September 19, 2026
9am - 6pm
Fans of medieval fiber arts in any and all forms are invited to join the SCA Canton of Wealdlake for a day of exploration and experimentation with a wide variety of fiber arts.
We close out the day with tea and treats served about 4 pm to fortify you on your way home. Medieval Threads will again feature our Craft Supplies Swap, where you can offer your unwanted materials to your fellow crafters and artisans. Please remember that any unclaimed items should go home with you.
Following our practice of bringing to Pentamere events new to the area (or SCA like It Takes My Child To Raze A Village,) we invite you to Medieval Threads! As many of our members are active in the fibre arts/textiles with making decorated veils (see An Online Portfolio of the Arts & Sciences of Baroness Alianor (Aliyah) bat Asriel) and garb for events (or as an award scroll see Baron Óláfr Ígulbjarnarson's apron,) we are looking for those willing to teach us to make better/prettier medieval garments for our events (even if it is just your basic t-tunic.)
We are also looking for fellow students to join us in learning more about the fibre arts and textiles from the Medieval period. Advanced or beginner - All are welcome!
8 am for staff and teachers
9 am for students
Site closes: 5 pm
Classes begin: 10 am
Lunch Tavern opens: Noon
Lunch break 12:30 -1 pm
Classes end: 4 pm
Tea: 4 pm
Show and Tell: 4:30
401 W Grand River Ave, Howell MI 48843
The entire campus (including parking lot) is Bone Dry - no alcohol allowed on the
premises.
The entire campus (including parking lot) is drug and tobacco-free. This includes (but is not limited to):
e-Cigs, Vaping, Chaw, Hookas, etc.
Adult: $20
Adult SCA Member Discount: $10
Youth (10-17 yrs): $5
Child (0 - 9 years): Free
$10 includes your choice of bread and soup, plus beverage listed below
Sweet potatoes, onions, celery, carrots, red bell peppers, chickpeas, tomato based, spices - no meat, vegan
The inside of a Chicken pot pie without the crust (has dumplings instead of crust) - Chicken, flour, eggs, onions, peas, carrots, potatoes, milk, butter - chicken stock based, dairy
Water, Coffee, Tea
The first classes will begin at 10:00am, with 4 classes going on at a time. All classes are closed from 12:30 to 1:00 for lunch. Materials payments will be made to the instructors.
We have skills classes and project classes. Open the next panel for the class descriptions. When panel is open you can jump to the discription by clicking on the title.
Start Time |
Table 1 | Table 2 | Table 3 | Table 4 |
| 10:00 am | Introduction to Book Binding | Basic Nalbinding | Making Cord with a Lucet | Beginning Leather Carving |
| 11:00 am | Beginning Hand Sewing | Intro to 5 Loop Fingerloop Braids | Wild Basket Making | |
| 12:30 | Lunch |
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| 1:00 pm | Book Binding continued | The Measure of a Man | Beginner's Basic Tunic Making | Ladies, Cover Yourselves! |
| 2:00 pm | Viking Bead Festoons | 3D Printing Tools for Fiber Arts | ||
| 3:00 pm | Embroidery: Learn from my mistakes! | Tassels Aren't Just For Strippers | ||
| 4:00 pm | Tea |
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2+ hour classes where the student will have time to work on a project under the tutelage of the instructor.
Description of Class:Students will learn how to fold, pierce, and sew pages into signatures, prepare a leather cover for the book, sew the signatures into the spine or cover, and apply cover boards, and/or end papers to the leather cover.
Length of Class: 3 hours
Instructor's SCA Name:The Honorable Lady Aine inguen Ui Connaill
Instructor's Mundane Name:Anna O'Connell
Maximum Number of Students:6
Expected Skill Level of Student:Familiarity with basic hand sewing, ability to measure and mark accurately
Student Cost of Materials:$5
Student Expected to Provide:Bring if you have: Awl, steel ruler with 1 mm or 1/16 inch marks, a large eyed heavy needle, paper scissors, bone folder/point turner/seam creaser, heavy linen thread, and 30 sheets 8.5 x 11 inch paper if you have a preferred paper.
Instructor to Provide:Tools to share, materials, leather, boards, 8.5 x 11 inch paper, and fancy end papers.
Description of Class:In this class, we’ll discuss the Bara system of pattern drafting, based on Matthew Gnagy’s Modern Maker series, then create our own personal measures and draft a bodice or doublet to fit.
Length of Class: 3 hours
Instructor's SCA Name:Morwen Spinner
Instructor's Mundane Name:Josie Dyskstra
Maximum Number of Students:3
Expected Skill Level of Student:Intermediate. Basic sewing skills assumed.
Student Cost of Materials:$0
Student Expected to Provide:Additional paper, scissors, measuring tape, and sharpies to share appreciated, but not required.
Instructor to Provide:Pens, blank tapes, drafting paper, draft diagrams, scissors, measuring tape
Description of Class:This is not your basic T-tunic. Learn to make a better-fitting, more historically accurate tunic.
Length of Class: 3 hours
Instructor's SCA Name:Laurensa Silverlock
Instructor's Mundane Name:Dianne Stucki
Maximum Number of Students:6
Expected Skill Level of Student:Confident beginner
Student Cost of Materials:$0 Extra sewing kits may be available for purchase.
Student Expected to Provide:4 yards of prewashed cotton or linen fabric, either 45 or 60 inches wide, thread, scissors, sewing machine if you have one to bring.
Instructor to Provide:Teacher will bring a machine, iron, and board along with handouts with instructions, rulers, measuring tape, chalk, and notions to use.
Beginner classes to learn a new skill/technique
Description of Class:It's Not Knitting! Learn how to construct early period clothing using a needle and yarn. Nalbinding looks like knitting but doesn't unravel. You will learn 2 basic stitches, Oslo and Mammen, as well as 2 methods of yarn joining, and how to begin a project. Your project will be started for you so you can learn the hythm of the stitches before attempting a setup. Samples of finished pieces in various stitches will be provided for you to examine as well as several how-to books. All materials are provided but you are welcome to bring yours if you are more comfortable with your own tools.
Length of Class: 1 hours
Instructor's SCA Name:Ysabetta di Cesare
Instructor's Mundane Name:Mari Hersh-Tudor
Maximum Number of Students:15
Expected Skill Level of Student: Beginner
Student Cost of Materials:$0
Student Expected to Provide:A pair of hands
Instructor to Provide:Nals, yarn, resource sheet, started project
Description of Class:Ribbon is OK for lacing up your clothes or making drawstrings for your pouch but not very authentic looking. Let's face it: courts can be long and boring unless you or your friend are getting something. And waiting in the doctor's office can seem unending. This class will give you a way to address all of these issues: make cord using a lucet. It's easy and portable and provides a strong cord that doesn't unravel.
Length of Class:1 hour
Instructor's SCA Name:Eleanor
Instructor's Mundane Name:Donna McMullen-Burns
Maximum Number of Students:8
Expected Skill Level of Student:Beginner
Student Cost of Materials:$8
Student Expected to Provide:Themselves, a small pair of scissors, and a smile.
Instructor to Provide:3D-printed lucets for students to keep, yarn, and a handout. Extra lucets may be purchased for $5 each.
Description of Class:Basic leather accessories are nice but, well, basic. Fashion mavens agree that accessories make the outfit. The really nice stuff is embellished by carving, stamping, or painting. In this class, students will learn the basics of carving: transferring a design and carving into the leather.
Length of Class:1 hour
Instructor's SCA Name:Antonia Di Marino
Instructor's Mundane Name:Toni Szymanski
Maximum Number of Students:6
Expected Skill Level of Student:Beginner
Student Cost of Materials:$5
Student Expected to Provide:Themselves
Instructor to Provide:Necessary leather, carving knives, and transfer designs.
Description of Class:Learn the basics of hand sewing, including the basic stitches needed to assemble your projects without a machine. Yes, people do sew without a machine and actually enjoy it. It's a productive way to keep your hands busy and studies have shown it can lower, not raise, your blood pressure.
Length of Class:1 hour
Instructor's SCA Name:Laurensa Silverlock
Instructor's Mundane Name:Dianne Stucki
Maximum Number of Students:10
Expected Skill Level of Student:Beginner
Student Cost of Materials:$8
Student Expected to Provide:Themselves
Instructor to Provide:Handouts and how-tos, a small sewing kit, and fabric.
Description of Class:Fingerloop braiding is a quick, easy way to make cording for purse strings, pendants, belt loops, and lacing up your clothing.
Length of Class:1 hour
Instructor's SCA Name:Soma Hjalmarsdottir and Jania Qamar bindt Vartam
Instructor's Mundane Name:Carmen Ferkovich and Jena Jones
Maximum Number of Students:5
Expected Skill Level of Student:Beginner
Student Cost of Materials:$0
Student Expected to Provide:10 fingers
Instructor to Provide:Samples and other resources to further your study.
Description of Class:A brief introduction to weaving with grasses and other plant materials. We'll make a small basket while discussing how to select, harvest, and process plant materials readily available in mid-Michigan. This is a very hands-on class, no handout will be provided but students may take notes as desired.
Length of Class:1 hour
Instructor's SCA Name:Lady Kathleen Redrider
Instructor's Mundane Name:Kathleen Haak
Maximum Number of Students:12
Expected Skill Level of Student:Beginner
Student Cost of Materials:$0
Student Expected to Provide:An interest in learning how to use local plant life.
Instructor to Provide:A selection of grasses and the knowledge to turn them into a basket.
Description of Class:A one-hour tour through the reasons, cultural drivers, sources, materials, styles, and considerations for making and wearing head coverings.
Length of Class:1 hour
Instructor's SCA Name:Catherine Aimee Le Moyne
Instructor's Mundane Name:Aimee Moran
Maximum Number of Students:As many as will fit around the table.
Expected Skill Level of Student:Beginner
Student Cost of Materials:$0
Student Expected to Provide:Interest in the subject
Instructor to Provide:Samples to examine and a short handout plus links to longer documents.
Description of Class:Have you admired that lady with all the decorative beads hanging from the pins on her apron? Let's have some fun and make bling for your Viking apron dress. We will learn a little bit about them and make your own to take home.
Length of Class:1 hour
Instructor's SCA Name:Artemisia Lacebrayder
Instructor's Mundane Name:Artie Martin
Maximum Number of Students:6
Expected Skill Level of Student:Beginner--must be able to string beads
Student Cost of Materials:$10
Student Expected to Provide:A willingness to experiment
Instructor to Provide:Lampwork beads, filler beads, stringing materials, and crimps. There will be beading boards and pliers for student use in class.
Description of Class:3D printing is certainly not a period method of making tools but it can be useful for the fiber artist! In this introductiory class, you'll learn how printed tools can help you experiment affordably, customize equipment to fit your hands and workflow, and test ideas before investing in higher-quality materials. We'll also cover where to find printable fiber tool files and how to get items printed even if you don't own a 3D printer.
Length of Class:1 hour
Instructor's SCA Name:Aine a Burc
Instructor's Mundane Name:Shannon Burke
Maximum Number of Students:8
Expected Skill Level of Student:Beginner
Student Cost of Materials:$5
Student Expected to Provide:Interest in 3D printing
Instructor to Provide:HEach student will receive a handout, thumb drive with print files, and one or more printed tools.
Description of Class:Have you wondered where to begin when it comes to embroidery? Bianca will share her experiences and help you avoid her mistakes. Learn the basics of embroidery: stem, cross, chain, buttonhole, and running stitches. Practice the stitches and experiment with effects that can be achieved. Students will also learn some basic preparations and things to do before embroidering even starts.
Length of Class:1 hour
Instructor's SCA Name:Bianca Cantacuzene
Instructor's Mundane Name:Constance Dickinson
Maximum Number of Students:6
Expected Skill Level of Student:Beginner
Student Cost of Materials:$5
Student Expected to Provide:A small pair of sharp scissors
Instructor to Provide:Hoops, fabric, floss, and needles
Description of Class:Tassels go from simple to oh-my-goodness fancy. We will look at pictorial representations of tassels in period and then make a simple tassel which can be decorated as class members see fit.
Length of Class: 3 hours
Instructor's SCA Name:Mistress Anthoinette Martel
Instructor's Mundane Name:Antoinette Martell
Maximum Number of Students:10
Expected Skill Level of Student:Beginner
Student Cost of Materials:$5
Student Expected to Provide:Good scissors, if the student has a pair they like.
Instructor to Provide:All materials and loaner scissors.
Before you head home - we invite you to join us for tea. So far we know tea (and coffee) will be provided.
Contributions to the tea are welcome but not required.
Event Steward - The Honorable Lady Áine inguen Ui Connaill
Classes Coordinator - Mistress Fionna Goodburne MacNicol
Lunch Tavern - Áindle
Kingdom of the Middle
North Woods
WealdLake