‘Dearg Ribin’ Story Plaid: The Red Ribbon
This hand woven plaid shares the story of powerful red berries and the folkore surrounding trees found in Scotland that bear these magical fruits. Trees such as the Rowan, Elder & Holly tree.
Dearg Ribin – (Gaelic) meaning ‘Red Ribbon’
The ‘Dearg Ribin’ Story Plaid’s meaning
‘Dearg Ribin’ Story Plaid shares an old practice. A plaid of bright and warm red tones. This shawl has a needle felted red ribbon wrapped around the branch of a Rowan branch. This was a protective symbol.
The power of red is threaded throughout Scottish folklore. There is much lore around trees with berries such as the Rowan, The Elder and the Holly tree. These trees were seen as Faerie trees by virtue of their white flowers and bright berries. They were often planted near homes for protection against evil intent. This latest set of Story Plaids showcase this link we have to such trees and how respected they were by our ancestors. These bright red berries brought protection, a link to the feminine and a pathway to the magical world.
The Plaid pattern has a mix of straight and zig zag twills in deep and vibrant reds. Each shawl has inlays – two with soft smoky blues, one in rich brown and another with a natural Shetland grey.
A story is embellished and stitched on each shawl. There are only four in the collection.
Product Information
Fibres – 100% Merino Lambswool Yarn from a mill in Yorkshire, with hand spun inlayed yarns of mixed natural fibres such as Shetland and Merino wools.
Dimensions – 91cm x 250cm (+/- 5%)
Design – a hand woven Twill plaid pattern with smoky blue inlayed hand spun yarns.
Embellishment: on the bottom corner of the shawl there is a needle felted branch with a red ribbon.
‘Dearg Ribin’ Story Plaid: the Red Ribbon
£450.001 in stock
The Making
I love traditional patterns and believe their classic look will transcend seasons. The plaid is synonymous to Scotland and the designs are rooted in this pattern. I believe in creating one off textiles that reflect the wearer or owner of each piece. The stories are unique and will not be re-created.
Scotland radiates magic, it is why we often feel drawn to it and its beautiful rugged landscape. Each Story Plaid is a piece of textile art that illustrates this. The embellishments may be hand stitched, hand felted or threaded with hand spun art yarns that I spin myself. These are added directly to the fabric whilst it is being woven on the loom. The tensioned fabric is the perfect surface to work from.
The designs are made using gentle techniques that hark back to slower times. Using a loom in my Scottish studio, it is powered by hands and feet not electricity. I use natural fibres and yarns that come from British, Scottish & Irish mills, chosen for quality and sustainability. Each step is carefully considered so that the textile is made to the very highest of standards. A hand woven textile has life and personality and, if looked after, will look beautiful for many years ahead.
Use the Story Plaid as a blanket or throw, wrap around as wearable art or hang them as a piece of art in their own right.