An important, but often overlooked element of a piece of cloth is the thread that is used to actually make it. It's only a thread, isn't it? No it is not! It is an essential part of textiles and textile studies.
The study day looks at various ways of producing a thread, and understanding and identifying some of the variations and seeing how they can affect the end result, whether it is a woven, knitted, knotted, etc. form.
Detail of a sampler from AD 1779, showing to the right a woman spinning. The Netherlands (?) (TRC 2008.0431).
The day will start with some hand spinning (experience is not necessary) with an emphasis placed on woollen and worsted forms (wool), as well as an introduction to the spinning of cotton, flax and silk. There will then be a session of thread identification and how to write the basic notations and terms, notably S, Z, I, plied, etc. Part of the day will also be used to look at various types of metal threads, such as plate, wire, passing, purl and pearl purl.
The aim of this interactive study day is for the participants to understand the main spinning techniques, and to look and study the various tools that are required, the fibres that are used and the resulting threads. Throughout the day, examples from the TRC’s extensive collection of textiles from around the world will be examined to see how men and women over the centuries have made threads. The study day is given by Dr. Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, director of the TRC Leiden.
Date: Saturday 18 October 2025. Time: 09.30 – 16.00. Location: TRC Leiden, Hogewoerd 164, 2351 HW Leiden, The Netherlands. Lecturer: Dr Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood. Language: Dutch and English. Fees: 85 euro. Materials/coffee/tea provided. Please bring your own lunch. Max. number of participants: 8. Please register in advance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
