A change of mindset

Originally I started working on my son's victorian overcoat as something that I would do quickly and then get on with a real project. The basic pattern is easy enough but it is the new techniques, sewing pockets in and doing cording, that take time. I was really getting frustrated not getting on as quickly as I wanted to.

Today I deciced it was time for a new mindset. Learning the new skills is my goal now, and not getting it done quickly. It worked, today I made a pocket in a scrap piece of fabric. It's not good, but for a start it's not bad either, at least I got my mind around the basics. I"ll probably try it twice more and hopefully get the hang of it.

The other frustration is that I can't get the things I need on our local market or in our local shop. And I haven't got time to go to fabric market in Utrecht on Saturday where they have nearly everything. Luckily enough after some searching I found some of the things I need on the internet. Like this satin piping cord.



It's from De stoffenkraam. The grey tweed and darkgreen cotton fabric that I am using for the coat were also purchased on-line with De Stoffenstunter. A Big hurray for on-line shopping!

Victorian times

If you dress up your son to look like a victorian boy you also need toys for him to play with.

This is what we got him:







Victorian childeren had much less toys than modern childeren. Most examples of toys I could find are for girls. Like dolls and dolls houses, so the choice was very limited. I doubt the lead soldiers we bought are really victorian but they look the part for the untrained eye.

Meanwhile I am struggeling to make him an overcoat, the original victorian description is very minimalistic, and there are a lot of sewing techniques involved which I have never done before. Like sewing pockets in, so I really could use a good description. I'll get it done but it will take more time than usual.

Vikingen op Wieringen

picture courtesy of Jan Glotze.

We where lucky enough to be part of the Vikingday held by the Viking information Centre, Den Oever. The weather was lovely, and the public was interested. We had a great time. As always more pictures can be found on our Munnin& Huginn website.

Driebergen Dorpsfeest

picture © Renk Knol

Driebergen held a small historical event, with medieval section. There was a lot of public, most of them where really nice and interested, the weather was great and we where there with or friends of Het Verbond van Christophorus. Ás it was really exteremly busy we didn't have time to take pictures. I made two to be exact, I found this really lovely one while surfing the internet. The other ones, a kind lady send us, you can find on the Zwarte Zwaan website.

Victorian boys suit finished!

The Victorian boys suit from 1868,the pattern is from Ageless Patterns, is finally finished.! The bottom of the trousers are not yet hemmed, as my son has grown a cm since it was finished. So I will do the hems begin December. Just a few days before we need it for the Anton Pieck Parade on the 12 th December in Haarlem.
The cap and blouse are storebougth.

As December can be cold and wet I have decided to make my son a period overcoat as well, it will be this one from 1877, also from Ageless Patterns.

New Tent

For years we used an A-frame viking tent but recently we sold it and purchased a Anglo Saxon Geteld. It is easy to transport and much quicker to set up.


From the Utrecht Psalter Psalm 119, Folio 71 Verso



Martyrdom of Saint Boniface - Gottinger Sacramentary




1155 - 1160 Eadwine Psalter

More information and images:
The Geteld

Princess of Zweeloo costume

After (hand)sewing the tube for my peplosdress together I found out that it wasn't wide enough to drape well. So I have decided to make a viking undertunic out of that fabric and try to save some money for the right fabric. If I am honest I have to say that I don't really mind that it didn't work out with this wonderfull grey linen. Now I have more time to do research on the costume and the accessories and I can make a more accurate reconstruction. Only downside is that it will take more time and money, but I hope and think that the end result will be worth it. Meanwhile I have ordered a magazine (Kostuum 1996/Costume 1996) with a article written by S.Y. Comis -De Kleding van de prinses van Zweeloo (The costume of the princess of Zweeloo) to start my research off with.


More information:



Prinses van Zweeloo - Encyclopedie Drenthe Online (Dutch)




Drents Museum(Dutch)




Coevorden - De prinses van Zweeloo (Dutch)

Studien zur Sachsenforschung' article Das Grab der "Prinzessin" von Zweeloo und seine Bedeutung im Rahmen des Gräberfeldes' (1977)- W.A. van Es en J. Ypey (German)

The Compleat Anachronist #59, Women's Garb in Nothern Europe, 450-1000 C.E. Frisians, Angles, Franks, Balts, Vikings and Finns pages 19- 22)(English)

Dress in Anglo-Saxon England, Gale Owen-Crocker, page 45-46, fig 31.(English)

Kostuum 1996, yearbook of de Nederlandse Vereniging voor Kostuum, Kant, Mode en Streekdracht, article by Comis.S.Y- De Kleding van de prinses van Zweeloo, p43-p45.(Dutch)

Een nieuwe reconstructie van de kleding van de 'Prinses van Zweeloo' [A new reconstruction of the costume of the 'Princess of Zweeloo'] article - S Y Vons-Comis printed in:
* Van rendierjager tot ontginner, Nieuwe Oudheidkundige Ontdekkingen in Drenthe, 33, [1988?]
* Varia Bio-Archaeologica, 74, 39-75
* Nieuwe Drentse Volksalmanak, 105, 1988, 39(151)-75(187)

In a fresh study of the ornaments and textiles, parallels were sought in Belgium, France, England, Scandinavia and Germany. The dress is now reconstructed as a long tunic with paired shoulder brooches from which a double necklace hangs, over which is a fringed cape fastened on the chest with an equal-armed brooch. Emphasis of the study is on the reconstruction of textile weaves. Date: mid-5th century.
Source: biab online