The Eigg Vararfeldr (Exhibition Version)
This short-pile, striped cloak is based on a textile fragment discovered in a grave at Kildonan on the Isle of Eigg, which dates to the second half of the 9th century. Archaeologists believe the burial belonged to a Viking living in the Scottish islands. The fragment was found attached to a metal brooch in the grave, and was likely preserved due to the corrosion products from the metal.
My recreation worked closely to the fragment's tight, dense weave, using Hebridean wool, which is one of the closest modern analogues to historical North Atlantic short-tailed breeds. Each fleece lock had to be separated into smaller mini-tufts, which were then combed, slightly twisted, and woven into the cloth by hand. The original cloak may have contained around 57,000 individual tufts!
The recreated fabric was dense and heavy, but still moved naturally and draped well when worn, producing a warm, soft and weather-resistant garment. The striped pattern of the cloak showcases the variety of natural tones that are available from this breed.
The cloak is included in my Vararfeldr exhibition, which is currently touring across the UK and Europe.
