Leatherwork - An Axe Cover for my Knight

Project: Brandarm Axe Cover

 Artisan: Lady Þóra (Thóra) Hrafnsdóttir

 Historical Basis:
     None.  This is a non-period project, as I was recreating an existing cover for this axe. The heraldry used was matched to Sir Harald's heraldry of wolf and lion. The tooling techniques used were learned many years ago in a shop class.

 Panels for new cover in front, old cover in background 

Tools used: 
     Paper patterns, utility knife, leather hole punch, leather stylus and bevellers, contact cement. Finished with waxed linen thread, craft paint, satin leather finish (sealant).

Leather stylus (far left) and bevellers 

Procedure: 
     The overall pattern was copied from the existing cover. The leather was cut out with a utility knife, and then tooled. I created patterns for the heraldry from Sir Harald’s device. These were then traced onto the leather with the stylus, then used the mallet and tooling implements to impress the design into the leather without cutting it.
     After tooling, the leather was painted and then the paint was sealed. Two layers of paint were used for better coverage. The leather was stitched together with waxed linen thread using a blanket stitch, and the buckle and strap were prepared and attached.
     After stitching, a piece of thicker leather was water hardened and shaped to the blade. When dry, it was glued into the cover, along the seam where the blade rests, using contact cement. It was held in place by the axe while the glue set.

Tooling in progress. The dark areas are where the leather is dampened for tooling. 

Wolf, painted and tooled.

 Blanket stitching

Sir Harad with the axe and cover at Battle on the Bay 

Axe Cover and documentation, as entered at 'Best Viking Bling' Arts and Sciences competition. Spring Coronation, April 2016, Atlantia (Winning Entry)

Harald’s device

Conclusion: 

    I have learned a lot from this project. I asked for and received feedback from several leatherworkers on how to improve the cover, should I make another one. They have given me a lot to think about, and avenues for further exploration. I do enjoy working with leather and will be doing more of this. 

Heraldic Resources

I can never recall the fancy words the heralds use in their descriptives. The sites below use at least mostly plain English, and I have found them helpful. They are here partly because I don't want to lose the links!

SCA Heraldry Wiki - This links to the Pennsic Traceable Art page, but the entire site is useful.

SCA College of Arms

Wiki: Attitude: Heraldry - good, simple, illustrated 'this is how they are standing' page.

Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry -  basic information and drawings. Good to start with, and a VERY helpful site overall for me.

SCA Armorial Search page - covers the Knowne World. All words, no pictures. Know your herald-ese or have translations handy =)

A Complete Guide To Heraldry - by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, in Edinburgh, 1909. Now in public domain. Has the illustrations, too.

An Introduction ~

I am Þóra Hrafnsdottir, also known as Thóra the Tall, of the Barony of Black Diamond, Atlantia. I am a heavy fighter, I do Arts & Sciences, and make most of my armor and garb.

I am squired to Harald Brandarm of Dun Carraig, Atlantia.

The title of the blog comes from my original heraldry, which is now registered as my badge: Argent, five swords in annulo, points to center sable within an annulet gules. I describe it as 'five swords within a red ribbon pierced with five needles'. The swords for my fighting, the needles for my fiber arts, and the ribbon for the blood of life.

 
My current device was submitted in the winter of 2016, and I kept one sword, one needle, and the red ribbon from the heraldry that I originally submitted.  This was registered in February of 2017: Argent, a raven rising perched upon and maintaining a sword fesswise sable, on a chief gules a needle argent.

I took the elements of the original submission, added a raven, and redesigned it. The red ribbon is now a chief (a bar across the top), with the needle laying across it. The raven is holding a sword in it's claws, wings held aloft for the first downstroke as it takes flight. 

The red is for family (both blood and chosen family), the needle is pointed at my family (to the right as you look at it) to show that I take care of them. The raven is messenger to the gods, and the sword is pointed to the left as you look at it. When I hold my shield on the field of combat, it is pointed at those who may threaten the ones I can about. (To clarify - I am not threatening harm to anyone here; I am expressing the 



My Arts & Sciences:

• Leather: tooling, making armor and other items, as well as leather care and restoration. 
• Wool: Shearing, preparation, and spinning
• Gardening: I grow herbs, flowers, and some food and dye plants
• Embroidery: crewel work, regular embroidery, and modern cross-stitch
• Sewing
• Tablet Weaving

Originally posted July 2015; updated April 2025