— — November 13-15 — — Hand Sewing the Swedish Bocksten Tunic with LeeAra Anglin

As of 7/21/26: COMING SOON!!

Related Courses/Events: Textile Courses

Dates:

Optional, but highly recommended!
Thursday, November 12, 6pm What They Wore Craft Night Series presentation with LeeAra Anglin, historical sewer, crafter, and homesteader who will talk about historical hand sewing and her other creative adventures.

Class times: Friday, November 13-Sunday, November 15, 2026 9:30am-4:30pm

Description: Slow down and go back in time while learning to hand sew a wool or linen Swedish Bocksten Tunic.

One of the best examples known to us of extant early medieval garments is from the body of the ‘Bocksten man’ who was found in a peat bog in 1936 in Varberg—an area in what we now consider southern Sweden. It is one of the most complete and significant surviving pieces of early medieval European civilian clothing, dating between 1250-1520. The wide range in centuries shows how prevalent this particular style has been throughout history and therefore how difficult it is to date. It was originally made of wool.

Similar styles have been found in medieval Greenland, Ireland, and in other countries across Europe spanning many centuries. There are even similarities in construction to an 18th century shift.

LeeAra will teach you fundamental hand sewing techniques, basic stitches, turned hems, inserted gores and pattern drafting for your specific body. No prior hand sewing experience needed!

Yardage will be determined with LeeAra based on your size and chosen length. She will contact you after registration to sort it out. You may need to complete your project on your own at home.

Please Bring:

Fabric

• Bring unwashed wool fabric or machine washed and dried heavy weight linen fabric.

• Yardage will be determined with LeeAra based on your size and chosen length of garment. She will contact you after registration to sort it out, including any consultation on the weight of your chosen fabric.

• The Woolsome Shop is a good source for wool fabric.The Linen Lab as well. The thin twill, herringbone, or diamond weave would be historically accurate.

• Machine wash and machine dry linen fabric prior to class. This assures that the bulk of any shrinking has already occurred and softens the linen for sewing.

• Burnley and Trowbridge is a source for high quality Irish linen‍ ‍and Fabrics store is another decent source for linen fabric.

Sewing Kit

• Pin cushion

• Pins

• Sewing needles

• Fabric scissors or otherwise sharp scissors

• Thread to match fabric choice if matching is desired. LeeAra suggests using natural 50/3 linen thread from Burnley and Trowbridge

• Reading glasses/headlamp if you need them

• Seat cushion optional

Course Fee: $300

Material Fee: None required. Students provide their own materials.

LeeAra Anglin has been hand sewing for the better part of the last 6 years. Her projects range from 18th century gowns, petticoats, and shifts to replicas of 11th century extants found in southern Greenland and much in between that catches her fancy. She was taught by a young lass named Anna Eklund, who has handsewn gowns and outfits for renowned reenactors and weddings at Colonial Williamsburg. LeeAra absolutely adores the work of the hand in the construction of garments and is excited to share this love with you. She lives in a handmade house on a homestead in Mason with children, farm animals, and gardens. @heritage.hill.homestead