Making an Iron Age Outfit Inspired by Huldremose Woman

I'm working on a new outfit to wear when working at Iron Age sites. Some lucky buys of handwoven fabric have encouraged me to base this costume on Huldremose Woman who lived somewhere between 160 BC and 340 AD in Denmark.

[catzkeet]

I love natural dyes, ...they're so much brighter and a much more diverse palette than most people today imagine. I dye spin(spindle and wheel) and weave and I love seeing this stuff

[terrir]

As a spinner, dyer and weaver using a warp weighted loom I was so happy to find this video and must compliment you on a very credible modern recreation. Thank you.

[kitdubhran]

I’ve never heard the term “archaeological brown” but it’s so perfect. 😂

[lisascenic]

Wonderful outfit made of spectacular materials! The textile gods must have been smiling when you found the woolen and nettle hand spun fabric in such generous lengths.

The madder orange compliments your hair beautifully.

[elisabethm]

I’ve always wondered if the Huldremose woman and other bog bodies were also wearing linen, hemp and or nettle garments as well. So glad that there’s finally some evidence coming forward. It just defies common sense that these people would not have been wearing linen tunics and shifts as underwear. The fibers were local and we have evidence of such use for millennia in adjacent cultures.

[Worldbuilder]

...in that outfit you're an Iron Age Merrida. That was a very cool video and an excellent look at both the original outfit and what adaptations you can (and need) to make to work with materials not originally made for it. Very in the spirit, I feel. :)

[BgooditsGL]

Sally is well ✅ Iron age outfit✅ Nettle or linen✅ wool✅ Hand dyed✅ Feather stitch✅❤ Bonus leather and wool clasp ✅Sally looks marvellous✅ a nettle dress😍🥰

[shinju]

Hi Sally! I love your videos. I found some of your videos years ago about using nettles in textiles. I've since gotten into exploring using other fibers for crafts similar to what you do. I decided to go back to school for anthropology/archeology. If I hadn't watched your videos, I never would have known that studying textiles and other hand-crafted items could be this interesting. I'm hoping to be able to cross the pond to attend a workshop from you one day. So, thank you so much for the inspiration!

[lorenstribling]

I love the colors you ended up with. We sometimes forget that color has been important to us humans for many, many generations as well as the decorative touches of stitches and pins. Such things were not invented in the modern age after all.

[abittwisted]

You know, that shawl is almost a perfect match to your hair. Kudos to the quality of the materials you found to do this project. All fit rather well and design and colors are after all personal preferences so matching exactly to the one found to what you did is not needed. Yours fits you perfectly. Everybody has their own personal touches to their clothing as well as you. I can’t say any more than this is just perfection.

[ReltubTheWiz]

You have amazing red hair and the outfit looks amazing!

[alkonostX]

Archeological brown! Haha I love finding the colours of the past, reminds me of when they colorize black and white films it really makes it connect to the present.

[kotadawndragon]

The original outfit was amazingly preserved! I would have thought even the wool would have been mostly gone by now. The clothing you made looks lovely, practical, and comfortable. You had some seriously good luck finding those lovely fabrics.

[deborahharding]

Years ago I received a length of handspun, handwoven Hungarian hemp in payment for an embroidered dress I made for an archaeologist, using more of the same fabric. I still haven't decided what to do with it; maybe I'll make myself a similar dress.

[ununuh]

I have a woven wool coverlet (in several pieces) that has been handed down in my father’s family since the 18th century. (It’s been in my mom’s cedar chest for 70 years!) I realized that the dark threads must be indigo. The other color is reddish and I now believe it must be madder! I’m so glad to have viewed this video!

[ladyofthemasque]

Thumbs up if you think he's doing a great job, too!

[teripittman]

SpinOff had an article on madder dyeing. They did a month long cold mordant. The madder was heated with an aquarium heater as it's sensitive to heat. They got dark reds, with it soaking for several days. I think the article can be found online.

[penniecormier]

The whole outfit Looks great! I can imagine the ladder /blanket stitch made the wool skirt very comfortable. No bulky seams to bother the wearer.

[joannew]

Oooh! Those sheep skins are just gorgeous!

[misssmith]

You look beautiful.
Stylish. Strong, yet welcoming. I think you captured it perfectly!