BY: - SAKINA ZAHID TMM-1

ZARA ZAHEER TS -1

GRADE JUMP ASSIGNMENT

INTRODUCTION A mark of identity, in

rich gold and white, crowns the head of a Bohra man, whether he is dressed up for prayer, or participating in festivities, or just going to work. Men in the Dawoodi Bohra community proudly wear intricately crocheted caps made by women in their families.

Crochet is the technique of fabric construction by puling loops of yarns though other loops, using a special hook

PROCESS

The Bohra caps are completely made by hand, using this method. A plastic or aluminum vessel of the required size is used as a frame for making the cap. Caps range from a circumference of 19” to 23”, depending on the age of the wearer. Little caps for babies just a couple of months old are also made.

MAKING TECHNIQUE

Unlike regular crochet, which is made with wool or acrylic yarns and has an open structure, the crochet on these caps is very fine and close knit. The women use white kite string cotton or nylon, with golden yarn that is known as kasab. Caps made for festive occasions may have a lot of kasab work, sometimes with very little white visible. No other colour is used on the caps, except an occasional touch of black or green on the borders.

USAGE OF YARNES

Both the yarns and the crochet hook are very fine, making the process tedious, but the final outcome is impeccably intricate. The stiffness of the yarns also helps in maintaining the shape of the cap. Starting from the centre of the top of the cap, they follow a spiral pattern of stitching, incorporating various motifs in perfect composition and symmetry. While common motifs are geometrical or stylized florals. 

TOPI PATTERN

MANY OTHER DESIGNS

CONCLUSION Sitting together in the

daytime, women of a community refer to pattern books and make beautiful motifs on these caps. There is a friendly competition of who can make the most beautiful, or the most intricate cap. Stitch by stitch, as they build the spiral, beautiful designs in gold form and slowly the headgear, the identity of the Bohris, takes shape.

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