Warfield Island Hat #4: The Dyetest Coif (before dye)

Fig. 4. The Dyetest Coif
Materials: Cotton, jersey scrap fabrics, thread, vintage button, lace, beads

Construction method: Sewn, appliqued, embroidered, red and purple dyes

Description: A Warfield dyetest coif is a simple two-layer tied cloth cap; its interest comes from its finishing process. Island crafters use scraps of natural woven fabrics and fibers to make the caps, then dye them, and wear the results, both to record their dye experiments for future reference, and to display their adventurous spirits (because dyeing is always an adventure). The coif displayed here is purple and dark pink, but the original fabrics were yellow, blue, red, brown, gold, and white.

In Warfield lore, a dyetest coif is a common metaphor for community strength, because the diverse components bear evidence of an intense shared history together.