In Which the Pirate Discovers Something About a Friend.

There is something interesting about making friends in the SCA or at Pennsic: that is that we rarely get to know each other very well, and yet we would consider ourselves to be close. For example, I have known Baroness Gaerwen for at least six or seven years. She is one of the first people to greet me when I arrive on site, she plies me with drinks at the Saints Marg and Rita party, and although I have no idea what her “real” name is, I would definitely say that we are friends.

So why didn’t I know that she is into dyeing and spinning?

Well, it could be that she doesn’t do these things at Pennsic, but it could be that it never came up… until Saturday night, when she told us that she is being inducted into the Order of the Laurel (the highest level award for arts and sciences) for her work in fiber arts. She even does proper indigo dyeing. How awesome is that? I am going to ask her to take a look at my spinning and give me a lesson or three, if she has the time.

And another SCA friend, Alaric, makes beautiful drop spindles with stone whorls. I will have to try them out and see if he has one that’s about .75 ounces which fits my hand well. He did say he had some lighter ones in stock.

There are several fiber arts classes being offered at Pennsic University this year, amongst the thousand or so offerings. Everything from beginning drop spinning to fiber prep to non-wool fibers to how sheep were raised in medieval times. If you’re interested in checking out the class list, you can see it here.