles by Rosamar...

 On Saturday Rosamar presented old techniques of spinning and weaving with short introduction about historical sheep, wool and preparing fleece.

 

The presentation of wool and spinning (photo made by Klaryssa)

Weaving (photo made by Klaryssa)

 We also showed our medieval clothes from the end of 14 and the beginning of 15 century. I could appear myself in my new apron.

 In the evening we treated our guests to some medieval dishes.

 

Medieval dishes (photo made by Klaryssa)

The most funny incident were when some lady was absolutely surprised that we are educated. She expected simply peasants taken off from a plough. 

The beginning of the tournament (photo made by Klaryssa)

 Next weekend we went to the court of Konrad Mazowiecki where a tournament were given in the castle of Czersk near Warsaw. This time we were members of some nomadic tribe called Kipchak, Kuman or Połowcy. 

Our castle stall (photo made by Rosamar)

Klaryssa could wear her beautiful caftan first time. We had also our stall with woolen stuff.

 

Wool, wool and once again wool (photo made by Klaryssa)

 And I were asked to give a short interview for television aobut our reenactment.

 

Me and TV camera (photo made by Klaryssa)

 All in all the event were very nice although there could be more customers in our stall.

The smocked apron for a medieval innkeeper

I wanted to begin new medieval season by a quiet and nice picnic. May be two days picnic. So I persuaded my friend Klaryssa to call our friendly farm if it was possible to pick up our tents there. The landlady was so excited that instead of calm picnic it will be a real fest with invited very important persons, press and gods know who else. I want to serve some medieval dishes and that means spending some time in the kitchen. As an innkeeper I need some apron.
Watching The Luttrell Psalter (an English illuminated psalter written and illustrated c. 1320–1340 by anonymous scribes and artists) I found several smocked aprons I liked.

A poor woman cultivating her field

Some peasant working with sheeps

A woman feeding chickens

A spinner

Harvesting women

I used white linen to create my apron. Firstly I drew lines for chosen pattern, then I made so called honey comb.

The begining of a honey comb

When the honey comb was ready I hemmed it by pale pink Egyptian cotton.

The honey comb is ready

The second line of my pattern it is made of trellis stitch which let me achieve half diamond shape.

A half of diamond shape under the honey comb

Under this part I made a chain using the same pink cotton.

In the end of the pattern I made a honey comb once again.

The whole pattern

Then I added a belt, hemmed the whole apron and there it is, my apron for medieval innkeeper.

My apron in its magnificence

The aprons in The Lutterell Psalter are more decorative. It was black thread used to make the patterns. But I think that one apron it is not enough for me, so next time I will create a black ornament.In the pictures you can also see a wonderful pincushion gifted me by Klaryssa who made it by herself using the pattern of a cushion from XIV century (Victoria & Albert Museum).