Ode to the Sharp and Pointy

Only in this case it isn't rapiers. For once. Though I like them too. No, this time, it's needles. A friend of mine showed me the Viking-period needles that a friend had given her, and it's been stuck in my head since then that I want to make some. Have been doing some research, and have decided that while I'm at it, I might as well make pins as well. Seems to be quite simple a process--in concept.

I went down to Vermillion last night to hang out at the milk barn for the weekly SCA meeting, and brought it up with Hagan. So he scrounged around for practice material. First attempt was iron baling wire. He put a point on with the grinder (we cheated on the practice ones), heated the end, flattened it with a hammer. Success so far. Then we attempted to put the hole in the needle head. Not so much success. Even heating it red hot, we still flattened the tip of several nails in the attempt. We're hoping with a copper alloy, aka softer metal, we'll have more sucess. However, I'm thinking that the iron prototype will have a nice, sharp, dainty-yet-tough point for perhaps using as a punch to put the holes in future, smaller needles of copper-alloy. This is actually a really good process for me, because simple as it is, and though I did little more than watch and hold the nail and pound the hammer, I'm learning more about metal working. If I had a torch/forge, I think at this point, I'd probably be able to manage a decent one on my own with time. Anyway, we tried a brass one next, with a much larger still gauge wire (think larger than your typical yarn needle!), and still had no luck with getting a hole in it. We really just need to find a decent punch, I think. Keeping said hypothetical punch centered on the needle head might also be a challenge.

Anyway, I'm having a lot of fun in the experimentation process. Will keep you updated! I'm so excited to be able to make my linen fabric into handsewn, Anglo-Saxon dresses with handmade needles and pins!!! Hopefully before Cecil's Siege in September!!!