The Armour Archive

My tablet woven braid arrived today, a full month earlier than expected, and it is GORGEOUS! This tablet woven braid was made in England by Elisabeth DaBorn. Liz's weaving is exceptional and she is a long established and preferred source of braid for members of Regia Anglorum and other Dark Ages groups.

The braids are displayed here against the 2 hat fabrics we're offering:



From top to bottom:

Zigzag
Madder and taupe (madder / lichen exhaust)
Old gold and brown (weld, iron mordant / walnut or natural sheep)

Diamond S
pattern is based on a find from Finland
Olive and tan (bracken / natural sheep)

Sig type pattern
Madder and butter (madder / weld).

Reverse S
Pale blue and butter (woad exhaust / weld)
Pale orchid and olive (lichen exhaust / bracken)

We have 2 fabrics and these 6 braids which we will be making up into custom "Birka" hats as ordered.

"Birka" hat
[img]http://www.historicenterprises.com/images/products/578_large.jpg[/img]

I am pleased beyond telling to be able to offer such a cool thing!

Gwen

And the price for such wonderful items? It looks like it sits on his head more than actually "clinging" to it, such as a modern skicap would. Is this a trick of the photo, or more how they were designed?

$11.95, No braid (untrimmed)
$31.95, With hand woven wool braid

The hat is made of a woven fabric rather than a knit, so it does not stretch tightly over the head the way 'skater' knit hats are worn unless you bought a small enough size so that it fit very tightly. From what I've seen reenactors tend to wear them sitting straight on the brow rather than tilted back like a skater hat.

Gwen

woah sweeeeeeeeeeet gwen. thatsa vury nice

Once again, I heart HE.

Any way I could buy the trim only or get it put on a tunic?

That's some bodacious braid. Very handsome!

I suppose you could email Liz and order some. It's about £3.50/$6.90 per foot ($20.75 per yard) at this width/type. Oh, then there's shipping from the UK.

Gwen