Oseberg Narrow Band

Background

This image has a dark wooden background. On it, from top to bottom, is a black, leather belt, a spool of green thread tied to a cardboard shuttle, a orange mechanical pencil holding together white paper tablets, and green, beige, and brown threads coming from the tablets.
The supplies I used for my project. Tablets made from cardstock, a mechanical pencil used to hold tablets together when not in use, green thread for the weft and a cardboard shuttle, and a black leather belt to tie one end to.

My pattern for this project is the Oseberg Narrow band, from a Viking-age burial in Norway. I will be using cotton thread in brown, beige, and green, modifying the pattern slightly to give it a border in order to use all three colors.

This image shows a white background with a light yellow and blue woven band in the center. Below the band is two threads, one of the matching yellow and the other the blue from the band itself. Above the band is a ruler, showing 1-70 mm.
A reproduction of the Oseberg Narrow band. Image from Shelagh’s website.

Warping & Weaving

To begin my pattern I first had to warp my threads, meaning I had to measure, cut, then thread each piece through the tablets in the correct direction. To measure my thread I used the length of a table, and cut each thread the same length across it. I followed the amount of each color, with modification on the borders, based upon my pattern, and first organized the threads into bundles based upon the card they belonged to. This organization method worked out alright for me as my pattern was not too complicated.

Once I had every thread cut, I then had to thread them through their respective cards. I realized that I had been following an alternative pattern when cutting my threads, but it was quickly rectified as both ultimately required the same amount of each color. Next, I had to figure out the difference between S and Z threading.

This image has a white background with table tiles on yellow and blue. The left side of the table lists "A B C D" going downwards, the top of the table lists " 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10" going left to right, and the bottom lists "S Z S Z S S S Z S Z" going left to right. The blue tiles are arrange in a flower like shape in the middle.
The alternate pattern I originally started following. Pattern from Shelagh’s Website.
This image has a white background with table tiles on yellow and blue. The left side of the table lists "A B C D" going downwards, the top of the table lists " 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10" going left to right, and the bottom lists "S Z S Z S S S Z S Z" going left to right. The blue tiles are arranged in a zig-zag like shape in the middle.
The real pattern I had to correct my threads to, after I had cut them. Pattern from Shelagh’s Website.

The difference between S and Z threading took me a while to understand, but with the assistance of multiple google searches, I finally had all my threads sorted properly. However, my threads became very difficult to work with once warped. The longer end kept getting knotted, and it took me about 30 minutes to untangle them. This continued to be a problem as I started weaving, as at some point while I was attaching one end to a door handle, the threads had managed to flip. It took me quite awhile to fix this, sorting the ends into two bundles which then tied to my belt, but once I had I was able to begin weaving.

This image shows the end of the weave tied to a silver door handle, the cardboard shuttle between the threads to hold them still for a picture, the tablets arranged vertically, and a hand with black nails holding it up.
The progress on my pattern after weaving for a hour.
This image shows a close up of the woven part of the project. Brown, green, and beige thread make a chain like pattern with brown borders.
Close up of the progress.

My pattern called for all my tablets to be turned the same way, which allowed for me to focus on my tension and keeping my cards organized. I didn’t anticipate how much thread I would need for the weft, so as pictured there is not enough currently on my shuttle. This is a problem that will have to be fixed at a later date, as my partners have already suggested how to fix this. I also didn’t understand how much I would have to pull the weft through, worried that it may unravel, so there are green bumps throughout the section I’ve done. I’m proud of how much I achieved in an hour of work, and while bumpy, the tension is good and the pattern is clear. I foresee this becoming cleaner as I continue, and hope that the end product will demonstrate my learning.

Thank you for reading! Until next time…

-Tika