Vuoddaga

Isn’t it often the case that the simplest ideas are often the most useful.

This is based on a Saami idea first shown to me by Paul Kirtley on a weekend workshop organised by a good friend.

They’re very similar to puttees but the problem I have had with puttees in the past is stopping them from unravelling at the most inopportune moments.

The difference with these is the short length of cord at each end.

This pair were woven quickly for me as an experiment by Debs just before my 2012 Arctic trip and the warp was extended, braided off and secured with a simple knot at the end.

To use them a loop on the long end is pushed through your boot laces near the hem of your trousers and then the knot pushed through the loop to temporarily secure them.

The cord and then the fabric band is then wrapped around the bottom of your trousers until you come to the cord on the other end which is then just pushed under the last wrap of the cloth band.

Because there is a knot at the end of the short cord, that tends not to slip out from under the band which secures things very well. The other end being fastened to you boots also stops the trouser hem from riding up.

The intention is to prevent snow from migrating up under your trouser leg and into the top of your boots and this they achieve perfectly.

When removed they are simple and quick to dry out too.  Much less fuss than gaiters.

I couldn’t find many pictures that show them in use, this one, out on the ice doing some fishing, is about the best I have at the moment.

Debs is now weaving a fancier pair for me but I can see these getting plenty of use as they are in the future.

Update:

These are the new linen vuoddaga that Debbie made for me.

Produced using a technique called “tablet weaving” or sometimes “card weaving” these will certainly cut more of a dash.

I’m afraid weaving is a bit of a dark art to me but Debs tells me there is lots of information online although she found a program called “Guntram's Tabletweaving Thingy” particularly useful.