Ancient fragments of textiles have been found in the Bronze and Iron Age salt mines of Hallstatt, Austria, dating back from 400 to 1500 BCE. I've always found it extraordinary when such fragile artefacts survive over such long periods of time. In this case, many of the fragments were preserved by the salt itself, which …
Tag: hand weaving
Bog Fashion – Recreating Bronze and Iron Age Clothes
I have discovered an amazing book that I’d like to share with everyone. Bog Fashion, by Nicole DeRushie, was published in 2025 and is available through Chrono Copia Publishing. The author is a Canadian historian, and it is clear that this book is a labour of love. It is thoroughly researched with reference to historical …
Continue reading Bog Fashion – Recreating Bronze and Iron Age Clothes
More about bog clothing
As archaeologists uncovered bog bodies in Northern Europe dating to the Bronze Age and Iron Age, there was quite a variety of clothing found on the bodies, often very well preserved. Evidence of woolen garments was widespread, along with animal hides and plant fibres such as linen. The acidic bog environment presents a preservation bias …
Creativity and Inspiration
Creativity For as long as textiles have been created - whether by braiding, felting or weaving - craft-workers have been combining the functional requirements of the cloth with creative ideas. This may have been to enhance the textile's warmth or strength, to introduce different fibres, or to change the look of the textile with new dyes, pattern weaves, manipulation or sewing techniques, …
Diamonds and Broken Diamonds
Diamond twill is an ancient weave which has been identified in textiles dating back thousands of years. I think it is a beautiful, symmetrical and versatile pattern that combines well with borders in a point twill, or with variations of beautiful 'bird's eye' designs. (It also works quite well with a stripey warp, as you can …
Celtic Weaving 