Viking Clothes, But Make It Queer || Part One: Dress and Hood [CC]

[@corasgrove3474]

Same. Coming late to learn the terms asexual, demisexual, aromantic - and realising this was actually a thing, not just me. I like how swishy the dress is :-)

[@OpusElenae]

You are valid and valuable.

[@laulutar]

As a bi woman married to a cis dude, I feel you on the "not queer enough".

[@OpusElenae]

You are absolutely queer enough. You are valid and valuable and your identity is not contingent on publicly performing queerness to prove it.

[@VerbenaComfrey]

Hard same.

[@OpusElenae]

@@VerbenaComfrey You also are valid and enough and you don't have to prove that to anyone by meeting some arbitrary standard.

[@andreacook7431]

I joined my works' LGBTQ+ group, I mentioned I was part of the Queer community, and the head of the group looked really confused when I mentioned a husband. I reminded him one of our goals was "education" with "Lession 1: Bisexuals exist"

[@FrenchTheLlamaFTL]

It took me until the age of 26 to understand/accept that I'm asexual, bi-romantic, and polyamorous, and to stop pretending that I feel sexual attraction when I don't. Congrats on your progress with finding yourself!

[@OpusElenae]

There is no "wrong time" to "too late" to make important discoveries about yourself!

[@werelemur1138]

I was 46 or 47 when I realized that there was a difference between aesthetic attraction and sexual attraction and that when most people say "I'd hit that" they do in fact mean that, and not just that said person is really pretty and they would like to spend a lot of time looking at them.

[@charlottejones7341]

I am glad you are understanding your whole person

[@starwarssyl1177]

Happy pride! As a fellow ace I present cake, garlic bread, and a dragon in salute.

[@OpusElenae]

A comprehensive list of my favorite things! 🖤🤍💜

[@thisismyname3328]

Me, an AroAce, who learnt to sew through lockdown, and has branched out into historical stuff recently, feeling really seen, and greatly enjoying the representation

[@OpusElenae]

I’m so glad! I was hoping that people would feel seen!

[@rebeccacuthbertson1271]

Love that you're celebrating yourself with this project (along with everyone else using #cospride) Keep kicking ass and taking names!

[@katherinemorelle7115]

Usually around this time of year, I see numerous comments about “why do we need so many labels? Can’t people just live whoever and however they wish? Can’t they just he who they are? Progress is moving beyond labels!” But I disagree, and the beginning of your video is exactly why. Because when you come across a label that perfectly (or close to perfectly) describes your experience, it is an incredibly liberating moment. All of a sudden, it’s “oh, so this is normal, it is a name, and there are people like me. I’m not broken!” And there’s so much power in that. I think that’s what the people who wish to get rid of labels don’t really get. Obviously, if someone doesn’t want to label themselves, then good for them. Whatever works best for them is great. But labels can be really empowering for many of us. It can help us realise we aren’t broken, that we have a community, and how to find that community. I’m proud of the labels I carry- bisexual, disabled, wheelchair user, queer. They’re my labels and they have served me well. I think many people see labels as boxing someone in, rather than being liberating, but I think that’s more a matter of viewpoint. The other important thing about labels is that it can give us a label to rally behind. For marginalised people, that is incredibly important. Right now, the Australian government (my government, unfortunately) is attacking the disabled community by trying to rob us of what little supports we have. If I didn’t have a community that rallies behind the label of “disabled”, we wouldn’t have the power to even begin to fight them on it. The adoption of the labels of gay, lesbian, queer, came along with the queer liberation fight. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. The labels gave us a way to find each other, and to fight for ourselves. Labels are important. And I think, especially during this time of year, we should reflect on the power of labels, both personally and in a community and even global sense. I’m glad you found a label that suits you and that made you feel empowered.

[@OpusElenae]

👏👏👏👏 I agree completely! How many people have gone through life convinced they were broken and other because they lacked the terminology to be able to talk about their experiences in a way that would allow them to find community? Too many.

[@ragnkja]

As an autistic woman who didn’t know I was autistic until I was already an adult, I can say that it’s not exactly about the label, but about the understanding that comes with finding the right labels.

[@catsandravens]

@@ragnkjajust realizing that there’s actually terminology for how you feel and what you’re experiencing can be an incredible relief! Hugs if you want one!

[@kentario1610]

​@@catsandravensdefinitely! I know when I first found a page summarising asexual labels, I felt like I finally found the answer, and even if I'm not 100% certain on my labels, even finding out and then being able to search for others like me made me overjoyed. Reading others' experiences also helped find other fitting labels.

[@theoldaccountthatiusedtous6767]

Yes! Labels like these are like... sunflowers. I've heard that they plant sunflowers to remove toxins from soil. You are not taking on a new label for the sake of having a new label, but because it overwrites the labels you were given. The example I think of is autism, which is getting a lot of press lately: if "I'm autistic" is the sunflower/the label you found, then "I'm a lazy bad person who obviously doesn't care about her friends (despite working really hard and trying so hard to be good and caring so deeply about my friends)" is the toxin in the soil that gets removed. The point of the label is to remove the toxins. If the label is a pretty yellow flower that you can appreciate looking at, that's an added bonus.

[@michelehays1974]

I'm not queer, but I am definitely an ally of the community - I like the idea of people in the cosplay and reenactment communities being able to translate the pride symbols into their own clothing creations. I think it makes the item even more personal and special :)

[@OpusElenae]

I think it’s a really important thing to continue talking about in reenactment circles, the validation of queer identities is vital.

[@hannahgreen681]

Thank you for giving instructions on a keyhole neckline. I've been wanting to make one for my next dress. And as it happens I need to make an apron dress as well. What good fortune for me :) looking forward to the next video!

[@OpusElenae]

Oh yay! Glad to have helped!

[@canucknancy4257]

You are gloriousl. Your creations are beautiful. Bran knows that the best part of any piece of work is the dangling strings. That is a wonderful drop spindle you are using at the end. Thank you again for sharing your project with us. Looking forward to part 2. Take care.

[@OpusElenae]

Nancy your comments always brighten my day; I look forward to them every time. 💜

[@meamela9820]

This made me tear up a little bit. Feeling less lonely. Definently going to make something like this in the future. I already have plans and fabric for a grey viking dress, just need some purple now. It feels like the perfect thing to be able to display ones identity through colours in clothing, without needing to out oneself to those who don't get the hint.

[@OpusElenae]

You are not alone. You are valid and valuable, and I can’t wait to see your dress!

[@NeonGlowRainbow]

I feel called out for constructing personalities for friends in my mind and then falling for them 😅🙈

[@OpusElenae]

For me it’s always people I don’t know well; it happened SO MUCH in high school

[@fannyduvillage]

Bless you Bran. Well this was a nice way to start my evening, drinking morrocan mint tea (freshly picked in the garden) and watching your video. I need to sew such a dress...but first I have to find nice linnen.

[@OpusElenae]

They’re soooo comfortable. (And Bran says hi back)

[@snoozegrunthypna]

Try using cotton broadcloth instead of linen ( instead of linen for under dresses, I like to use muslin(unbleached))

[@pennykhamsa4704]

Yay! One more reason to love you. I'm a pan-romantic, polyamorous, femsexual lesbian/bisexual, non-binary demi-girl, and SCAdian Lady, and I totally get the "not queer enough" feeling. Sometimes we gatekeep ourselves as much as bigots might. But gender, sex, and sexuality have always existed in a glorious and confusing spectrum, and no one else has the right to dictate our identity.

[@OpusElenae]

You are enough, and valid and valuable!

[@chelseahartweg2938]

Thank you for voicing all of this. I figured out I was bi? Pan? Omni? (I don't really know what to call myself) at 32 after being happily and monogamously married to a man for almost a decade. Now I struggle with how to relate to my sexuality when it's likely I won't have experiences to explore them since I'm not poly. It feels almost like I'm taking up space where I shouldn't, though I know that's not really true. This is my first pride as an out member of the community and I have lot of feelings about that. It's so nice to not feel alone in all that. Thank you.

[@OpusElenae]

It is never too late to discover something precious about yourself, and your identity and self are valid completely apart from any experiences you’ve had or will have.

[@ReinaElizondo]

Hugs! You're totally allowed and welcome to take up space and claim your labels.

[@renata_of_the_craft]

Just for the intro I want to give your video a minimum of a dozen thumbs up, thank you. Then I had to watch the construction of the hood a few times to understand it, such a simple yet clever and effective design. I will have to give this a go. Thank you very much for this lovely and inspiring video, with lots of queer pride! 🌈 💜💙💚💛🧡❤️

[@lajoyous1568]

Thanks for teaching me some more appropriate/accurate terms than hetroflexible. 😊 Also that dress is beautiful. I look forward to the apron dress.

[@OpusElenae]

I think heteroflexible is still legit! I spent quite a while calling myself that too. But I’m always glad to find and help others find more accurate terms for themselves.

[@msmerrillbea2349]

Sending extra virtual hugs and support! “Not queer enough” is definitely a feeling I am familiar with, so thank you for reminding me it’s not just me. Love, this pansexual who is still figuring out gender 💜

[@NutzerWurdeGeloescht]

Gender is even more confusing than sewing sleeves

[@katherinemorelle7115]

@@NutzerWurdeGeloescht I need that on a pillow. Truest thing I’ve heard today!

[@McNerdyCostumesandProps]

Oh, my goodness I love the lavender-colored hood soooo much! That’s an absolutely beautiful linen.

[@OpusElenae]

Right?! It was a fortuitous find! The perfect lichen-purple.

[@HistoryWithCharacter]

Production assistant Bran to the rescue to take care of those hanging threads! Definitely understand the "not queer enough" mentality. It's hard to break through that thought process for sure.

[@RobinT346]

"...but make it queer" I hit the play button SO FAST. Thank you so much for being open and honest with us as well as welcoming and supportive to LGBTQIA people.

[@OpusElenae]

The amount of people telling me they feel less alone has made it all worth any trepidation I might have had. I try my best to do right by all marginalized folks.

[@NutzerWurdeGeloescht]

As a fellow gray-ace leaning bi woman, not feeling "queer enough" sounds familiar. As a historian, there must have been queer vikings. Of course, we lack adequate written sources from the Viking age but there's evidence concerning homosexuality in continental Europe roughly the same time.

[@OpusElenae]

There definitely were! I'll be going into how we can determine that and how the Vikings though about queer folk in my next video.

[@ragnkja]

The Skjoldehamn body may have been a late pre-Christian (first half of the 11th century) Norse female in masculine clothes. If the person was Sámi it’s harder to tell what gender they presented as, because our knowledge of Sámi dress before the 17th century is _extremely_ lacking.

[@ariverdreaming]

There’s always queer people in every culture throughout all of time! Unfortunately a lot of that history is erased or distorted by the Christian era and colonialism which is why it’s so beautiful to recreate what we think may have been with our instincts and imaginations! 💖

[@linr8260]

Awww yiss, demi pride and linen, did you mean the BEST combo? It's so flowy too! Happy Pride to you, and good luck on the apron dress! (If it isn't already completed)

[@OpusElenae]

I love linen so much. The windy day was a pain on the hood front but made the dress appear to it’s best advantage

[@ragnkja]

@@OpusElenae You could sew on braids at the sides of the hood to pull it back, like the one you based it on had.

[@ceruleanskies001]

Much love to you and your outfit turned out great! Thank you for mentioning the cospride tag. Been kinda gagging on the corporate pride grossness and need some actual community connection. Now I am thinking I need to make an 18th cent pirate shirt to get my bi-rate pride on.

[@pennykhamsa4704]

ohmygosh you put it in words! "corporate pride grossness"... that's the icky feeling I've been having this month. Like, sure, support us, but like, in ways that actually matter, not by slathering everything in rainbows for a month before going back to the same old capitalist corporate abuse of workers' rights including LGBT+ rights.

[@quicksilvertears921]

Thank you for posting this video. What I found very helpful was the hand sewing upside and long enough so I could really see how you were doing the work. Often people think it is boring to sew someone sew so they go over it really quickly and you may see 2 stitches. I found your video to be the perfect length. I can always fast forward but I can't increase the time a poster shows something I am trying to process.

[@unwrittenbook]

I love how wholesome the comment section is! XD I am also figuring things out at 33 y. old. The more research I do and the more people I listen to, the more I feel Demisexual might be a label for me. I will take my time and thing about it some more :) And now I want a Viking tunic…but I have no reason to wear one 😭

[@OpusElenae]

Me too! I am so grateful for my wonderful affirming followers. And welcome to the ranks of the perpetually questioning, we have delicious tea. You should definitely make a tunic; they’re so comfy!

[@nanettebromley8843]

Definitely make a tunic. I've still got mine from 20 years ago when I was in re-enactment. Still wear it too. Very comfy. 50 year old still trying to figure her place .

[@j.enzinas]

Fabulous video as always. Thank you for all of your work to make your space inclusive and welcoming.

[@OpusElenae]

I want my people to feel safe!

[@1Bibliotech]

Thanks for your openness creativity and lovely sewing! The hood is especially interesting to me. Also your disclaimer is awesome, I may have rewound several times so I could transcribe it into my journal.

[@OpusElenae]

Aw thank you! The fact that you transcribed it is so sweet to me! (Also I’m future if you ever want a portion just message me on IG, I write out all my scripts beforehand)

[@beeb6730]

I clicked immediately at this Brilliant!! idea and such a cool interpretation. And the your intro made it even better. Thanks so much for this thoughtful and delightful addition to pride this year.

[@OpusElenae]

Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

[@stellaandginger]

Demi bi costuming club represent!!

[@OpusElenae]

🖤🤍💜💗💙😉

[@maryelizabethengleman9763]

Came for the hood, stayed for the kindness. Yay you (and your awesome cat)!

[@OpusElenae]

I try my best! Welcome from me (and Bran).

[@FlybyStardancer]

Happy Pride!! Love the video, and the disclaimer at the beginning!! I’ve been an ally as long as I’ve known what that was, but it’s only been in the past year that I’ve realized that I’m some sort of queer, and only the past couple of months have I really understood that yes I fall somewhere on the ace spectrum, and only in the past few DAYS have I realized that another label may apply as well. That I’m still meditating on and trying to work out. I recently bought some Pride-appropriate fabric and Im still trying to decide what to do with it… good thing my queue is already pretty full so I have time to decide! (I was never going to be able to finish anything in time for this year’s Pride.) Bran is such a helpful assistant as always, laying on and attacking all the things.

[@OpusElenae]

Your experience sounds so similar to mine! Being on the ace spectrum made sorting through the hetero -homo spectrum so much harder for me, until I realized that my romantic desires exist outside of heteroromanticism.

[@OpusElenae]

(Also I’m so proud of you, and you are valid and valuable)

[@FlybyStardancer]

@@OpusElenae Thank you!!

[@xtsdagger6956]

You do lovely work, your hand sewing work is excellent, thank you for this video

[@OpusElenae]

Thank you!

[@nisaba5752]

Yay *PRIDE* 💪🌈 and you are so awesome for making this video, and increasing *visibility!!!* I love your channel,and now I love it even more⭐

[@OpusElenae]

Thank you! I’m glad that so many people resonate with this video in particular! 💜🤍🖤🏳️‍🌈

[@lilykatmoon4508]

Omg! Your guide with attaching the facing before cutting out the neckline of the kirtle is genius! Awesome, thanks!

[@deannastevens1217]

EXCELLENTLY DONE!!! I fell my seams but never by hand on a projuct of this size.. Wonderful! Are your scissors Guggenheim? I LOVE MINE!!!

[@OpusElenae]

They are! I was like GOTH SCISSORS?! And then they are actually awesome as well

[@nanettebromley8843]

ooooh I've got to try and find some in the uk.

[@deannastevens1217]

@@OpusElenae AWESOME! Sharp Sharp Sharp! I love how long they are and the point is so sharp to cut right to the end.

[@zubeydah9181]

that affirmation gave me f'ing goosebumps. thank you.

[@OpusElenae]

Gotta keep those bigots uncomfortable. I don’t want them feeling safe around me just because I’m white and can pass for straight.

[@jule8280]

What is a bigot exactly? Also what dose whiteness have to do with straightness?

[@OpusElenae]

@@jule8280 A bigot is someone who is prejudiced against a person on the basis of their membership in a (usually marginalized) group. And whiteness doesn't have anything to do with straightness PER SE, but there is a large number of white supremacists who are trying to co-opt Norse identity in order to promote their white supremacy, and those people often also have a problem with queerness.

[@TheMagnoliaWitch]

Popped back in time to find this one specifically for the hood pattern that felt perfect for a remnant of black linen I acquired. Quick and easy to shield against the remnant summer sun!

[@carneliancorax]

The dress and hood are lovely, and this project is such a cool idea! And it’s always lovely coming across other ace-spec people. I very much look forward to learning about queerness in the Viking age! 💜🖤

[@OpusElenae]

If you’re excited for ace-spec, just wait til CoSy! 🖤🤍💜😉

[@voltemoys5099]

Yeahy! Fellow demi and pan-romantic here who discovered the right “words” at well past 30 feeling broken for years. Still sometimes don’t feel queer enough, especially when gatekeepers come out of the woodwork, but those are nothing compared to the welcoming voices! I absolutely LOVE your entire ensemble. I just finished my first hood after the Herjolfsnes style in red, and now you’ve given me very different colour palette goals!

[@AnidHarker]

Big Mood at the whole thing of constructing personalities, except it's always the same personality in my head, just to further drive the point of how limited and picky my attraction is. I am not having a beverage but I am having jelly beans which I feel is also worth mentioning.

[@OpusElenae]

I think it's one of the hugely compelling things about fanfic: construct and further explore personalities of characters. This is also why I have more crushes on fictional people than real ones.

[@MuseAndDionysus]

*makes medieval outfit for pride* Literally ✨time travels✨to get a good shot

[@OpusElenae]

Look if you’re not willing to bend the laws of physics for your work are you even trying

[@MuseAndDionysus]

@@OpusElenae I can't believe there are people making historical content who don't have a time machine. If you're not literally going back in time it's 👏🏾not 👏🏾 historically 👏🏾 accurate 👏🏾

[@OpusElenae]

All these people talking about how hard it is to find fabrics; just GO BACK IN TIME AND BUY SOME.

[@snazzypazzy]

But when and where are we meeting for a medieval spot in the pride parade? Come to Amsterdam? We have a canal parade, we could be on a longship, it would be fab.

[@OpusElenae]

@@snazzypazzy OH MY GOD GAY LONGSHIPS

[@joiadevita]

Happiest of Prides from one acespec person to another! 🖤🤍💜

[@OpusElenae]

**acespec fistbumps** 💜😉

[@Hehehebwb]

I know this video is rather old at this point, but if you happen to see this, I just want to let you know that I’m a transgender woman, and women’s clothes usually don’t fit someone with my body they way they do a cis woman. As such, I really love what you are doing, and it’s really inspiring to me. I’m also a historian so obviously love history stuff. Idk, I wanna enter my princess ark, and I feel that you help me with how I can

[@OpusElenae]

Hey! Come join my discord server; we have a bunch of enby and trans croissants there too and we talk a lot about fitting clothes to bodies instead of the other way around.

[@Hehehebwb]

@@OpusElenae I absolutely love that. And thank you for responding! I would really love to join it. How can I?

[@OpusElenae]

@@Hehehebwb head to one of my newer videos and there is a link to join in the description!

[@Hehehebwb]

@@OpusElenae thanks!

[@ushere5791]

your opening remarks--same!! always was an ally without realizing until i heard words that describe me that i'm actually part of this beautiful community i've always loved. thank you for sharing, thank you for being, and thank you for welcoming. happy pride!

[@OpusElenae]

Welcome to the fold!

[@cynthiahamilton8807]

I love the shade of purple you used for the hood! I need to find something similar for the Ace Persian outfit I've been working on for, oh, 2 years now because I can't decide what color to make the coat!

[@OpusElenae]

Thank you! This was a remnant, but you might check out fabrics-store Lilas? It looks a bit more muted (I’d buy a swatch) but close to the lichen orchid color I used.

[@cynthiahamilton8807]

@@OpusElenae Ack! now I need to decide between the Lilas, the purple sage, and maybe the purple heart. ok, swatches it is!

[@ladystitch-a-lot]

Love this video, it speaks to me in so many ways. Also now I need a new viking tunic dress

[@OpusElenae]

Yesssss join meeeee

[@ladystitch-a-lot]

@@OpusElenae ordering fabric on payday 😁 I will post pictures on Instagram and tag you in them when I finish it 😊

[@medievalcontent6193]

What an eloquent presentation. Well done, and a great pattern too.

[@OpusElenae]

Thank you!

[@lisaharmon5619]

Back in the 70's, I was a "cover" date for a couple of gentlemen that I knew who hadn't ( or wouldn't) come out. You have my full support and love!

[@OpusElenae]

Support sometimes means we help people do what they need to in order to survive. We have come so far so fast that it's always good to remember that there was a time (and that time is still now is in some places) where deviating from heteronormativity could mean death.

[@gozer87]

I love the Skjoldeham hood patterns, I have a bunch because the are so fun to make.

[@OpusElenae]

And so easy!

[@ragnkja]

It’s a pretty simple hood, if a bit unusual in its cut, since it’s sewn up at the top and back, and the face opening being cut into the centre fold of the fabric.

[@lilykatmoon4508]

I really like your fabric weights. Great color!

[@mandylavida]

Stunning outfit. I want to make the same but can't afford the linen. Poly cotton would not be the same!

[@OpusElenae]

Thank you! Linen does have a unique drape, I am very fortunate to be able to afford it. You might consider looking into linen cotton or linen rayon blends, they’ll give a similar look while being more affordable.

[@mandylavida]

@@OpusElenae free would be better at the moment 🤣🤣🤣

[@OpusElenae]

@@mandylavida I’ve definitely been there!

[@teresasimpson5143]

I knew I was different all my life but didn't know why. I was 50 when I discovered what Asexual was. I was so relieved to know I wasn't broken. I now identify as Aro Ace. It thrills me to meet more Ace people.

[@OpusElenae]

We are not broken!

[@lilykatmoon4508]

Love, love, love it! Now on to watch part 2!

[@danhurl1349]

Aspec pride historical dress??!! SIGN ME UP

[@OpusElenae]

Welcome to the family! 💜🖤🤍

[@KellyAK]

Love the outfit, and the ace spectrum rep! 💜

[@OpusElenae]

Thank you! 🖤🤍💜

[@aliciacharline]

Tea pairing is PERFECTION

[@OpusElenae]

It is soooo good too; the fervency summer afternoon tea and tastes wonderful iced!

[@OpusElenae]

*perfect WTF autocarrot

[@zeegoesmeep]

@@OpusElenae I think fervency is correct here - it's a damn good tea ;)

[@MendyLady]

Also (dang it, why didn’t I leave my other comment open?), I’ve been wanting a dress like this recently. Next time I get linen, I guess. To go with the black/purple hood I made in April!

[@OpusElenae]

YES MORE

[@luvnotvideos]

dead people tea! 🥰 I've been binging your videos and am so glad! Thank you for sharing your talents.

[@OpusElenae]

Thank you for watching, and welcome to the croissant basket!

[@elynapege6467]

Thank you for sharing that part of you with us, dwellers if the internet. Seeing your proficiency with the drop spindle, and a quick peek at your 2 electric wheels, it would be fun to see your take on historical spinning (or the history of spinning). Just an idea ;)

[@OpusElenae]

It’s on the list! (I also have an ashford traditional, as well as many MANY more spindles. It’s the historical craft I’ve been doing second-longest)

[@elynapege6467]

@@OpusElenae That's great! Can't wait to see what inspiring project you come up with!

[@penelope-oe2vr]

This is the exact dress I've had in my mind, THANK YOU! The gore's tutorial is awesome too. 👌

[@OpusElenae]

I’m so glad! I love this style of dress, it’s so versatile.

[@lilykatmoon4508]

Before this video was even 10 seconds in, I felt I had to pause and say that Thor’s Hammer energized my finger to hit play at the speed of Mjollnir when I saw the title of this video! I’m really interested in historical dress, I’m queer AF, and I’m a Heathen: a perfect tri-fecta! I’m sure I’ll comment more as the video goes on, but yay! I’m sooooooo happy that you made this video 😊

[@ImmmaI]

I've been wanting to make a midieval hood like Morgan Donner has a tutorial for, but wasn't able to start. Now I know why, I should keep my first attempt simple and just make this viking one instead

[@OpusElenae]

I love London Hoods (and open hoods) an inordinate amount, but the construction of this one is a lot simpler. It’s a good place to begin.

[@charlottejones7341]

Do you have a pattern for the Viking hood and dress

[@OpusElenae]

I don’t; I make the dresses to my measurements. There’s a lot of tutorials out there on making the hood, I could put together something for it.

[@CraftsyPenguin]

The outfit is great, I love the purple colour. Also: hard agree with your experience as a demi. It took me quite some time to figure stuff out, but the confusion before I even encountered the label and identified with it... wow. The teenage and young adult phase was tough at some points.

[@OpusElenae]

🖤🤍💜 your experience is valid!

[@breanneohare302]

Ace-spec mom watching this while I supervise my gremlins playing in the water in the backyard (I'm staying just inside, where there's AC, because it's 102° F out there), stitch trim onto my first apron dress, and try to keep the cats from sitting on my fabric. I like it a lot! 💜🖤🤍

[@OpusElenae]

Everything is just Too Hot.

[@lilykatmoon4508]

And now 2 minutes in, I hit subscribe. I’m older than you but the short explanation of your journey, it still being worked out, and your discovery of Demi-sexuality, made me cry. I’ve felt many of those things : broken and frigid plus some intense internal homophobia. I only came out to myself two years ago and I’m in my 50s.

[@MendyLady]

*secret handshake* welcome to the bi, demi, straight-passing club!

[@OpusElenae]

It’s funny when I got out with my (seemingly heteronormative) nuclear family; none of us are straight

[@ReinaElizondo]

Yay more ace-spec rep! 🌈💜 I hear you on the figuring this stuff out late comment. I haven't quite found the right label yet, but ace-flux is fitting well enough for now.

[@OpusElenae]

Labels can be useful, but I am trying not to give in to the idea that the spaces within labels are the only spaces we can exist. 💜🖤🤍

[@whereis6121]

As an ace trans young adult just getting into medieval reenactment and LARP, it's incredibly reassuring to see other openly queer people here. Thank you! also love to find out you're also a critter hehe, we are everywhere!

[@OpusElenae]

Welcome! And hilariously, I’m not a critter; I don’t like actual play games (but if I did it would be dimension 20 not critical roll; I love Brennan Lee Mulligan), I’m just… surrounded by them lol

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

Very fun idea for a project! 😊 Admire your openness in being willing to talk about your personal journey of discovery on the internet too, can't be an easy thing to decide to do... One thing that would've been super helpful please would be a quick, basic onscreen diagram of the pattern shapes you were describing, esp. for the hood? 🙏 As someone who's never made one, I'm afraid I found it hard to visualize the shapes involved from just the verbal description, and the filming style didn't elucidate much as the flat-cut pieces weren't really shown onscreen, only the cutting process with marks on the fabric that weren't visible on-camera...?

[@OpusElenae]

Sure,! A couple people have asked for similar, so I'm going to make a blog post and diagram on Ko-Fi in March, I think. I'll post the link on the community tab, so stay tuned!

[@ladykarolyn1]

I'm demi too, and your journey as described in the first few minutes sounds so much like mine. It made me feel seen, and I see you too. 💜 Happy Pride!

[@OpusElenae]

It's so wonderful to feel not-alone, right? Happy Pride!

[@ladykarolyn1]

@@OpusElenae very yes!

[@sewcialanxietea1021]

Ace spectrum unite! Here's to years of feeling broken, asking your friends how they can have a crush on a celebrity they don't know, and wondering what the heck "hot" is supposed to mean. We're here, we're queer, and we're so gosh darn valid.

[@OpusElenae]

For a long time I just conflated romantic or aesthetic attraction with sexual lol

[@sewcialanxietea1021]

@@OpusElenae yeah. Same.

[@storyspren]

"Today I'm drinking Caduceus Clay" and I immediately went "like the CR character?" I'm three minutes in and already feeling like I should've found this channel much earlier. Feeling late to the party on your own queerness (early 20s realization, constantly wishing I'd had it 10 years earlier), feeling "not queer enough" (am genderfluid), wanting to put pride flags on stuff but not in a corporate way, that anti-bigot PSA, and Critical Role references, this is home :3 Side note, given how Caduceus names his teas, that tea name is also very funny in a macabre way lol (but it is what he would've wanted)

[@OpusElenae]

Yes, totally like the character! My bestie makes geeky teas and that’s one of her blends. It’s super delicious. And welcome! 🌈💕

[@debrarodriguezestrada2748]

Thank you for explaining. I need one of these hoods in my life!

[@OpusElenae]

They’re so comfy!

[@chatelanelane]

Can you share your music source? I love the sounds accompanying your videos!

[@OpusElenae]

Thanks! The music is always in my descriptions. I get it from Epidemic sound, but many of the artists are on Spotify or have their music available elsewhere.

[@lilykatmoon4508]

I also really love the music you use in the background.

[@mouthforwar17]

I have seen a lot of weird hierarchical relationships in reenactment. Whether it's your gender, the character you play, or your seniority in the group, a couple of the groups I've been in in the past really put people down and treated them literally and figuratively like serfs. I love what you did here, and this type of inclusiveness is much needed in reenactment where I'm from. Not only for people of the LGBTQ+ community but for so many others who joined for the love of history, but were put down in the name of control and power.

[@OpusElenae]

People really do want to be on top of whatever perceived dogpile there is. I have a theory it’s because of how capitalism has fucked us up and for some people, the reenactment is the only place they can feel privileged.

[@marthascargill5234]

I'd love to see if there's any work on reconstructing lichen colours without using lichen to dye, as I know it's not very sustainable, but love the colours it made. Especially if those colours can be made with other (sustainable) natural alternatives! i think working with the lost colours is important, for 'gender' reasons and also ignoring the modern blah about colour.... my fav find is the pink (wool pile woven) faux fur viking robe. i love that garments like that existed!

[@OpusElenae]

Hollywood has given us SUCH a skewed idea of what color people wore in pre-industrialization (and sometimes post; don’t get me started on how there should be WAY more Maurine in Steampunk). I’ve gotten some very similar colors to this lichen purple with Logwood, but I haven’t made an extensive study of it. I’ll keep an eye out for any good studies of lichen-dye.

[@marthascargill5234]

@@OpusElenae thanks so much! and yes, the more i learn about dyeing the more i annoyed i am at the retroactive drabification, even from some 'academic' historical stuff. it reminds me a little of the statue misconceptions, swinging from white plaster to gaudy cel shading with o understanding that people in the past knew how to make wonderful things, though obviously it's not the exact same phenomenon re: colour itself.

[@tetchedistress]

Thank You

[@susanmiller8261]

Love this video! Damn this is powerful! Well done

[@OpusElenae]

Thank you!

[@asecretturning]

I am so grateful for you 🙏

[@OpusElenae]

Aw thank you, that’s so kind!

[@craftingwithcasca]

So much love for this!

[@IDoDeclareify]

Heck yes! I’m also demi sexual and I looove this darling Viking look! Haha my old viking garb always looked more like a Link cosplay.

[@OpusElenae]

Okay but that also sounds amazing?!

[@Leathurkatt]

Androgynous, demisexual, demiromantic, hetero-pansexual (while I tend to lean more towards a preference in male "partners", I am not opposed to dating others, whether female or non binary, if the right spirit comes my way), "female" here. I also happen to be an Ordained priest (Animist Totemic Shaman, specifically). It is so nice to have the understanding of anti-bigotry with people like you, content creators on public platforms, who show us that not only are we valid as human beings, but supported, protected, and loved as human beings. Thank you for that.

[@OpusElenae]

Gotta keep the Family safe. 💜🖤🤍

[@signorabeatrice]

Love the video, but I'm having a hard time with the drum music you've chosen--even turned down, it's too penetrating to be easily background for me (and it's also a similar volume to your voiceover, which means if I turn it down, it's hard to hear you when you do speak).

[@OpusElenae]

Thanks, KZbin does weird things with the volume of background music sometimes, there’s not much I can do about it on published videos.

[@dwdillydally]

OH MY... I DRINK TABLETOP TEAS TOO!!

[@OpusElenae]

It's owned by my bestie!

[@dwdillydally]

@@OpusElenae that's so rad! Hope Tonya's (Tanya? 🤔😅 It's past my bedtime) feeling back to 100%

[@giodrakes]

OMG the disclaimer

[@amandagillen-ford2186]

How many yards of fabric did you use for the dress?

[@OpusElenae]

About five.

[@Scapeh]

I just wanted to point out that you doing a thumbnail of how you intend to lay out your pattern pieces/cut your fabric is absolutely genius. And as someone who also falls into the demisexual category, I still struggle with the "not queer enough" voice in the back of my head- especially when a lot of my closest and dearest friends tend to be on the more, I suppose publicly acknowledged? end of the LGBTQ+ spectrum. I need to stop thinking of things in terms of tallies or points, as if "well, xyz person is a Trans NB (or) this person is in an out of the closet same-sex relationship, so they are obviously queer enough" since that line of thought doesn't help anyone.

[@OpusElenae]

Thanks! I have started doing that so people can see my layouts; I hope it’s useful. And yeah, when a great deal of the queer community is based around who you want to have sex with, not really wanting to have sex can feel incredibly not queer enough.

[@stevezytveld6585]

Happy Pride! I found a man on ebay. He's one of these fellows who uses a metal detector to explore his home from around the East York region of England. I bought a thimble, a bronze cross and a Pilgrims Badge in the shape of a Rose Window. The Badge is a gift for my husband. He's finishing his training to be an Anglican Deacon. The CPE program trains you how to care for yourself while you are caring for people at the end of their life. We may not have been able to travel The Canterbury Trail. But we've come through this. I have my first shot of Physer. Waiting for second. When I get to it I'm going to use the thimble to sew my first medieval shift. It's about 500 years old, by his estimate. So that's what I'm going to sew. Haven't a clue where to start. Meh. What's lost in time. Can be found. In time. = Cathy (&, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown

[@OpusElenae]

Wow how neat!I'm glad y'all can get vaccinated, that's great!

[@stevezytveld6585]

@@OpusElenae Part way there. For the first time in a year and a half I end up in the "survivability" column. 'Scuse me. Having a case of the feels.

[@signespencer6887]

The hood fabric looks like linen- is that so?

[@OpusElenae]

It is!

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

Same old water &/or tea with milk (Deionized Water Organic Dargeeling, 2% organic)

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

@@OpusElenae 🙂

[@laurenschiller1804]

"purple as a fabric color is accurate to the Viking Age; I picked this color precisely because it's achievable through lichen dyeing!" While this is totally accurate, I just keep thinking that Vikings loved using the brightest colors they could get, so I feel a darker purple would have been very on brand as well. (I've been involved with costuming a Norse mythology related song cycle play and we were like, yeah, so you know what Odin should wear? Orange and white striped pants and a fuchsia shirt, because he can afford expensive dyes. Would people going by popular cultural expectations be extremely confused? Yes. Yes they would) Also, yay more queer content

[@OpusElenae]

Yeah it was definitely a chicken or egg scenario. I picked the purple because it’s what I wanted to use, and it had the added benefit of being relatively documentable. I love seeing people use brighter colors than Hollywood would lead us to believe people in the past had.

[@laurenschiller1804]

@@OpusElenae Yes, definitely! I'd also love to see Hollywood start using the brighter colors that existed (not just for Vikings) but since the popular conception of Europe pre-Renaissance is all earth tones all the time, you would need to do some establishing work showing dye making or something to "prove" you weren't being anachronistic and that's probably not something you want to focus your time on.

[@mumther_chaos2824]

Do I fall for celebrities? Meh. Do I fall for the complex characters they PORTRAY? Oh, yeah. (Also book characters.) #demi Also I LOVE the colors on this and it was really interesting! 💜

[@turtle4llama]

Cicada pin!

[@OpusElenae]

Good eyes! I got it years ago and it’s a favorite!

[@j.enzinas]

yay! my eyes did not deceive me.

[@mommabumble]

Did you dye white linen?

[@OpusElenae]

Nope, not this time. I've done some dyeing in the past, both with commercial and natural dyes, and it's not my favorite. The lichens that are used to dye this particular shade of purple are now endangered as well, so I don't want to contribute to that when, for my purposes, pre-dyed fabric works just fine.

[@jule8280]

Is queer the same as the word odd? Why do people call themselves queer?

[@OpusElenae]

Queer is a word that people use to describe the LGBTQIA+ community. It used to be used as a slur against us but it has been reclaimed as a positive descriptor (although there will always be people who don’t like it). I find it’s the most accurate word for my own experience.

[@WarDogMadness]

pinks a good mid tier portrayal not poor not uber rich i wear pinks and reds.

[@josefinebrannlund7297]

🍀