DK Eyewitness Books - Viking

Linen head

clot h Spinning and weaving

AȭȭȷȪȬȪȯȨȸȰȮȦȯ (and probably some men) spent

part of the day spinning wool or flax. Then they wove the

family’s clothes on a vertical loom that stood against the

wall. Everyday clothes were cut from plain wool. But the

borders of men’s tunics and women’s dresses

were woven with geometric patterns, usually in

bright colors or, for the very rich, gold and

silver threads. Silk imported from far-off lands

was made into hats and fancy borders for

jackets. Fur trimmings on cloaks added

a touch of style. Imitation fur was

also fashionable.

Spindle whorl

SPINNING TOOLS

A spindle is a wooden rod used for

spinning. It is passed through a spindle

whorl, a round piece of clay or bone that

makes the spindle spin with its weight. The

weaver uses rods called pin-beaters to

straighten threads and make fine

adjustments to the woven cloth.

Pin-beaters Spindle

Wool is

stretched

and spun

Raw

wool

Spun

wool

Medieval woman spinning with

raw wool held on a distaff

Brown silk

SPINNING A GOOD YARN

The spinner picks a tuft of raw

wool from the basket and pulls

it into a strand. She winds this

thread around the spindle as it

spins. When one tuft is spun,

she adds the next tuft of wool

to the strand.

Spindle whorl

Spindle

Raw, combed wool

ANCY CLOTHESF

Fragments of a chieftain’s clothes were found in

a grave at Mammen, Denmark. They date from

the late 10th century. This is the end of a long

braid that the man may have used to fasten his

cloak. It is made of silk, with gold embroidery

on the borders. Animal figures and human

faces also decorate the man’s cloak and shirt.

A reconstruction of his entire outfit can be

seen on page 29. The beautiful Mammen Ax

(pp. 6–7) was found in the same grave.

Cane basket

Distaff

stopped

unspun

wool from

getting

tangled