Hello! Fellow italian 14th century reenactor and archaeology student here~ . For the yellow dress issue, yes, there were so-called "Sumptuary laws" and in Italy there were many across the centuries, I think because of the proximity with the State of the Church and the Pope. Citing from Down to the Last Stitch: Sumptuary Law and Conspicuous Consumption in Renaissance Italy by Amanda E. Facelle: "The general ideas behind sumptuary laws affecting women’s dress and behavior were based on age-old stereotypes that continued to be prevalent in Renaissance society. [...] Especially linked to this idea were the prostitutes that found work in all Italian Renaissance cities. As a result, numerous sumptuary laws were devised to mark these women and indicate their unwholesome status to the rest of society. For example, prostitutes were required to wear “cheap fustian mantles” in fifteenth-century Milan, while their counterparts in Brescia were to don a yellow stripe on the shoulder." Also prostitutes were the only women in XIV-XV centuries who couldn't wear a veil, as it was a symbol of decency only "honest-women" could wear. I think yellow was largely used as a mark for thieves, traitors and such, and (at least in Italy) it was worn not only as a dress but also as ribbons and pattern embroidered on the dress (e.g. the David star). I don't think a yellow dress was considered per se a symbol of, ehm, feminine worker status? Weld was too cheap to relegate it to only sumptuary dresses. . For the wool fabric, I actually wore a wool kirtle for my first reenactment in July 2019! I'm in north Italy and I can assure you, it gets hot in here 😅 but I actually was pretty comfortable, provided that I was in the shade during the hottest hors of the day, even more comfortable than when I am in my modern, synthetic-fabric clothes! . I'm sorry if this is so long and apologise in advance for crappy english, but I'm a little bit rusty and it's not my mothertongue. Hope this is useful or interesting!
Thank you for providing some information about the matter! And yes, wool is so much better and comfortable in heat than the modern polyester clothes! I really wish people would understand that...
Sara - your English is far better than most native English speakers! Most have terrible grammar. I have found that people who learn a language not native to them have better grammar in written format. I am that way with French which is what I studied for several years. I don't speak French very well but I have not had anyone to converse with in the last 30 years or so. I can read and write French fairly well, however.
@@leal536 thank you! I'm a lot self-conscious about speaking non-italian languages, so it's nice knowing I'm comprehensible ahahah I think it's also good to write instead of speaking, because I can doble-check everything a lot!
@@elinabrahamsson9442 Thank you! Also for what you do with your channel, which is amazing! I love how you edit your videos and your storytelling ability, not to mention all of the useful information I can learn!
I am a bit late to the party but the shift lenght bit amused me. When I made my first shift (about 8 years ago) the lenght I chose was the lenght where I could walk up the stairs safely without having to hold it, which is well of the ground. That way I knew I could go about my daily buisness safely. Managing the dresses and possible items I am holding is enough for me. I would not want to have to deal with the shift as well when doing stuff. I am also the type of person who accidentally steps on shift hems and gets them dirty and dirty shifts are no fun at all.
Whoa, young lady! You must be very busy! It's been a month or so since you posted. I actually texted with a gentleman who knows you... Of course, his name just flew out my window! However, he's the organizer for The Battle of Visby. I mentioned you & your wonderful participation at the Battle, this year, & he said, oh, yes! That's Elin! How lovely it is that a woman in her mid-60s, in the high mountain desert of Nevada, USA, can mention a young woman in Sweden & connect w a gentleman who also knows some other people I know, & both of us were smiling!?! I love the Internet, as I've always wanted to travel, abroad, but cannot afford it. I'd have to fly or drive about 3,000 miles just to reach the East Coast of the US. Then, I'd need to fly to England & grab a couple of friends to take part in Medieval Events & beautiful countries, art, church architecture, people.... I'm not in good health, so I travel the Web. (Wouldn't it be marvelous if we could just hit our browser & travel anywhere?)
wool also has two other amazing properties. 1: it doesn't catch fire easily, it might smolder, but won't go up in flames like cotton (or melt, like polyester). 2: it is stain resistent. Saffron dyes were very expensive and exotic, so generally only prostitutes could get it (from their sailor clientel) in ancient Greece/Rome. Also, yellow was one of the most common dyes amongst working class people in most places as it was easily foraged. It is were we get the term "yeoman" or yellow man.
You're only 18! Oh wow, I thought you were 20 or so... But it's great to see that you're as old as I am (even tho this means that you are immensely more talented in this field than I am which, while obvious, makes me a little bit jealous too). Anyway, could you maybe make a tutorial on the grey wool skirt? It looks amazing and I would love to replicate it!
Your content is great, and I'd just like to wish good luck in future projects! It feels so good to learn that other 18-year-olds are interested in such obscure things as medieval sewing.
If you're interested in the history of colour I highly recommend the work of french historian Michel Pastoureau! His books are AMAZING and he has a special interest in the influence of colour in european symbology, and they often allow us modern folk to glimpse at how our ancestors viewed the world through very different lenses : )
I beg to differ on how your age is "not interesting" - it makes your content even more impressive! Hard to believe you're so young seeing how serious you are about your interests. All the best!
Elin, you are an extraordinary 18 year old! I love your personality, your humor and your sewing abilities are to die for. Your cinematography skills are are beyond belief. You are going somewhere Lady and I want to see where this all takes you. I see an astonishing future for you and am thankful I found you channel. Your cat is so gorgeous and sweet, you can tell he or she (😏) adores her human. I love when he follows you on your walks or just sits sweetly in your lap while you are sewing. When he looks up at you I could just melt 😂. Even your chickens seem to worship you. So basically Elin, I am a fan and I’m here for the long haul. Good luck, best wishes and stay safe from Florida USA
I‘m doing a Kirtle by hand ... I read a lot of books about the style, the patterns and the fabric. It‘s nice to see you doing it. It helps a lot. I used Linnen, 100 years old ... really nice 🙌🏻. I did a Cotte, a Surcot and now I‘m on the Kirtle., 14th Century. Thank you for your Videos 🥰 Greetings from Germany 🙌🏻
!8 Years old!? I am teacher and I have a lot of 18 years old students. Most of them are occupied with totally different stuff. The level of craftmanship in your costumes and your video editing is top notch. I don't know a lot of 18 years olds who can achieve the same level. I stumbled upon your channel a couple of days ago (thanks to the likes of Bernadette Banner, Rachel Maksy, Cathy Hay and Cocovid) and it's refreshing to see your videos. What is your reason to get into the historical costume making?
I am so glad I found your channel I'm an old grandma and I have granddaughters your age and I think what you're doing at your young age and how accomplished you are is wonderful I'm also from the USA I hope to see you enjoy many more videos from you and thank you
What a surprise your video on 14th and 15th century apparel appeared as a recommendation. I really enjoyed it. I appreciate the efforts to create the text in English. That kind of writing in English is very difficult and I hope it doesn't take up too much time (English is annoying that way) to do given you do all the work yourself.
I'm glad to see you made another video! You sparked a real interest in me and my husband for trying to dye our own fabrics. I love watching your content, whatever you do! Hope you are well and safe, thank you for sharing! :D
When I heard you, I thought that I had read something about yellow and prostitution. So I wanted to check the work of Michel Pastoureau, who is a medievalist which work a lot on colors symbolic in Europe. But I only found him tell that yellow, as the others, is an ambivalent color. During Middle Age, the gold tend to absorb the positive part of this symbolic ans yellow have been depreciate and associate to illness, betrayal and infidelity. In medieval pictures it began to be associate with traitors and with Judas in occidental Europe. I don't know if this symbolic reached to North Europe. About prositution, he tells that as if read has a lot if positive connotations (use for kings, weddings...), at one time, prostitues had to wear something red so that their profession is visible and clear. But I think he's mor talking about France on this point. (I hope my english is understandable)
Hello from Brazil~ 💖 Oh my! Your just so talented! The whole aesthetic of your videos is breathtaking!! I can’t say it enough!! I got very curious about schooling in Sweden now! 😂 Lots of love!
A very informative video to fill in some blank areas. For a "1" person TEAM you do an excellent job!!! It is far from easy to do it all and to get it to run so smoothly like you do. I'm looking forward to your next video. 👍
A wonderful video! Thank you for making these wonderful videos. I have been enjoying them greatly! I fell upon your channel in my current attempts to make Susan's dresses from Narnia. Keep up the great work!
HELLO from Tottenham Ontario Canada - love the video's just wondering if you could pls do another detailed video on how you make your socks. I was trying to see how you connected the bottom of your socks and wasn't able to. Have you ever thought of making the dress from Pride & Prejudice? Just wondering ☺
Im very impressed that you do all the work yourself, the quality is really top notch and i wouldve never guessed that. Greetings from Slovenia and keep up the good work, its always enjoyable when talent meets passion.
Sweden is such a beautiful country. I have a friend who lives in northern Sweden where there is snow on the ground 9 months of the year and it doesn't start to melt until May. She's got a youtube channel too. I was watching a video on making mushroom flavoured candy from Lofty Pursuits yesterday and apparently you can use certain mushrooms to dye fabrics! I thought that bit of information might be interesting for some of the Costubers I follow since a few of you have tried plant-based dying in some of your videos.
You are wonderfully talented! Thank you for your dedication to your craft and passion. I very much enjoy watching your videos. Keep it up! I patiently await your next video!
In Sweden the colour yellow is not asosiated whit love lady's. Just think of Leksands kull dress (children's clothing ) is yellow and are very old. Leksandsmanteln is also yellow and are of high status.
I've never heard of yellow signifying prostitution. But in 1863 when prostitution was legalised in Denmark(in an attempt to control the work field) a part of the law dictated a dresscode, along with obligatory invasive medical check for sexually transmitted diseases. The dross code was basically a white sift. Here in a picture from 1905: historielab.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/1937-122x1317.jpg
Good the medical checks were mandatory. i don't think they could be more invasive than having to have sex with many men per day... but what do i know...
Hello from Germany, thank you for this lovely introduction. I enjoy your videos very much, you are so charming. And I also think you are absolutely right, wool is just great to work with. Keep doing your thing! Bye :-)
I remember reading a historical fiction book based in England in the mid-1300s, and there was a mention of one English city where the law said prostitutes had to wear yellow caps. I've also read that prostitutes in Italy used to dye their hair blond, though I don't know the exact time period for that. I have definitely never heard that only prostitutes wore yellow dresses, though.
I've never heard about yellow as a sex worker's color. The closest I've heard was something about people snarking about a woman's green gown, suggesting grass stains from taking pleasure on the ground, but I can't say exactly when that started or in what sense it was used. Though one rule I do remember reading about for sex workers in the middle ages, though I can't remember where or when, was that they had to wear a sleeve of a different color and/or material. In one region of France, they advertised their services by wearing needles in their sleeves. But since yellow was just a cheap and attainable color as you've said, it might have been a popular choice. It sticks out and catches the light, and historically if you went into sex work on the streets or in a brothel, you were already in a bad place financially or paying a debt to someone, so you wouldn't be spending on luxurious fabrics. Then there were courtesans who were all about luxury and total trendsetters in spite of sumptuary laws, but that's a very different world.
Green was an expensive color as it was obtained by combining blue and yellow, as there were no natural sources for green. So perhaps, people knowing that green fabric was expensive, seeing someone with their dress stained by the grass, they could only imagine how it happened, if they knew the woman can't afford green. /side thought: perhaps this is also why today we associate green with money... hmmm, interesting....
As far as I recall, there were sumptuary laws in the 15-16th century in Italy where YELLOW HOODS were associated with ladies of the night, because I also have a wonderful yellow gown and I was curious.
High arches (fotvalv) are a blessing accept when making Iron Age (and later) foot wear. I have high arches to and not bothered by seams under the foot in foot garments...how ever, the hubby, who has low arches HATE the feeling of something under his feet that isn't flat-ish.
You make a very good job with your videos and i love them. I would really like to have more of you're videos, even if my time periode is around 12th century and not 14th or 15th century. I found your video on plan diying very good and educational, keep ot up.😃
As a Swede from Stockholm, I thought you lived further out in the country due to more or less all the videos I've managed to watch appearing to be in a more rural part. Unless you live nearer the coast or near a forest (which is still possible despite living in/around Stockholm, something I adore about Sweden). Or have you been making most of the shots from the summer house? Also, it's been great to see all your projects. Like many others I especially loved the plant dyeing video!
Ja det kan nog framstå så! Nu bor inte jag i innerstan direkt heller, utan en bra bit utanför vid havet. Däremot så har vi ett torp i småland där vi bor på halvtid, speciellt under sommarmånaderna. Den tiden är också då jag syr/spelar in som mest. Därför kan det nog bli så som du sa😊 Kul att du gillade videon också!
Jeg regner med at du kan lese norsk siden det ikke er så annerledes enn norsk😂 men du er sååå flink til å sy og det ser ut som du lever veldig «i ett med naturen». Det ser så rolig og deilig ut. Du inspirer meg til å faktisk bli flinkere til å fullføre prosjektene mine. Jeg elsker å strikke, hekle og vil bli flink til å sy. Er 19 og bor i Norge forresten😁
I think a lot of sex workers would wear yellow dresses because it was cheap and easy but so would a lot of other working class people. Obviously other reasons for the association happening, but I doubt it could be as simple as yellow kirtle equating to that profession.
Wool price vs. Linnen price. Modern linen is cheaper. But it was literally eli whitney's cotton gin that flipped the script on linnen. Previously wool had been cheaper than linnen.
Also, not sure about Scandinavia but in England green as in greensleeves song was the color of " the oldest profession" which is why it is so in that song.
I'll re ask my questions here: (1)What do you work with to make a living? (2)How do you manage your time and money to maintain this hobby? Your house is gigantic by swedish standars, and if it's in stockholms län idk how a young couple could ever afford it. Was it inherited? Does it have a history?
The skirt is beautiful! Did you use an already existing pattern or did you draft it yourself? And, like, would it be possible to share it to the world?
is there a link to where you get your material from? i tried to purchase here in Canada but they don't have... Wool. You're doing a great job keep on keep'n on girl Canada loves you ♥
Well said. Also, I think we're buggered for price. I found one place that sells wool, only it's by the half metre for near $30. I don't know where it was as I was down the rabbit hole of research, but several places I found kept doing that stupid half metre! (Why? What's so bad about a whole metre? And why the extreme price?!)
www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com is where a lot of the historical costubers get their wool, silk, and linen fabrics (lighter wools seem to be in the $14 - $18/yard range)--though I haven't bought from them myself (not quite that far down the rabbit hole--mostly do theatrical, not reenactment). B&T specializes in 17th-19th century so not sure if it would suit what you're needing (they also sell swatchbooks of their fabrics for $6--shipping included in the US, but additional for outside the US.
Dear Ms. Abrahamsson, I am enamored by you. Never before have I witnessed a lass with such creative talents and a passion for medieval history that rivals my own. It would be an honour, a delight, and a dream come true to one day meet you in person. Until that day comes, may fortune continue to favour you. Cheers, TradKnight
Your foot was off camera but I believe you're talking about the arch of your foot. You were speaking of the higher up part of your foot you don't walk on right?
Concerning the colour yellow: i saw this in a documentary on Medieval England... Not a great source but maybe it points in the right direction for further research?
Last, but not least perhaps...at you also a figure skater? There’s a lovely video someone posted showing a young woman with your name and sort of looking like you (no close-ups) - very talented and well turned out performance on ice skates! You?
You have inspired me so much with your clothes making. During lockdown I have been learning many skills such as crochet. Once lockdown ends my Grandma has agreed to teach me how to sew using a sewing machine and how to start making my own clothes. Maybe one day I will be able to start making my own clothes for reenactments. The city I live has a big castle (as many cities do in the UK) so we tend to have at least one a year. Thank you for making such lovely, inspiring and well made videos.
11:44 The word in English for the curve of the foot is an "arch." I, too, have high arches, so I can get the seam under the middle of the foot wouldn't bother you :)
Me too! Do your feet end up hurting a lot when you've walked around in modern flat shoes for an extended period of time as well? The underside of my foot actually preferes a little bit of heel in my shoes, or an orthopedic sole.
AnkaFurb when i did cross country, we went to a shop that had a machine that you stood on and it would “assess” your feet to see which running shoes would best suit you. i have high arches and so it recommended me shoes with more cushion and structure and the difference when i ran was like night and day. after that, i never had an issue with my feet hurting while running, only issues with my body getting tired. i hadn’t realized how much your foot shape affects what shoes are most comfortable
I feel like you must have said somewhere else that you did all the filming yourself because I knew that before this video. And let me tell you, I am so impressed by every video you put out. I've tried to record myself and I find it so difficult! It's more than just getting everything in frame and in focus. The lighting, the ambiance, the color, everything always looks so good in your videos! The fact that you do it alone makes it 10 times more amazing.
Hello all the way from Perth Western Australia! May I say, I have never seen such a high level of dedication married with passion and skill! Your designs, sewing, filming and editing are stunning! I love all your videos and I also love your warm and welcoming nature. Thank you for inspiring me and fuelling my history nerd tendencies!
@rzomg Haha I know I butcher it, but no one else in Australia has ever managed to say it right so I just gave up correcting them and went with the flow!
yayy a historical costumer youtuber whos close to my age :3 It's great when I see more people on the younger side who are also obsessed with historical costuming :D
How extraordinary you are! Your film making skills, sewing skills, research skills, and personality fly right out of the screen. You are so young, too, which makes me very excited for you. The world is your oyster! I am so glad your channel is doing well and I hope it motivates and inspires you to keep reaching for more fun projects!
I find your talent to be simply amazing. I hope you are considering college and possibly a PhD in this field where you can turn your interests into an occupation such as working for a museum doing research and conservation of historical clothing or textiles. Best wishes.
Lovely to find out a little more about you and your thoughts on viewers questions. Also Handelsgillet?! Amazing! I normally try to buy from my own country to help the environment but to get materials made with historical techniques in mind it might be worth importing. On that note if anyone has recommendations for similar suppliers but in the uk please let me know!
I can’t believe you’re so young! Have you been sewing your whole life? I didn’t take my sewing hobby seriously till I was 18 and by then I was mostly self taught and didn’t make nice, good quality things at all! 🤦🏼♀️🤣 You’re an inspiration, lady! ❤️
You are such an inspiration! I love watching and rewatching your videos and seeing the passion and dedication you have for your projects. Also: I get so angry when people come up with that "yellow signals prostitution" argument. It is a terrible stigma most people have and it's time to crush it! In Germany it manifested itself through a known "historical" novel series following a prostitute in the late medieval times, who is forced to wear yellow dresses or yellow ribbons so naturally people assumed it's true and for all of Europe. With a bit of research you learn that every city and region had its own clothing guidelines for different professions - yes during one period in time one(!) city chose yellow (ribbons I believe) for prostitutes but that was it. Yellow is a wonderful colour, that is easy to achieve and that one should wear with pride. I had so many friends being insecure for wearing their beautifully made yellow dresses on viking age living history events due to misinformed online comments and it broke my heart. I'm glad you addressed it here!
I don't know much about 14th century clothing, history and all that, but I feel like I need to comment anyways. Your videos are so well made and put together! It's like you went to film school of some sort, or have years and years of experience. This is UA-cam, not Cannes film festival. I don't see why this is not perfect for UA-cam (I don't mean just this video in particular, the ones with dressing and sewing). Keep the good work!
Thank you for this video !! I have ancestors from Sweden, the painter Alexandre Roslin (he portraited Gustav III of Sweden if I well remember and the lady with the veil), and I'd really love to discover your country! I also am interested in reenactment, but I'm a beginner so I binge watch all videos that I found to learn as much as possible how to create pieces as stunning as you Thank you for being so cool and didactic!
Hej Elin, Your work is wonderful, your videos very well edited! It helps to live in beautiful Sweden of course, but even still, just amazing work, and dedication. I loved hearing falsobordone’s tunes in your video. I have not been to visit Sweden since the 1980’s. I’ve always wanted to go to the Battle of Wisby. I have been making mail armor and hand sewing since 1976. I should say studying since I haven’t made a lot of it. I am sewing 1790 Navy sailor clothes now. I do reenacting for that period. We have a small ships’ cannon! Keep safe and keep doing what you are doing!👍❤️
Hello, I have just found these fantastic videos and the amazing amount of information and enthusiasm that you give in your videos is awesome, please keep it up as they are brilliant. I do 12-14th Century Welsh-English reenactment in North Wales (I am one of those knightly sorts) I tend to make as much of my kit as I can, including dyeing as much as I can with natural dyes, my current/trying to improve on my last project was sorting out a good colour for my hose (Yellow) I originally used Tumeric (Curcuma longa) which produced a really lovely yellow/dusty orange mix, but it faded quickly, i might of dyed it wrongly. My next thinkings will be to try Broad leaved Docks (Rumex obtusifolius) as they can turn the wool a very interesting shade or shades of yellow, from bright sunny yellow to darker warmer shades. A good place to look sometimes if you are after good quality images of Historically accurate images is wellcomecollection.org/ I used it so much when I was doing my degree as its totally free and you can use any of the pictures as well (As long as you reference where you got them from, they show you how to do that on the site if you need to) I am also in the process of making a full circle cloak, hooded and made out of fairly heavy weight wool (I'm sewing in the morning) Well I am looking forward to your next video, Take care :)
Hello! Fellow italian 14th century reenactor and archaeology student here~
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For the yellow dress issue, yes, there were so-called "Sumptuary laws" and in Italy there were many across the centuries, I think because of the proximity with the State of the Church and the Pope.
Citing from Down to the Last Stitch: Sumptuary Law and Conspicuous Consumption in Renaissance Italy by Amanda E. Facelle:
"The general ideas behind sumptuary laws affecting women’s dress and behavior were based on age-old stereotypes that continued to be prevalent in Renaissance society. [...] Especially linked to this idea were the prostitutes that found work in all Italian Renaissance cities. As a result, numerous sumptuary laws were devised to mark these women and indicate their unwholesome status to the rest of society. For example, prostitutes were required to wear “cheap fustian mantles” in fifteenth-century Milan, while their counterparts in Brescia were to don a yellow stripe on the shoulder."
Also prostitutes were the only women in XIV-XV centuries who couldn't wear a veil, as it was a symbol of decency only "honest-women" could wear. I think yellow was largely used as a mark for thieves, traitors and such, and (at least in Italy) it was worn not only as a dress but also as ribbons and pattern embroidered on the dress (e.g. the David star).
I don't think a yellow dress was considered per se a symbol of, ehm, feminine worker status? Weld was too cheap to relegate it to only sumptuary dresses.
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For the wool fabric, I actually wore a wool kirtle for my first reenactment in July 2019! I'm in north Italy and I can assure you, it gets hot in here 😅 but I actually was pretty comfortable, provided that I was in the shade during the hottest hors of the day, even more comfortable than when I am in my modern, synthetic-fabric clothes!
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I'm sorry if this is so long and apologise in advance for crappy english, but I'm a little bit rusty and it's not my mothertongue. Hope this is useful or interesting!
Thank you for providing some information about the matter! And yes, wool is so much better and comfortable in heat than the modern polyester clothes! I really wish people would understand that...
Sara - your English is far better than most native English speakers! Most have terrible grammar. I have found that people who learn a language not native to them have better grammar in written format. I am that way with French which is what I studied for several years. I don't speak French very well but I have not had anyone to converse with in the last 30 years or so. I can read and write French fairly well, however.
@@classyhistoricalsewing Grazie a te!
@@leal536 thank you! I'm a lot self-conscious about speaking non-italian languages, so it's nice knowing I'm comprehensible ahahah I think it's also good to write instead of speaking, because I can doble-check everything a lot!
@@elinabrahamsson9442 Thank you! Also for what you do with your channel, which is amazing! I love how you edit your videos and your storytelling ability, not to mention all of the useful information I can learn!
I am a bit late to the party but the shift lenght bit amused me. When I made my first shift (about 8 years ago) the lenght I chose was the lenght where I could walk up the stairs safely without having to hold it, which is well of the ground. That way I knew I could go about my daily buisness safely. Managing the dresses and possible items I am holding is enough for me. I would not want to have to deal with the shift as well when doing stuff. I am also the type of person who accidentally steps on shift hems and gets them dirty and dirty shifts are no fun at all.
Whoa, young lady! You must be very busy! It's been a month or so since you posted. I actually texted with a gentleman who knows you... Of course, his name just flew out my window!
However, he's the organizer for The Battle of Visby. I mentioned you & your wonderful participation at the Battle, this year, & he said, oh, yes! That's Elin!
How lovely it is that a woman in her mid-60s, in the high mountain desert of Nevada, USA, can mention a young woman in Sweden & connect w a gentleman who also knows some other people I know, & both of us were smiling!?! I love the Internet, as I've always wanted to travel, abroad, but cannot afford it. I'd have to fly or drive about 3,000 miles just to reach the East Coast of the US. Then, I'd need to fly to England & grab a couple of friends to take part in Medieval Events & beautiful countries, art, church architecture, people.... I'm not in good health, so I travel the Web. (Wouldn't it be marvelous if we could just hit our browser & travel anywhere?)
wool also has two other amazing properties. 1: it doesn't catch fire easily, it might smolder, but won't go up in flames like cotton (or melt, like polyester). 2: it is stain resistent.
Saffron dyes were very expensive and exotic, so generally only prostitutes could get it (from their sailor clientel) in ancient Greece/Rome. Also, yellow was one of the most common dyes amongst working class people in most places as it was easily foraged. It is were we get the term "yeoman" or yellow man.
You're only 18! Oh wow, I thought you were 20 or so... But it's great to see that you're as old as I am (even tho this means that you are immensely more talented in this field than I am which, while obvious, makes me a little bit jealous too).
Anyway, could you maybe make a tutorial on the grey wool skirt? It looks amazing and I would love to replicate it!
Your content is great, and I'd just like to wish good luck in future projects! It feels so good to learn that other 18-year-olds are interested in such obscure things as medieval sewing.
If you're interested in the history of colour I highly recommend the work of french historian Michel Pastoureau! His books are AMAZING and he has a special interest in the influence of colour in european symbology, and they often allow us modern folk to glimpse at how our ancestors viewed the world through very different lenses : )
I beg to differ on how your age is "not interesting" - it makes your content even more impressive! Hard to believe you're so young seeing how serious you are about your interests. All the best!
You’re only 18 but you have an old, very wise soul. So talented.
Elin, you are an extraordinary 18 year old! I love your personality, your humor and your sewing abilities are to die for. Your cinematography skills are are beyond belief. You are going somewhere Lady and I want to see where this all takes you. I see an astonishing future for you and am thankful I found you channel.
Your cat is so gorgeous and sweet, you can tell he or she (😏) adores her human. I love when he follows you on your walks or just sits sweetly in your lap while you are sewing. When he looks up at you I could just melt 😂. Even your chickens seem to worship you.
So basically Elin, I am a fan and I’m here for the long haul.
Good luck, best wishes and stay safe from Florida USA
I‘m doing a Kirtle by hand ... I read a lot of books about the style, the patterns and the fabric. It‘s nice to see you doing it. It helps a lot. I used Linnen, 100 years old ... really nice 🙌🏻. I did a Cotte, a Surcot and now I‘m on the Kirtle., 14th Century. Thank you for your Videos 🥰 Greetings from Germany 🙌🏻
!8 Years old!? I am teacher and I have a lot of 18 years old students. Most of them are occupied with totally different stuff. The level of craftmanship in your costumes and your video editing is top notch. I don't know a lot of 18 years olds who can achieve the same level.
I stumbled upon your channel a couple of days ago (thanks to the likes of Bernadette Banner, Rachel Maksy, Cathy Hay and Cocovid) and it's refreshing to see your videos. What is your reason to get into the historical costume making?
Oh my gosh you're my age!! I thought you were older. I don't know why that makes me so happy but it does!
Thank you for doing this video. And to answer why your age is important is its rare to see someone so young who loves history this much. :)
I am so glad I found your channel I'm an old grandma and I have granddaughters your age and I think what you're doing at your young age and how accomplished you are is wonderful I'm also from the USA I hope to see you enjoy many more videos from you and thank you
What a surprise your video on 14th and 15th century apparel appeared as a recommendation. I really enjoyed it. I appreciate the efforts to create the text in English. That kind of writing in English is very difficult and I hope it doesn't take up too much time (English is annoying that way) to do given you do all the work yourself.
I'm glad to see you made another video! You sparked a real interest in me and my husband for trying to dye our own fabrics. I love watching your content, whatever you do! Hope you are well and safe, thank you for sharing! :D
You’re so fantastically talented. I love this channel so much. Keep being awesome!
"Where can I buy these clothes" - gosh if I had a penny for every time I've been asked that one!
When I heard you, I thought that I had read something about yellow and prostitution. So I wanted to check the work of Michel Pastoureau, who is a medievalist which work a lot on colors symbolic in Europe. But I only found him tell that yellow, as the others, is an ambivalent color. During Middle Age, the gold tend to absorb the positive part of this symbolic ans yellow have been depreciate and associate to illness, betrayal and infidelity.
In medieval pictures it began to be associate with traitors and with Judas in occidental Europe. I don't know if this symbolic reached to North Europe.
About prositution, he tells that as if read has a lot if positive connotations (use for kings, weddings...), at one time, prostitues had to wear something red so that their profession is visible and clear. But I think he's mor talking about France on this point.
(I hope my english is understandable)
Hello from Brazil~ 💖 Oh my! Your just so talented! The whole aesthetic of your videos is breathtaking!! I can’t say it enough!! I got very curious about schooling in Sweden now! 😂 Lots of love!
I'm surprised no one's asked about your camera. The bokeh effect in your videos is really impressive, especially when it's used for shots of you.
A very informative video to fill in some blank areas. For a "1" person TEAM you do an excellent job!!! It is far from easy to do it all and to get it to run so smoothly like you do. I'm looking forward to your next video. 👍
Älskar det du gör! Tack för dina inspirerande filmer :)
A wonderful video! Thank you for making these wonderful videos. I have been enjoying them greatly! I fell upon your channel in my current attempts to make Susan's dresses from Narnia.
Keep up the great work!
Just want to compliment you on your beautiful photography. So atmospheric. Somehow unworldly.
Please never lose your spark
I think portraying a woman “in the love business” would be fascinating, personally! (Obviously not acting to the full extent).
Yes you're so awesome . Always look forward to your videos
HELLO from Tottenham Ontario Canada - love the video's just wondering if you could pls do another detailed video on how you make your socks. I was trying to see how you connected the bottom of your socks and wasn't able to. Have you ever thought of making the dress from Pride & Prejudice? Just wondering ☺
you are such a wonderful human
They were probably staring at your yellow dress bacause it looked so good! Also because you're so pretty!
Im very impressed that you do all the work yourself, the quality is really top notch and i wouldve never guessed that. Greetings from Slovenia and keep up the good work, its always enjoyable when talent meets passion.
I love your yellow dress! It’s so beautiful. I love all your work, and I appreciate all the work you do!!!
Sweden is such a beautiful country. I have a friend who lives in northern Sweden where there is snow on the ground 9 months of the year and it doesn't start to melt until May. She's got a youtube channel too.
I was watching a video on making mushroom flavoured candy from Lofty Pursuits yesterday and apparently you can use certain mushrooms to dye fabrics! I thought that bit of information might be interesting for some of the Costubers I follow since a few of you have tried plant-based dying in some of your videos.
You are wonderfully talented! Thank you for your dedication to your craft and passion. I very much enjoy watching your videos. Keep it up! I patiently await your next video!
I love your blue mug! I just ordered four of them in the celadon color, but I love your blue color.
I love your videos so much please don’t ever stop making them!!! 😁
So much talent, so cute ... just perfect!
In Sweden the colour yellow is not asosiated whit love lady's. Just think of Leksands kull dress (children's clothing ) is yellow and are very old. Leksandsmanteln is also yellow and are of high status.
I enjoyed the video and I can’t wait to see more of your adventures!
Much love from the US🖤
You're amazing for "Just one Little human being" !!
I've never heard of yellow signifying prostitution. But in 1863 when prostitution was legalised in Denmark(in an attempt to control the work field) a part of the law dictated a dresscode, along with obligatory invasive medical check for sexually transmitted diseases. The dross code was basically a white sift. Here in a picture from 1905: historielab.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/1937-122x1317.jpg
Good the medical checks were mandatory. i don't think they could be more invasive than having to have sex with many men per day... but what do i know...
In the XIX century in the Imperial Russia there was a name for prostitution working permit: "yellow ticket"
No evidence about clothes though
Can’t wait to see more from you! Your videos are wonderful
Hello from Germany,
thank you for this lovely introduction. I enjoy your videos very much, you are so charming.
And I also think you are absolutely right, wool is just great to work with.
Keep doing your thing! Bye :-)
I remember reading a historical fiction book based in England in the mid-1300s, and there was a mention of one English city where the law said prostitutes had to wear yellow caps. I've also read that prostitutes in Italy used to dye their hair blond, though I don't know the exact time period for that. I have definitely never heard that only prostitutes wore yellow dresses, though.
👏👏👏WOW that camera team 👏👏👏
I've never heard about yellow as a sex worker's color. The closest I've heard was something about people snarking about a woman's green gown, suggesting grass stains from taking pleasure on the ground, but I can't say exactly when that started or in what sense it was used.
Though one rule I do remember reading about for sex workers in the middle ages, though I can't remember where or when, was that they had to wear a sleeve of a different color and/or material. In one region of France, they advertised their services by wearing needles in their sleeves.
But since yellow was just a cheap and attainable color as you've said, it might have been a popular choice. It sticks out and catches the light, and historically if you went into sex work on the streets or in a brothel, you were already in a bad place financially or paying a debt to someone, so you wouldn't be spending on luxurious fabrics.
Then there were courtesans who were all about luxury and total trendsetters in spite of sumptuary laws, but that's a very different world.
Green was an expensive color as it was obtained by combining blue and yellow, as there were no natural sources for green. So perhaps, people knowing that green fabric was expensive, seeing someone with their dress stained by the grass, they could only imagine how it happened, if they knew the woman can't afford green.
/side thought: perhaps this is also why today we associate green with money... hmmm, interesting....
Really like what you do. I'm an incredible history fan, so love your content. Only just found you, but going to be watching your videos!
As far as I recall, there were sumptuary laws in the 15-16th century in Italy where YELLOW HOODS were associated with ladies of the night, because I also have a wonderful yellow gown and I was curious.
For all those interested in stays: Redthreaded have some really good ones up for sale on their website
I'M ONLY ONE LITTLE HUMAN BEING is a big mood!
Thanks for sharing Elin!
The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry cycle (ca. 1500) uses a lot of yellow in the dresses! And as far as I know, the lady is not of ill-repute.
Yeeeeeeeeeeees, I've been waiting for content!
High arches (fotvalv) are a blessing accept when making Iron Age (and later) foot wear. I have high arches to and not bothered by seams under the foot in foot garments...how ever, the hubby, who has low arches HATE the feeling of something under his feet that isn't flat-ish.
You make a very good job with your videos and i love them. I would really like to have more of you're videos, even if my time periode is around 12th century and not 14th or 15th century. I found your video on plan diying very good and educational, keep ot up.😃
As a Swede from Stockholm, I thought you lived further out in the country due to more or less all the videos I've managed to watch appearing to be in a more rural part. Unless you live nearer the coast or near a forest (which is still possible despite living in/around Stockholm, something I adore about Sweden). Or have you been making most of the shots from the summer house?
Also, it's been great to see all your projects. Like many others I especially loved the plant dyeing video!
Ja det kan nog framstå så! Nu bor inte jag i innerstan direkt heller, utan en bra bit utanför vid havet. Däremot så har vi ett torp i småland där vi bor på halvtid, speciellt under sommarmånaderna. Den tiden är också då jag syr/spelar in som mest. Därför kan det nog bli så som du sa😊 Kul att du gillade videon också!
The middle part of the foot in English is called the arch of the foot
Jeg regner med at du kan lese norsk siden det ikke er så annerledes enn norsk😂 men du er sååå flink til å sy og det ser ut som du lever veldig «i ett med naturen». Det ser så rolig og deilig ut. Du inspirer meg til å faktisk bli flinkere til å fullføre prosjektene mine. Jeg elsker å strikke, hekle og vil bli flink til å sy.
Er 19 og bor i Norge forresten😁
Beautiful cat!
Hi Elin, I think people are interested in your age because you are so amazing... and it seems you are quite young to already be so amazing! :)
How kind of you, thank you💕
I think a lot of sex workers would wear yellow dresses because it was cheap and easy but so would a lot of other working class people. Obviously other reasons for the association happening, but I doubt it could be as simple as yellow kirtle equating to that profession.
Great video!
Wool price vs. Linnen price. Modern linen is cheaper. But it was literally eli whitney's cotton gin that flipped the script on linnen. Previously wool had been cheaper than linnen.
Also, not sure about Scandinavia but in England green as in greensleeves song was the color of " the oldest profession" which is why it is so in that song.
I'll re ask my questions here:
(1)What do you work with to make a living? (2)How do you manage your time and money to maintain this hobby?
Your house is gigantic by swedish standars, and if it's in stockholms län idk how a young couple could ever afford it. Was it inherited? Does it have a history?
The skirt is beautiful! Did you use an already existing pattern or did you draft it yourself? And, like, would it be possible to share it to the world?
"Little" cat... :)
is there a link to where you get your material from? i tried to purchase here in Canada but they don't have... Wool. You're doing a great job keep on keep'n on girl Canada loves you ♥
Well said.
Also, I think we're buggered for price. I found one place that sells wool, only it's by the half metre for near $30. I don't know where it was as I was down the rabbit hole of research, but several places I found kept doing that stupid half metre! (Why? What's so bad about a whole metre? And why the extreme price?!)
www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com is where a lot of the historical costubers get their wool, silk, and linen fabrics (lighter wools seem to be in the $14 - $18/yard range)--though I haven't bought from them myself (not quite that far down the rabbit hole--mostly do theatrical, not reenactment). B&T specializes in 17th-19th century so not sure if it would suit what you're needing (they also sell swatchbooks of their fabrics for $6--shipping included in the US, but additional for outside the US.
Dear Ms. Abrahamsson,
I am enamored by you. Never before have I witnessed a lass with such creative talents and a passion for medieval history that rivals my own. It would be an honour, a delight, and a dream come true to one day meet you in person. Until that day comes, may fortune continue to favour you.
Cheers,
TradKnight
Your foot was off camera but I believe you're talking about the arch of your foot. You were speaking of the higher up part of your foot you don't walk on right?
🙏🏻💕
Random question, have you heard of the SCA?
Yes! I know many from there😊
Concerning the colour yellow: i saw this in a documentary on Medieval England... Not a great source but maybe it points in the right direction for further research?
Last, but not least perhaps...at you also a figure skater? There’s a lovely video someone posted showing a young woman with your name and sort of looking like you (no close-ups) - very talented and well turned out performance on ice skates! You?
Jag vet inte varför men jag älskar att få veta hur gamla folk är. Inte för att det förändrar något men det är bara kul 😂🙈
Hahahahah det är alltid kul med små detaljer😂
also do you do your own editing and what program do you use? I understand that DaVinci Resolve is a good editing program and it's FREE! ☺
She says on the video that she uses Premier Pro!
I am krisha you are so kind
where do you get your material from?
Who is the one that disliked this video?
And why?
You have inspired me so much with your clothes making. During lockdown I have been learning many skills such as crochet. Once lockdown ends my Grandma has agreed to teach me how to sew using a sewing machine and how to start making my own clothes. Maybe one day I will be able to start making my own clothes for reenactments. The city I live has a big castle (as many cities do in the UK) so we tend to have at least one a year. Thank you for making such lovely, inspiring and well made videos.
11:44 The word in English for the curve of the foot is an "arch." I, too, have high arches, so I can get the seam under the middle of the foot wouldn't bother you :)
Me too! Do your feet end up hurting a lot when you've walked around in modern flat shoes for an extended period of time as well?
The underside of my foot actually preferes a little bit of heel in my shoes, or an orthopedic sole.
AnkaFurb when i did cross country, we went to a shop that had a machine that you stood on and it would “assess” your feet to see which running shoes would best suit you. i have high arches and so it recommended me shoes with more cushion and structure and the difference when i ran was like night and day. after that, i never had an issue with my feet hurting while running, only issues with my body getting tired. i hadn’t realized how much your foot shape affects what shoes are most comfortable
I feel like you must have said somewhere else that you did all the filming yourself because I knew that before this video. And let me tell you, I am so impressed by every video you put out. I've tried to record myself and I find it so difficult! It's more than just getting everything in frame and in focus. The lighting, the ambiance, the color, everything always looks so good in your videos! The fact that you do it alone makes it 10 times more amazing.
Hello all the way from Perth Western Australia!
May I say, I have never seen such a high level of dedication married with passion and skill!
Your designs, sewing, filming and editing are stunning!
I love all your videos and I also love your warm and welcoming nature. Thank you for inspiring me and fuelling my history nerd tendencies!
Hello from Victoria! More southern hemisphere history enthusiasts, yay!!
@rzomg Haha I know I butcher it, but no one else in Australia has ever managed to say it right so I just gave up correcting them and went with the flow!
blessed to be watching this with a cup of tea on a rainy day
You just described my favourite kind of day.😁
yayy a historical costumer youtuber whos close to my age :3
It's great when I see more people on the younger side who are also obsessed with historical costuming :D
How extraordinary you are! Your film making skills, sewing skills, research skills, and personality fly right out of the screen. You are so young, too, which makes me very excited for you. The world is your oyster! I am so glad your channel is doing well and I hope it motivates and inspires you to keep reaching for more fun projects!
I find your talent to be simply amazing. I hope you are considering college and possibly a PhD in this field where you can turn your interests into an occupation such as working for a museum doing research and conservation of historical clothing or textiles. Best wishes.
Lovely to find out a little more about you and your thoughts on viewers questions.
Also Handelsgillet?! Amazing! I normally try to buy from my own country to help the environment but to get materials made with historical techniques in mind it might be worth importing.
On that note if anyone has recommendations for similar suppliers but in the uk please let me know!
I can’t believe you’re so young! Have you been sewing your whole life? I didn’t take my sewing hobby seriously till I was 18 and by then I was mostly self taught and didn’t make nice, good quality things at all! 🤦🏼♀️🤣 You’re an inspiration, lady! ❤️
You are such an inspiration! I love watching and rewatching your videos and seeing the passion and dedication you have for your projects.
Also: I get so angry when people come up with that "yellow signals prostitution" argument. It is a terrible stigma most people have and it's time to crush it! In Germany it manifested itself through a known "historical" novel series following a prostitute in the late medieval times, who is forced to wear yellow dresses or yellow ribbons so naturally people assumed it's true and for all of Europe. With a bit of research you learn that every city and region had its own clothing guidelines for different professions - yes during one period in time one(!) city chose yellow (ribbons I believe) for prostitutes but that was it. Yellow is a wonderful colour, that is easy to achieve and that one should wear with pride. I had so many friends being insecure for wearing their beautifully made yellow dresses on viking age living history events due to misinformed online comments and it broke my heart. I'm glad you addressed it here!
I don't know much about 14th century clothing, history and all that, but I feel like I need to comment anyways. Your videos are so well made and put together! It's like you went to film school of some sort, or have years and years of experience. This is UA-cam, not Cannes film festival. I don't see why this is not perfect for UA-cam (I don't mean just this video in particular, the ones with dressing and sewing). Keep the good work!
Only thing I know about yellow is that it was a Spanish mourning colour!
People think you're German? Lol our accent is a lot different from yours
Thank you for this video !!
I have ancestors from Sweden, the painter Alexandre Roslin (he portraited Gustav III of Sweden if I well remember and the lady with the veil), and I'd really love to discover your country!
I also am interested in reenactment, but I'm a beginner so I binge watch all videos that I found to learn as much as possible how to create pieces as stunning as you
Thank you for being so cool and didactic!
YOU’RE 18???!!!!!! I THOUGHT SHE WAS IN HER 20S OMG SHES SO COOL AND NOW I FEEL LIKE I CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AT A YOUNG AGE OMG I LOVE HER SO MUCH
can you do a video on how you make your garments. i want to make some
Hej Elin, Your work is wonderful, your videos very well edited! It helps to live in beautiful Sweden of course, but even still, just amazing work, and dedication. I loved hearing falsobordone’s tunes in your video. I have not been to visit Sweden since the 1980’s. I’ve always wanted to go to the Battle of Wisby. I have been making mail armor and hand sewing since 1976. I should say studying since I haven’t made a lot of it. I am sewing 1790 Navy sailor clothes now. I do reenacting for that period. We have a small ships’ cannon! Keep safe and keep doing what you are doing!👍❤️
Hello, I have just found these fantastic videos and the amazing amount of information and enthusiasm that you give in your videos is awesome, please keep it up as they are brilliant.
I do 12-14th Century Welsh-English reenactment in North Wales (I am one of those knightly sorts) I tend to make as much of my kit as I can, including dyeing as much as I can with natural dyes, my current/trying to improve on my last project was sorting out a good colour for my hose (Yellow) I originally used Tumeric (Curcuma longa) which produced a really lovely yellow/dusty orange mix, but it faded quickly, i might of dyed it wrongly. My next thinkings will be to try Broad leaved Docks (Rumex obtusifolius) as they can turn the wool a very interesting shade or shades of yellow, from bright sunny yellow to darker warmer shades.
A good place to look sometimes if you are after good quality images of Historically accurate images is wellcomecollection.org/ I used it so much when I was doing my degree as its totally free and you can use any of the pictures as well (As long as you reference where you got them from, they show you how to do that on the site if you need to)
I am also in the process of making a full circle cloak, hooded and made out of fairly heavy weight wool (I'm sewing in the morning) Well I am looking forward to your next video, Take care :)
I love your work! I am a hand sewer and this is so inspiring and helpful.