FLYMPH FORUM

I used the British spelling because I used the word in the British context.

https://www.bcsba.org.uk/coloured-sheep ... red-sheep/

“The United States and Great Britain are two countries separated by a common language”
George Bernard Shaw

So where could a fly tyer of the Middle Ages have found his wool. Probably lots of places but in "A World of Insects" we learn that the word caddisfly comes from: "caddice men of the middle ages - itinerant salesmen that attached the pieces of yarn, cloth, and ribbons that they sold to their coats. This resulted in a walking catalogue of their wares".

wsbailey wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:50 am So where could a fly tyer of the Middle Ages have found his wool. Probably lots of places but in "A World of Insects" we learn that the word caddisfly comes from: "caddice men of the middle ages - itinerant salesmen that attached the pieces of yarn, cloth, and ribbons that they sold to their coats. This resulted in a walking catalogue of their wares".

Clever suggestion.

dd

Just came across this thread yesterday. This has been one of the most informative threads I've read in a little while. BTW, I bought "The History of Fly Fishing," which came out November of 2019, as a Christmas gift to myself. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Looking to get Volume 2 in the near future, as well as "Fishing for the North Country" when it becomes available.

Keep this going, I am relatively new to spiders and soft hackles and I am loving the discussion! John, I absolutely love the pic and comments on the monks.

I thought I would take a chance and show a picture of the yarn that I dyed with dyes available in the Middle Ages. They had a very limited number of dye colors. The Bayeux tapestry used eight colors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry

Beautiful, well done!
Thanks for bringing back the past.
Lou

Bill - I have a stupid question. What time period are your Berlin will yarns from. I have a full set of your dyed yarns. (Superb btw)

I find the historic colors fascinating. You’ve done a great preserving the past.

How long have you been dying other materials (feathers/quills/etc)?

Ray,
There no dumb questions: only dumb answers. The main purpose for the Berlin wool is to tie Spey flies. Around 1840 ; Berlin wool work became a big fad and that was the same era as Spey flies. Synthetic dyes weren't discovered until 1856 so originally, Berlin wool yarn was dyed with natural dyes. At the time the Treatyse was printed the new world had just been discovered so the great influx of new dyes from there hadn't quite got started. Most of the dyes used in the late 15th century had been around since the days of Greece and Rome. I've been dyeing fly tying materials for about 25 years but I'm just getting started with feathers, etc.

Thanks Bill. I was tying some flies with your Berlin well earlier this weekend. I think it was my interest in Spey flies, which lead me to your Berlin yarn. Then my interest in various waxes (tying, cobblers wax, liquid wax, etc) once again lead me to your efforts & materials. Wonderful materials.

In Alfred Ronalds' "The Fly-Fisher's Entomology" he speaks of using German wool in some of his fly patterns. I'm fairly certain that he was referring to Berlin wool.