Sally Pointer

@jupitersigh@artisan.chat this one was just opportunist hedge-bothering, but it all add to a familiarity with the resources of a particular area.

Nettle season is definitely here, at least in the UK. Want to have a go but don't know where to start? How about learning to make a nice piece of string?
https://youtu.be/0grnnvmpn1A

When I was 16 I bought a leather jacket (I'm 18 in the picture on the left). 35 years later, at the advanced age of 51, I've bought my second. Leaf green this time. I think there's still a rock chick in here somewhere 🤣

@jupitersigh@artisan.chat plus you get the Dawn Chorus all breaking off mid song to wonder what the crazy person is up to this time as you roll around on the lawn at first light!

May Morning! Have you been out to wash your face in May dew yet? Do this, and you too can be as scruffy as me all year long...oh, wait...wrong pep talk. I absolutely promise it will make you beautiful and young looking and not even slightly as if you've been dragged through a hedge backwards. Better?

Short scrap of string made whilst out for a stroll in the sunshine. This is winter retted hop bines, I shall collect more next time I pass that bit of hedge, this is wonderfully strong and I plan to make a decent length (if I can find a few spare minutes).

Working on a Bronze Age style skirt today, part of a special outfit commission that's using some really top quality materials. It's lovely warm heavy undyed wool fabric, and a bone needle is just perfect for sewing it up.

I'm delighted to announce two new workshop dates at the Ancient Technology Centre (Dorset, UK) in May this year.
Saturday 13 May is 'Introduction to Prehistoric Textiles' and Sunday 14 May is 'Introduction to Sprang'.

Both courses will explore the archaeological evidence as well as focussing on practical skills, all in the amazing setting of a reconstructed ancient building.

More details and booking via my website:
https://www.sallypointer.com/product-page/introduction-to-prehistoric-textiles
https://www.sallypointer.com/product-page/introduction-to-sprang-14-may-2023

It's a perfect time of year for collecting thorns. We have a lot of not only blackthorn (sloe) but also damson and bullace in the local hedges and all produce strong thorns. I use these for pins and also make needles with them, but today I'm collecting for a much more complex project that needs some really strong very long thorns. I'll peel these now whilst they are fresh, then they can dry til I'm ready to sort them by size and put them to work!
#hedgebothering

I'm at Stonehenge this weekend doing training sessions for their lovely team of volunteers. Looking forward to introducing them to many different prehistoric textile techniques

Thursday, and the PlayMobil archaeologists are hard at work. I'm not exactly sure what they are excavating yet, but once they've got the hang of it I'll set them to work looking for the floor in my living room.

Wishing everyone the happiest of New Years. I'm still working on getting back to full strength, but there have been many good things too.

A clear first year cancer review, the challenges of working on my MSc in Experimental Archaeology, being allowed back in a trench, a huge amount of time travelling that took me from the stone age to the 19th century this year. Lots of commissions, & most important has been time spent with friends old and new.

Thank you all for your support. Here's to 2023!

There's a new video up on my YouTube channel, and it's one a lot of people have asked for this year.
Making a 3-ply cord is as easy as a 2-ply version, and it also reflects the current oldest known piece of string, which was made in a 3-ply technique around 50,000 years ago by our Neanderthal cousins.
https://youtu.be/WL0WOiBY0l8 (or search for Sally Pointer on YouTube if the link is awkward)

With midwinter fast approaching it's a perfect time to curl up in the warm and knit something inspired by history or archaeology. Until New Year's eve I'm offering a 10% discount code for all the knitting patterns on my Payhip page, making it a perfect time to plan a project or two. Just use code Midwinter22 at checkout at
https://payhip.com/SallyPointer

Feel free to share, the coupon can be used as many times as you like.

#knitting #archaeology #history #crafts

It's always fun when a client sends an image of a hat to use as inspiration for their commission. This one is essentially a variation on a half split brim Tudor & like all these hats finishing is where it all comes together. After knitting the hat is heavily fulled to give it dense structure then blocked to shape. Nap raising with a teasel gives a velvety surface, and making cloth buttons to secure the brim is a nice finishing touch. I can't quite manage the luxuriant moustache & beard though 😉

It's another beautiful morning, there's been the tiniest dusting of snow overnight so everything has that icing sugar look to it. This dry burdock seedhead caught the morning sunlight and really sparkled.