You want to learn how to make the typical Raven barrette? Ecomuseum has ‘workshop’

Dfrom 2022 that every Wednesday, during the afternoon, in the premises of the Ecomuseum of the smallest Azorean island, runs the ‘workshop’ the “Time of Barreta”, which is free frequency and is intended for participants of both genders.

“It is as the name itself indicates. It is an hour, on Wednesday, when people interested in learning how to make the typical Raven barrette meet in our facilities and, in a relaxed environment, learn from us how to make the typical barrette”, explained today to the agency Lusa the director of the Ecomuseu do Corvo, Deolinda Estêvão.

According to the responsible, the initiative has been sought by both women and men, considering that the typical wool cap began to be made by whalers in the 19th century, by the influence of Scottish fishermen, and then transmitted the knowledge to their women.

“Last year we had a project in conjunction with the school, in which a teacher and a student also attended the training and, this year, we have a young Italian who also liked this training and has been learning how to make the typical Raven barreta,” he said.

The knowledge was transmitted to the Ecomuseum by Rosa Mariana, an island inhabitant whose mother is considered the “great responsible” for its maintenance.

“ The typical Raven barrette is unique here from the island of Corvo and that know-how was keeping up. And we are now reapplying it so that the new generations also learn and so that it remains alive, because, in fact, it is a way of making the barreta different from any other barreta from anywhere else in the country and even the world,” Deolinda Stephen said.

Patrícia Pacheco, Ecomuseum collaborator, learned how to make the corvina beret with the director and now every Wednesday gives “aulas” to those interested in learning.

In a recent “Time of Barreta”, held at the House of Memory, Lusa told that she has already taught women, children and two men, the last being the Italian Alessandro Vito, 30 years old.

The first, a teacher, “did not make the barreta, only stayed by learning to make the point, while Alessandro is completing his barreta”, he reported.

Asked if there are differences between teaching men and women, said it is “indifferent” and that they learn equally.

The young Italian, who arrived at the Raven to learn to work with wood, quickly became interested in the barreta, to occupy some of the free time.

It was the first time you picked up a needle and wool, but told Lusa you liked the experience: “Yes, I like it. At first, it seemed rather difficult, but then [I was] practicing every day, [and] now it's easier. It also relaxes me”.

Knowing the history of the typical Azorean barreta, Alessandro is proud to be able to continue a artisanal practice that was initiated by men.

Making a typical Raven cap takes “many laps” and takes about 24 hours. Five needles are used, as told by Patrícia Pacheco.

The making of the piece begins with the “cos” and ends with the “pompom”, a wool ball that is cooked at the top.

The typical color of the barrel is blue and white, but currently units are made with other colors, depending on the taste of each one.

It is a handmade item very sought by tourists and is sold from 45 euros.

At the moment there are five artisans who make the typical raven barrette, a product that “goes all over the world”, according to Deolinda Stephen.

“ I know Raven here comes tourists from all over the world and they look hard. It is one of the memories that people who visit the Raven want to take with them and, in fact, it is exclusive ", concluded.

The barreta is certified by the collective brand “Artesanato dos Açores” since 2019.

According to the Regional Government, traditional berets “were worn by older men” and “would originally be a whaler costume”.

“ It was by the influence of the Scottish fishermen that the crows learned to do so. This same type of beret has been produced in Scotland since the 16th century, a time when some copies are kept, and its model and method of confection has remained unchanged ever since,” said the source of the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment.