Material culture

Middle Ages · Crafts & material culture

Mini-loom weaving for beginners: Weave your own traditional trims and ribbons

Frame weaving is one of the oldest weaving techniques in Europe – and you need little more than cards and yarn. We’ll show you how to do it, step by step.

29 October 202617 min

Middle Ages · Crafts & material culture

Knight’s armour – structure, function and physical strain

What was a knight’s suit of armour actually like – and what impact did its weight have on the body? We explain its function and the strain it placed on the body, layer by layer.

3 October 202615 min

Middle Ages · Crafts & material culture

What knights really wore under their armour – the big fact check

Films show the knight in shining armour – but what did he wear underneath? A look at linen shirts, gambesons and the like, and why these layers were so important.

1 October 202611 min

Middle Ages · Crafts & material culture

Needle-binding for beginners – the forgotten technique that preceded knitting, now popular in the historical re-enactment scene

Needle-knitting predates knitting – and is hardly known. How the technique works, what you need to do it, and why it is being rediscovered in the historical re-enactment scene.

12 September 202612 min

Middle Ages · Crafts & material culture

The Dog Days: Origins, superstitions and curious facts from antiquity to the present day

From Egyptian astrologers to medieval farmers’ sayings: the Dog Days have a fascinating history full of superstition and curious customs. What’s the story behind them?

18 July 20267 min

Middle Ages · Crafts & material culture

Gutenberg letterpress printing: invention, technology and impact

Before 1450, a book was worth as much as a year’s salary. Gutenberg’s invention changed all that – and brought the Middle Ages, as we know it, to an end.

16 June 202610 min

Middle Ages · Crafts & material culture

Tristan and Isolde

Forbidden love, a knight and a princess: the medieval legend of Tristan and Isolde inspired Wagner to create a masterpiece. What lies behind it?

6 June 202612 min

Middle Ages · Crafts & material culture

Medicinal plants: Effect, application and important examples

Medicinal plants have been part of human life for thousands of years. Find out which herbs are effective, how to use them, and what role they played in medieval monastic medicine.

9 May 202618 min

Middle Ages · Crafts & material culture

The invention of the spinning wheel: from the Middle Ages to modern times

From the Neolithic spindle to the modern machine: how the spinning wheel transformed textile production – and why it plays a key role in every medieval outfit.

16 April 20268 min

Middle Ages · Crafts & material culture

The invention of the loom: a revolution in the textile industry

From Neolithic loom weights to brocade robes: how the loom shaped the history of textiles – and why this matters for your medieval costume.

4 April 20269 min