The weaving workshop is responsible for a number of tasks.

• The production and repair of clothing for instructors, families from the past and school classes.
• The communication of knowledge to the public
• Their own research work
• Logistical support to external researchers
• The production of clothing for museums and other institutions

The tasks of the weaving workshop have been quite varied through the years, currently a major dress reconstruction for a Spanish museum is in the works.

 Among the more special of the previous tasks have been the following:

The rusking of sheep - 2003: the weavers participated in the yearly shearing of the sheep, where some of the Gotlandic sheep were “rusked”. Rusking is an early form of shearing used with the earliest races of sheep whose fleece was naturally cast. The action of rusking or pulling the wool loosens the wool from the sheep so it can be gathered. The ability to cast their fleece has been bred out of modern races of sheep. By careful breeding in which these characteristics are preferred, we are trying to develop a more authentic breed of sheep.

Viking clothing - 2001:Production of overcoats for the Vikings

Greenlandic dress - 1999: the visit from Greenland of a weaver who wished to learn the art of making copies of clothing from the Viking Age in connection with the celebration of the millennium for Leif the Ericsson’s discovery of the New World.

The same year saw the granting of funds from the National Labour Market Authority for a project on “Good Textile Craftsmanship”. Five staff were employed to make copies of costumes, in all approx. 25 items.

The Kirke Loom – 1999: The publication of the book on the Kirke Loom. The book, written by Kanen-Hanne Stærmose Nielsen, treats the history of the warp-weighted loom and its present use. This was a natural activity in extension of the year-long work done at The land of legends Lejre. It was a successor to the old instruction manual by Hans Ole Hansen and Ninna Rathje on the warp-weighted loom.

Research project – 1999: The weaving workshop participated in a research project with Swedish Eva Andersson: spinning with a drop spindle. Anne Batzer participated actively in the project and co-authored the article.

Hjemsted-clothing - 1998: Items of clothing for the Hjemsted Oldtidspark exhibition and staff communicating knowledge on the centre to the public. Extensive investigation was done; many new interpretations are presented in an internal report. The continuation of a nettle project from 1995. An actual production of cloth was achieved.

The Damendorf trousers - 1995/1996: Damendorf trousers project was a reconstruction of trousers from the Iron Age and which gives a good illustration of the work of the weaving workshop. In 1995-96 the workshop recreated a par of woollen Iron Age trousers for the museum at Gottorp Castle in Northern Germany. The original trousers were found in the Damendorf Bog in Schleswig in 1900 and had over time deteriorated because of the long time on display. An exact copy was therefore needed for exhibition and this task naturally awarded to The land of legends Lejre.

A close investigation of the trousers revealed many exciting things:

- the wool from which they were made was lango and in a very fine quality. They were dyed with the plant dye madder, which gave them a beautiful red colour. They were woven in a crystal twill of a fine quality of 12-14 threads per cm. When the trousers were finished, it became apparent that their cut made them elastic and that they had been very well-suited as riding pants.

- The work process necessary for the production of the trousers revealed that the owner must have been a high-ranking rider and military man (the trousers must have been very costly because of the fine quality), who probably fell in battle in the second to third century A.D. The trousers were placed in the bog as a sacrifice.

Stinging nettles for clothes -1995: textile archaeological experiments with special emphasis on the stinging nettle and its optimum processing methods. Treats the question of the use of the stinging nettle for clothing. Creates a fine textile and is a valuable alternative to linen, rather than a contemptible substitute.

Nettle experiments – 1994: Nettles have good, long fibers which are highly spinnable and produce a good yarn.

The Viking king’s costume – 1992: Production of a Viking Age royal suit. The research and reconstruction were done in 1902. The reconstruction of the costume itself is still to be done.

The same year there was an order placed for clothing for Hokkaido Marine Park. Replicas of jewellery and tools, clothing and information material were shipped shortly after the new year.

A suit of leather – 1988: The textile workshop participated in an experiment on the creation of a suit of clothing according to the Greenlandic tradition.

Ancient textiles – 1984/85: two experimental studies. One with weaving on a round loom as in ancient times and one with edgings and trimmings in ancient textiles. The results have been gathered in a small publication. A travelling exhibition was also produced for use in schools.

(Source: Annual reports from Land of legends Lejre, different years up to 2003.)