I've had a request for HE to offer a medieval "sewing kit". It's a great idea, I don't know why I never thought of it before.

I would love some input on what items to include. So far I have

• thimble ring,
  
• needle case
  
• scissors
  
• linen thread
  
• beeswax
  

I'm also thinking a "repair kit" for guys might be useful. Contents would include:

• large thimble ring
  
• needle case
  
• large scissors
  [* ] light and heavy linen thread
  
• beeswax
  
• leather thongs
  

Suggested additions for either "kit" would be very welcome. What sort of thing have you found you needed and wished you had when at a camp?

I suspect that these lists would be very useful for anyone on this board who wanted to put together a kit for themselves so please feel free to chime in!

Thanks!

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Originally posted by Ginevra:
Hi folks-
I've had a request for HE to offer a medieval "sewing kit". It's a great idea, I don't know why I never thought of it before.
Gwen

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I know whats in my little bentwood box that I take to events:
needles (modern store bought ones for now )
home made brass dress pins
a couple aiglettes
a spool of white silk thread
some black linen thread
a small hank of linen cording
a spool of white linen thread
beeswax
a needle case
scissors
thimble (I ahve a little leather one, but I rarely sew )
a small awl
a half dozen lacing rings
a hank of lacing cord (finger loop braided)

with this kit and I can repair shoes or clothing, make and replace buttons (from a snippet off the insde of the hem, etc), replace a dress lace, etc.

its really cool to offer it in the documentatble bent wood box...I bought mine really cheap (the wood is very thin and there was a small "made in china" sticker on the inside) at a black powder show of all places.

--AM

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Additional items:
Utility kit- hank of stitching sinew
Sewing kit- silk thread in addition to the linen

I'm not sure how I feel about the bentwood box. I know that they are documentable, but the association with the Shakers/18th C. is so strong I wonder if it would be the right container to use. I have seen small covered woven grass baskets and was looking for a source of them, rather than the bentwood. I know from experience that the woven baskets don't crush as easily as the bentwood boxes.

My intention was to offer the sewing kit in a basket and the utility kit in a drawstring pouch.

Any thoughts?

quote:

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I'm also thinking a "repair kit" for guys might be useful. Contents would include:

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1) A haversack or pillage bag filled with ice
2) A sixpack of New Castle Brown or Samuel Smith's Nut Brown
3) A modern bottle opener.
4) A mug made of appropriate materials for one's station!

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as for where to get them, obviously you need to come visit me again as we can pick them up in Victoria .

(I suppose your local version of Asian neighborhood might have them too, but that's not nearly as much fun )

as for the need for a beer, etc, my sewing box often has a few treats stashed in it. You know, just in case of emergencies....

--AM

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If you like, I can try to dig out his business card, which if I recall had a web address on it?

That would be cool. I am specifically interested in the scribes kit, but would be curious to know what else he offers.

Does he have a web site? If not, a mailing address and a business card would be cool.

Jenn

Misc small items for kits tracked down.

Wooden coffers to house the sewing kit are in the works. (This will be offered alone as well as part of a kit)

Awls are in the works.

Currently negotiating on the snips.

Maybe another 8-10 weeks or so before we can offer one or both of these kits.

Haven't forgotten that I said I'd mail you the website of the guy over here who's doing the sort of kits you are thinking about.

However, I have lost his card, so it'll have to wait until I get a chance to pick up another one at the Blackbird Leys market in three weeks.

Sorry about that,

I am pretending to be Chef tonight. I figure he has usurped my handle a few times so he won't mind me being him tonight as long as I don't go about picking fights.

Thanks. Please let me know when you get the info I really appreciate it.

The company doing the boxes in the UK is "Time tarts", AKA John Naylor, E-mail Tinker_uk_99@yahoo.com

Their format is essentially a nice wooden box of appropriate size, with a kit of tools or items for a specific trade inside, prices from about £35 to £150.

Kits they had on sale at the market included "Saxon lady's box" "Physician's box" "Reed worker's box", "Medieval lady's box" and "Scribes' box"

Hope that helps.

I'm in the process of putting a repair kit together but I'm a little stumped about authentic containers/bags!

Any suggestions?

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If it's a small repair kit, a leather or cloth pouch would probably be OK, too.

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Thanks,

if I remember correctly there was a neat little needle case among the famous finds from London. It was a small tube made from copper sheeting with a little lid and contained several iron needles. Others were made from latten as well, but bone needles are from a little earlier period of time.

There was an exhibition dealing with the late middle ages here in Germany, and among other goodies there were needles of iron and latten. Probably the catalogue is still available, the title is "Das Spätmittelalter am Oberrhein". I´ll post the ISBN as soon as possible, since I highly recommend it. for a re-enactor that´s keen on details, the volume comes pretty close to the Bible;o)

Regards

ivo

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Originally posted by Glen K:
Speaking of medieval sewing kits, does anyone know of any extant examples of needles from ANYTIME during the medieval period? Were they large or small, iron or bone, or all of the above?

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Yes...I know that bone needles (which are mainly early medieval) are discussed in

MacGregor, A, A J Mainman, and Rogers, NSH. Craft, Industry, and Everyday Life: Bone, Antler, Ivory, and Horn from Anglo-Scandinavian and Medieval York, Archaeology of York Vol. 17 fasc. 11, . Council for British Archaeology, 1999. 1-8724-1499-0

MacGregor, Arthur. Bone, Antler, Ivory, and Horn: The Technology of Skeletal Materials Since the Roman Period, Croom Helm, London, 1985. 0-7099-3242-1

Metal needles (iirc, some were iron....some were copper alloy?) are discussed in

Rogers, Penelope. Textile Production at 16-22 Coppergate , Archaeology of York ,V17 f.11. Council for British Archaeology, 1997, 1-872414-761

there may also be information on needles in:

E. Crowfoot. Textiles and Clothing: Medieval Finds from Excavations in London, 1150-1450 HMSO, 1992.

There is some info on sewing tools in the MoL's _Medieval Household_ book, not sure if needles were included....