skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Recently I worked on a Viking cap or a 4 panel Birka cap for a friend. I wish I would have taken more pictures but I have a few below. The cap itself is made of black wool with a linen lining. The decorative stitching on the cap is a wool and cotton/linen blend.
I used a double herringbone stitch with red and gold yarn/floss and a white wool yarn as an added stitch overlapping the herringbone stitch. I have never done this complete combination of stitches before and I was pleased with the outcome. My friend seemed happy as well.
I love the black stitching on this red wool four panel Birka cap. It really stands out. Although it might look like Ric-rac trim it's actually a period herringbone stitch on the seams.
The Birka cap is hand-sewn and the red wool is felted and holds it's shape so well. I did line this cap with a black linen fabric also hand stitched.
The coloring in the fur really complements the red wool and the black period herringbone stitching really well I think. The class to for creating this simple style of hat is posted on the blog.
Vikings have invaded my home again. In the previous couple of weeks I have been working on a three panel apron dress. I have never made a three panel before but know the do exist. So, not that this was a challenge, because I have made several four panel dresses but it was something new and different which is always a good thing. I really like the color of the wool and it was soft to the hand and light enough to layer.
The stitching came out nice and neat. And the gores and seams I used a simple running stitch and a herringbone stitch along the top.
The only problem....it's a little too big! And
I don't mean the stitches. The dress needs to be taken in two or three
inches so I will be taking out the top stitching and the seam stitching
and taking it in the back and from seams, then re-stitching. Good
thing I am somewhat fast with hand stitches (simple stitches) and I love to hand
sew.
So as I mentioned before I found some interesting information the book Viking Clothing by Thor Ewing By Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-3587-6. Line drawings of skulls found in graves at Birka (Bj. 707 and 946) showed braided bands on the skulls that were believed to be worn as headgear. You can see that the braids are in two different positions. I really think the one on the right might have been used as an anchor for other head cloths. Maybe a scarf or even a short veil. Or a combination of a several styles to keep warm. As you need you could just remove or add. The one of the left reminds me of a woven band that may be used to go over top of a veil or scarf. And these are not the only braided bands found, apparently they are 8 total mentioned comprising of both these positions on the skull. I think an upcoming project is going to be a braided band.
