tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2670213486548123819.post2843516681024816808..comments2024-03-24T21:42:17.025-04:00Comments on Loose Threads: <small>Yet Another Costuming Blog</small>: A Resource! Fingerloop BraidingCathy Raymondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04580681386443534011noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2670213486548123819.post-44822217605269915552013-10-23T17:12:29.721-04:002013-10-23T17:12:29.721-04:00The author of Loopbraiding.com, Ingrid Crickmore, ...The author of Loopbraiding.com, Ingrid Crickmore, has one final interesting (to me) comment about Slentre braiding:<br /><br /><i>Slentre may have originally been limited to the Faroe Islands. Jackie Wollenberg recently told me that although she learned it from someone in Denmark, that person had herself learned it from someone who had moved to Denmark from the Faroe Islands. (If the Faroe Islands are considered part of Scandinavia, that makes Scandinavia the only place in the world where all three of these parallel loop braiding methods have been found!)</i> <br /><br />Of course, this by no means proves that fingerloop braiding goes back to the Viking age or that the Vikings used any particular braiding technique, but it provides excellent fuel for conjecture.<br /><br />Incidentally (with regard to the question with which I ended my last comment), Ms. Crickmore claims that all three fingerloop techniques can be used to make what she calls "simple, 2-pass fingerloop braids," but that V-fell technique is easier if you want to make braids that require more than 7 loops. She also is of the opinion that "flat and divided braids feel a bit more difficult to make" with Slentre technique. <br />Cathy Raymondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04580681386443534011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2670213486548123819.post-28211868975126252942013-10-23T16:57:11.067-04:002013-10-23T16:57:11.067-04:00Interestingly, Loopbraider.com has a blog entry de...Interestingly, Loopbraider.com has a blog entry describing the differences between the methods in some detail, <a href="http://loopbraider.com/about/a-fell-v-fell-slentre-and-hand-held-loop-braiding/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.<br /><br />Loopbraider.com confirms your statement about where A-fell and V-fell were used, and states that there was also a third method, Slentre, that "is only known from the Faroe Islands, and possibly Denmark." However, the page claims that "The current loop braiding revival is largely based on the A-fell method" and that Slentre "has also been widely taught in textile and craft circles." Make of that what you will.<br /><br />I'm also wondering whether, and how, it's possible to tell whether a braid has been made via the A-fell or V-fell method.Cathy Raymondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04580681386443534011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2670213486548123819.post-55131170375080689422013-10-23T16:46:47.538-04:002013-10-23T16:46:47.538-04:00A-fell was typically used in Western Europe. V-fel...<i>A-fell was typically used in Western Europe. V-fell is typical pretty much everywhere else in the world.</i><br /><br />At least now I understand your remark about V-fell. Thanks.<br /><br />Cathy Raymondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04580681386443534011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2670213486548123819.post-28402473779654204982013-10-23T15:14:55.493-04:002013-10-23T15:14:55.493-04:00I think A- and V-fell refer to whether when making...I think A- and V-fell refer to whether when making a flat braid whether you join the braid between the two hands at little finger to little finger or index finger to index finger. I.e. if you held your hands in a slope to indicate this, whether it would make the slopes of the A or the V.<br /><br />However, I have to admit that is totally inferred/guessed so I may be wrong. Loopbraider.com would be the place to ask to get a proper answer from someone who knows what they're talking about!<br /><br />A-fell was typically used in Western Europe. V-fell is typical pretty much everywhere else in the world.Miriamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07941566213672427040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2670213486548123819.post-50073982326884253352013-10-21T16:34:53.717-04:002013-10-21T16:34:53.717-04:00Now I must show my ignorance; what are A-fell and ...Now I must show my ignorance; what are A-fell and V-fell? I gather from your remark that V-fell was not typically used in medieval braiding, and I don't know much about the actual history of the technique. <br /><br />As you say, silkwerk.com is not at all a beginner's page. Loopbraider.com may not be optimal for those who want their work to be accurate to the medieval period. You have made me curious enough to check out fingerloop.org. Thank you for the information you have provided.Cathy Raymondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04580681386443534011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2670213486548123819.post-4057908573289282922013-10-21T16:25:53.994-04:002013-10-21T16:25:53.994-04:00IMO, the three are really useful for different rea...IMO, the three are really useful for different reasons.<br /><br />Fingerloop.org is good for learning A-fell and for the basics of the medieval braids. Downside is it lacks many of the more complicated braids from the manuscripts.<br />Loopbraider.com is good for learning V-fell, for learning how to do multi-braider braids as a solo braider, for learning colour patterns and most of all for learning how to understand the method (essential for devising your own colour patterns or your own braids). Downside is it is all V-fell, so you need to really understand how it works to be able to apply it to medieval braiding.<br />Silkwerk.com is good for showing ALL of the medieval braid recipes (unlike fingerloop.org), for comparing the braids in different manuscripts and for a bit of analysis on how the medieval braids work. Downside is that it is not necessarily a beginner's page - i.e. many of the braids only have the medieval recipe translated into modern English, it is assumed you will then understand what is meant.Miriamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07941566213672427040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2670213486548123819.post-64742848271470549132013-10-21T10:06:54.253-04:002013-10-21T10:06:54.253-04:00Hi, Panth! No, I hadn't seen the silkewerk.co...Hi, Panth! No, I hadn't seen the silkewerk.com page, and that's an excellent resource too, but of a different kind. The silkewerk page gives original directions from medeival manuscripts on fingerloop braiding (along with modernized descriptions of same), right? Since I've barely gotten my feet wet in the wonderful art of fingerloop braiding, detailed *and* illustrated how-tos are of particular interest to me. I was also interested in the three-loop tutorials on loopbraider.com because of my efforts to make a six-strand (and 3-loop) braid for my Hedeby apron dress.<br /><br />Thanks for the silkewerk.com URL, and your comment.Cathy Raymondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04580681386443534011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2670213486548123819.post-50170560775313898902013-10-21T02:36:51.567-04:002013-10-21T02:36:51.567-04:00Cathy - have you seen this one http://www.silkewer...Cathy - have you seen this one http://www.silkewerk.com/braids/source.html<br /><br />Between fingerloop.org, loopbraider.com and silkwerk.com the net has fingerloop pretty well covered.Miriamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07941566213672427040noreply@blogger.com