Sytråd från Sigtuna/ Sewing thread from Sigtuna

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Vi får ofta frågor om vilken tråd man sytt sina kläder med under olika historiska perioder. Det finns inget enkelt svar eftersom det statistiska underlaget väldigt ofta är bristfälligt. Väldigt ofta saknas sömmar eller sytrådar i arkeologiska fynd. Men när vi ser sytråd i de textilier vi analyserat så blir vi givetvis väldigt glada och lägger till den informationen i vår samlade databas av sömmar och stygn.

Cellulosa bryts ner av fukt och klarar sig därför väldigt dåligt i jorden. Det är därför ganska ovanligt att hitta linne eller lintråd bland de arkeologiska fynden. Det finns dock både linne och lintråd i ett flertal textilier som bevarats ovan jord.
Ull bryts inte ner lika snabbt som cellulosa och därför är bevarandegraden högre för ull. Jordfunna textiler är inte representativa för de sorters textilier som har används under den aktuella tidsperioden på platsen.

Nedan ser vi en sytråd i ett av de textila fynden från Sigtuna. Sytråden är spunnen av ull. Detta fynd är daterat till första halvan av 1000-talet. Tråden är tvåtrådig och har en ganska hög snodd. Tråden är också grövre än tråden i väven på tyget.
Vad textilen har varit vet vi ännu inte men vi kommer att analysera denna närmare längre fram.
/ Amica och Maria

English: 
We often get questions about which sewing thread that have been used to sew clothes with during different historical periods. There is no easy answer to that, because the data is very often insufficient and can’t provide a good statistic basis. Very often there are no seams or sewing threads in archeological finds. But when we see the sewing thread in the textiles we analyzed, we are of course very happy and add the information in our overall database of stitches and sewing thread

Cellulose is degraded by moisture and survives therefore very poorly in the soil. It is quite rare to find linen or linen thread among the archaeological finds. However, there are both linen and linen sewing thread in a number of textiles that have been preserved above ground.
Wool does not decompose as quickly as cellulose and therefore  is the retention rate higher for wool. Archelolgical textiles are not 100% representative for the kinds of textiles that have been used during the period in question on the spot.

Above we see a sewing thread in one of the textile finds from Sigtuna, Sweden. The sewing thread is spun from wool. This find is dated to the frist or second quater of the 11th century. The thread is two-plyed and has a fairly high twist. The thread is also thicker than the thread in the woven fabric.
What the textile has been, we do not know yet, but we will analyze this further.
/ Amica and Maria

Advent calendar 25 December 2017

Our twenty-fifth and last calendar post is an embroidery in silk and gold. From Vadstena convent church, Sweden.

Here we can see a close up on the newly born baby Jesus and his mother Mary.

The embroidery is dated early 15th century.

Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden.

We would like to thank you all that have followed our advent calendar and wish you all a Merry Christmas.

/ Amica and Maria.

Advent calendar 24 December 2017

Our twenty-fourth calendar post is a dagged edge. The edge belongs to a larger piece and that one comes from a garment. From the county of Södermanland, Sweden.

Here we can see a close up on the cut edge. The wool fabric brownish- reddish.

This piece is undated. We put it in the time frame of 13th- 14th century.

Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden

Advent calendar 22 December 2017

Our twenty-second calendar post is a tablet woven band. Attached to a cloak. From Leksand church, Sweden.

Here we can see a close up on the tablet woven band. The band is woven in wool thread. The weft is missing. The cloak fabric is also made in wool.

This piece is dated to 13th century.

Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden

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Advent calendar 21 December 2017

 

Our twenty-first calendar post is a row of buttonholes in silk. From the Wasa ship, Sweden.

Here we can see a close up on the buttonholes. The buttonholes are sewn in silk thread. The fabric where they were sewn on is gone, and only the buttonholes are remaining of this item.

This piece is dated to 10 August 1628, the same day as the warship Wasa sank.

Now in collections of Vasamuseet, Sweden

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Advent calendar 20 December 2017

Our twentieth calendar post is an antependium in printed linen. From Tegelsmora church , Sweden.

Here we can see a close up on the print. The linen is woven in two shaft.

This piece is undated. But the print shows great resemblance with woven silk fabrics from 14th and 15th century.

Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden

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Advent calendar 19 December 2017

Our  nineteenth calendar post is a wool fabric. From Uppsala, Sweden.

Here we can see a the fabric. It’s a 2/2 twill. With one thread system spun in Z and the other thread system spun in S.

The fabric dates to 1100-1500 AD.

Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden

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Advent calendar 17 December 2017 

 

Our seventeenth calendar post is an embroidery. From Skå church, Sweden. It’s an Opus Anglicanum work, from England.

Here we can see a close up on the embroidery. Silk and gold on linen. The silk is sewn in split stitch. The embroidery is of the highest class.

The item dates to 1250- 1350 AD. Most likely 1330-1350.

Now in collections of Historiska museet, Sweden

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