About

What is Yrmegard’s Workshop about?

Yrmegard’s workshop is about passion – passion for historic tablet weaving in particular, but also for any other textile craft and for history in general. Passion for learning something new and for uncovering the knowledge of the past, for understanding, taking it in and passing it on. The Workshop does not have the ambition to be the web page for everything on tablet weaving, but is rather a modest deposit of personal experiences and practice-supported theory that might be of help to any other on a tablet weaving journey.

Yrmegard’s Workshop was created in 2004 and is purely digital, it has no physical location.

Who runs the workshop?

My name is Julia Christie Amor, I live in Estonia, a small country on the shores of the Baltic sea. I have degrees in theatre&radio directing (BA) and cultural management (MA), along with ongoing studies in raising two teenagers. Over 20 years of experience in PR and marketing, both for business and cultural organisations, as well as considerable experience in event management have proven useful in managing a living history community. I am fluent in three languages and have basic understanding of another 6. I love dancing (flamenco and historical dance most of all) and I adore cats.

Julia aka Yrmegard
as Tallinn’s May Countess

Pleased to meet you and thank you for your interest!

Who is Yrmegard?

The name Yrmegard, as well as related names like Ermegart, Irmeltrud and Hildega(a)rd, is of mixed German-Scandinavian descent. The earliest mention of a lady named Yrmegard can be found in a Silesian church record from 1310, yet the name never gained much popularity. In Tallinn (medieval Reval) archives, the name Yrmegard can be found in a few real estate records from the 15th century. Not much is known about the lady apart from her being a merchant’s widow who inherited several buildings on Pikk street after her husband’s death. The buildings in question have not survived to present day.

Why Yrmegard?

In early 2000s, I was out and about searching for a historic name to use during medieval living history events. Among other, more common names in archive documents, Yrmegard stood out as an unusual option, rather unique, yet easy to remember. It has since stuck with me and remains my alter ego even though I am not that active in living history anymore.