Washerwoman Hands

Wow, it's been a while since I updated! That's what grad school will do to one's blog. :)

I recently attended Birka, and wore my 16th German "Kampfrau" ensemble. (See new profile picture). I got stains on my apron! Apparently, the black wool I used for my guards and cuffs isn't colorproof! I had blue and pink stains from where my cuff would rest on my apron, after getting wet from washing my hands. (The dark blue was the contact point, and the pink the dye seperating out from that point).

Rather than just chuck the linen into the wash with some bleach, since chlorine bleach can yellow linen, I figured I would see what a more "hands-on" approach would do to the stains. Placing the apron under running water (even almost a week later) removed %90 of the stain. Some brief googling suggested white vinegar and salt soak, so that's happening now. If that doesn't work, I'm going to make a baking soda paste, and see how that does.

After holding my hands under hot running water, and salt and vinegar, it's no wonder washerwomen have a reptuation for terrible rough hands. I can only imagine what lye does to ones skin!