The Glory Braid is the older church-decoration form: a flat plaited band of straw, traditionally hung along the pew ends at the end of harvest. The classic design uses twelve straws, read as the twelve apostles, and the whole thing as a small sign of glory at the harvest service.
Outside the church, the same braid is held to sweep evil away and welcome friends through the door, which is the reason many people now hang one at home. Lucy plaits the flat-braid version from heritage straw, in the studio in Layer de la Haye, and finishes it with a length of ribbon so you can hang it.
Each piece is plaited individually after you order, so the exact length and tone vary slightly. Approximately 18–22cm long laid flat, with a 6cm ribbon loop at the top.
Lucy Hook-ChildThe Glory Braid is the older church-decoration form: a flat plaited band of straw, traditionally hung along the pew ends at the end of harvest. The classic design uses twelve straws, read as the twelve apostles, and the whole thing as a small sign of glory at the harvest service.
Outside the church, the same braid is held to sweep evil away and welcome friends through the door, which is the reason many people now hang one at home. Lucy plaits the flat-braid version from heritage straw, in the studio in Layer de la Haye, and finishes it with a length of ribbon so you can hang it.
Each piece is plaited individually after you order, so the exact length and tone vary slightly. Approximately 18–22cm long laid flat, with a 6cm ribbon loop at the top.
Lucy Hook-Child plaits corn dollies and harvest tokens in heritage straw from her studio in Essex. Two of her third great-grandaunts were straw plaiters in Belchamp Walter in the 1850s. She is one of the makers keeping this Red List craft alive today.
Lucy Hook-Child plaits corn dollies and harvest tokens in heritage straw from her studio in Essex. Two of her third great-grandaunts were straw plaiters in Belchamp Walter in the 1850s. She is one of the makers keeping this Red List craft alive today.
