Because You Can Never Have Enough Half Done Projects

[affreca]

I have started a new project. See, I'm taking a natural dyeing class this fall and I bought a new loom that needs to be tried out (and yes, now I have two looms to sell). And I actually thought of an idea that would use yarn I already own.

I will be weaving a 20" by 2 yard scarf on my new loom. The warp threads are thin wool dyed blue, with a pattern wrapped (so the sections stayed white). The weft is mohair and wool dyed in the same indigo bath to a medium blue. Hopefully I calculated sett well enough that it will be slightly thin and airy. And very fuzzy.

I finished the dyeing last night in class. I will wait to dress the loom until it is in the craft room, which will hopefully be this weekend.

Comments

Quest for Affreca

[(Anonymous)]

Well, Africt, actually. In 1644 a commission was authorized to try some women in Galloway Scotland for witchcraft (http://books.google.com/books?id=CrzNAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA133&lpg=PA133&dq=Johne+McLung+spouse&source=bl&ots=3AJNWi0lG5&sig=aSRmekJ5haa5VYyDxhZdCj3Teog&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SghuUIeQOsj9igLanIGYDA&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Johne%20McLung%20spouse&f=false). One of them was “Affrick Elam, spous to Johne McLung”. Five years later, a local minister asked for a different commission, since the first commission hadn’t done anything (http://books.google.com/books?id=jjcMAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA215&lpg=PA215&dq=Crooks+John+McLung+witchcraft&source=bl&ots=bGUlN9wozX&sig=Xc2C3CLJ9IYMFRUNSCq-OwFUmSk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IQpuUJuiDKXbiwKN0oGQAw&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Crooks%20&f=false), and in this case that same woman was identified as “Africt Blame, spous to John McLung”. I suspect that both notes were originally written in Schoolhand which has been transcribed, and the original spelling may also have been quite different. The other women listed have common first and last names for Galloway or the Borders. “Elam” is a Suffolk name and “Blame” no name at all. In Galloway one did find plenty of Baines, though, and in School hand “ine” and “me” could be easy conflated, and e and b are famously confused. But I am really wondering about the Affrick.
I have found Affreca de Courcy (also as Affraic) and her mother Affreca of Galloway (also Affraic ingen Fergusa) who was married to the King of Mann and the Isles. Also Anfrica of Huntingdon (also as Aufrica of Scotland) the natural daughter of William the Lion, or perhaps his sister or perhaps a myth.

Trying to weave together an explaination for "Affreca Baine" I was wondering if there some more common sorts of Affrecas in the northwest of Europe that you might be familiar with, and if they were ever Africts? You were the first Affreca I could find to ask. - Ceadda

Re: Quest for Affreca

[affreca]

I've never seen Affrict as a version of Affreca. I came across originally when I was researching Isle of Man (home to the most famous Affreca). The most through write up I found was in the "Manx Names: Or Surnames and Placenames of the Isle of Man", but I don't remember what history it discussed or have access any more.

Another reference I'd point you to is http://medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Feminine/Affraic.shtml - which I'll admit I found through wikipedia so I don't know how reliable it is, though it does cite references. It looks like there are a number of variations known through Ireland. My completely unreliable suggestion is that the "t" was a "k" as in Affrick.

I'm just happy to find someone who does think it is a reference to Africa. Good luck.