Bryjna Lovisdottir of Axewater

History and Info

Bryanna OP Rank 5843 Golden Link Montengarde July 28 AS 42 / 2007

Brynna Lovisdottir OP Rank 5489 Griffin's Flame Avacal July 28 AS 42 / 2007

Champion of A&S, Montengarde at Montengarde's 12th Night, AS 43 / 2008

Award of Arms at Montengarde's 12th Night, AS 43 / 2008.

Apprentice to Morgan the Unknown at Avacal February Investiture AS 43 / 2008

Order of the Jambe de Lion at Avacal August Investiture, AS 43 / 2008.

Persona Stuff

Bryjna Lovisdottir of Axewater is an 8th century woman from Birka. I am a very well off woman of my time, and have woven for my family. I am skilled at spinning.

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Name being submitted to AnTir College of Heralds - name may change to Brynny Lodinsdottir of Ashwater. Hopefully it will be passed as Bryjna Lodinsdottir of Axewater - Lovis is just not possible unless I choose to change my persona to Anglo-French, which I am not, at this time, willing to do.

Device also being submitted. When passed, picture will be posted.

For Fun

During the summer you can find me at some camping event. In the winter you might find me at my sewing machine, or my loom. I am interested in Quilting, Sewing garb, Weaving, Spinning, Teaching and many other activities. However, my family and friends are the two most important things in my life. All else is inconsequential.

Period Shawl Documentation - Montengarde Beltaine AS 43 / 2008

During plans and preparations for King Olof’s visit to Birka, I, Bryjna Lovisdottir of Axewater did decide to weave a piece of wadmal for my daughter Robyn.

I did purchase the already dyed wool roving from the shop, Works of the Shuttle, and it did cost me ten and nine silver and five pennies. The bright colours I did choose as they reminded me how lively and bright my young child can be. I am sure that the dyer did use madder and the lichens to produce the shades of reds and purples , however she was from another town and I did not get to question her on her dye stuffs. It is sad that I no longer have a thrall with the dyers knowledge, however now I know that I can purchase the already dyed wool. The wool did concern me to begin with, as they seemed to have sheared their sheep too early. The threads seemed to be shorter than I am used to on my own farm , however the wool was strong, and did spin into pleasant threads.

I did choose a heather grey wool for the warping threads from the same shop, and these did cost me 6 silver and 5 pennies. Knowing the crops grew well this past year, I felt the cost worth it, even though with time I could have spun these threads myself with my spindle and distaff . Having my daughter looking her best for the King’s visit is important. Perhaps she will catch the eye of an important Jarl, so she must show her wealth prominently.

The fabric was woven on my loom, with threads measuring 6 ells in length and 1 ell wide . This piece of cloth was to be worn over her shoulders, and not to be a trade item, so I was not concerned with the King's law ruling such measurements. I used a simple twill pattern, and the weaving did go well. The threads I used for the warp were spun as weft threads , and I did have concerns the weaving would not be balanced, however it did weave smoothly.

I did cut the fabric from my loom, and did full it in warm water with some soap . The cloth was soft and pleasant to hold. I did let it dry and then ran a hot stone over it to help it smooth the threads even more. I did cut the ends of the threads from the cloth, and stitched down the edge so it would not fray. This cloth is to be worn over my daughters shoulders even as the Valkyrie are seen to do on the Rune Stones.

Bibliography Article: Weaves in Hand-Loom Fabrics : III. Twill Weaves by Nancy Andrews Reath Bulletin of the Pennsylvania Museum, Vol. 22, No 109. (Jan, 1927), pp 298-302

Article: Textiles in Northern Archaeology Nesat III: Textile Symposium in York 6-9 May 1987 North European Symposium for Archaeological Textiles Monograph 3 Edited by Penelope Walton and John-Peter Wild

Article: The Textile Finds from Birka, Birka III, Die Textilfunde aus den Grabern, revised by the author: Agnes Geijer, Stolkholm

Baine’s Account of the woole Manufacture of England published by Augustus M. Kelley in New York 1970. Reprint of part of Thomas Baine’s “Yorkshire, Past and Present” (1875)

The Warp-Weighted Loom: Studies in The History and Technology of an Ancient Implement by Marta Hoffmann published by The Norweigian Research Council for Science and the Humanities 1974

Article: Narsaq – a Norse landnama farm, C. L. Vebaek with contributions by M. Stoklund, P. Walton Rogers, E. Ostergard, Th. H. McGovern, G. F. Bigelow, Th. Amorosi, J. Woollett & S. Perdikaris. Meddelelser Om Gronland, Man & Society 18 – 1993