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Reclaiming the Art of Historic Sail Making
July 25 & 26, 2026
There has been a resurgence of interest in the study and making of historic sails that span different time periods, geographies and functions. This two-day symposium brings together historic and contemporary practitioners, interdisciplinary researchers, and weaving and maritime enthusiasts from around the world to share knowledge around the history of sails made by hand.
The symposium will explore sails made in different eras and locations, including the Viking ship’s square sail, the early sailing craft of New England colonists, and the unique sails of the fishing vessels of Ireland. Additionally, the symposium will explore the tools and materials necessary to make and maintain sails and cordage.
BY HAND
The two day conference topics will include historical tools for weaving sails, materials representative of the era, the spinners and weavers who supplied the cloth to the shipbuilders and the specifications of each sail type for appropriate reproduction. Both of our early 18th c. handlooms - that we believe were used to weave sail cloth - and the warp weighted loom will be set up so that participants can try weaving the different versions of sail cloths.
We will also have workshops related to maritime skills such as ditty bags and maritime knots.
Conference admission will include lunch and dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday.
PRESENTERS
(as of 3/2026)
Marc Shiner
Curriculum Leader Maritime Studies UHI Orkney
Making Large Sails in Small Spaces: Rediscovering Sailmakers’ Mathematics
Jenny Baxter
Owner - Gambell & Hunter Sail Loft
Rockport, Maine
Demonstrating the Making of a Main Sail
Mary K Bercaw Edwards
Mystic Seaport
Sail Cloth in Herman Melville’s Works
Marcail Riggs
Mystic Seaport
Making a Ditty Bag
Emily Whitted
PhD Candidate at UMass
Sail Repair in the Early Maritime Atlantic
Jim Mortimer
Mystic Seaport
Rope Making Workshop
Maggie D'Aversa
Independent Researcher
The System Behind the Sail
Sofia Carlsen - Denmark, Amy Palmer - Scotland,
Andrea Myklebust & Tina Bielenberg -USA
Viking Sails Researchers
Panel Discussion on the making of Viking Sails on the
Warp Weight Loom
Olof Jensson
Independent Researcher
The Use of Sails on a Square Rigger
DEMONSTRATIONS
Weaving Wool & Linen Sails on the Warp Weight Loom
Andrea Myklebust & Tina Bielenberg
Weaving Linen & Cotton Sail Cloth on 18th c. Handlooms
Kate Smith & members of the Weaver's Croft Study Group
Barking Cotton Sail Cloth for Irish Hooker Boats
Weavers Croft Study Group
Handspinning Wool & Linen for Viking Sails on a Distaff
Andrea Myklebust
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
Making a Ditty Bag
w/Marcail Riggs of Mystic Seaport
The course is intended for students to build a traditional style sailor's ditty bag using traditional materials and cloth made at The Weaver's Croft. Over the course of two days, you will learn how to hand stitch, grommet and rope your own bag.
July 23 & 24, 2026
$200
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