Caitrian Gordon

Challenges Entered: Documentation Challenge, Down the Rabbit Hole, Documentable Wacky Hats or Headwear!, Martial Arts Challenge

Project: Ketche (16th century conical hat)

For the Barony Beyond the Mountain’s Ethereal Seamstress Challenge I made a full uniform for a Janissary in the early 16th century. Part of this uniform included a Ketche also called a Bork or Bektasis according to Rick Orli’s website (http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/JanissaryHeadgear.htm#Head), a hat with an attached veil to cover the back of the neck of the Janissary. The hats are shown in period illustrations with and without plumes.

The Ketche is a round vertical hat that covers the top of the head and includes a veil like covering that covers down over the back of the head and neck. The hats are seen in various colors and the yunluk (the “spoon” in the front of the hat is shown with differences as well. Some are very curved, some highly decorated, some plain and some more flat. I believe the purpose of the yunluk is to help keep the hat vertical. The height of the firmer parts of the hat is roughly a foot. The weight of the veil can pull the top of the hat to flop over making the hat look shorter and adding weight to the head, instead of it being airy to help keep the solider cool in a part of the world known for being hot, which is why I believe they are designed this way for the infantry, the calvary is pictured wearing a different style of hat. However, having the weight of the yunluk at the proper height helps to keep the hat upright. At least, that is my belief given that the shorter yunluk originally made for the ketche pictured below was only about 8 inches and we struggled to keep the hat upright while doing the presentation for the Ethereal Seamstress Challenge.

Full documentation & photos at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pd4ptZjfpu-0l6R8lTgEOgL7c4ip-9cT/view?usp=sharing

Guðrún Sveinsdóttir (Rosie of Mtn Freehold) wrote on June 13th, 2021

This is so cool! I hadn't seen this type of hat before, and I appreciate being able to learn more through your documentation and pics. Thank you for sharing!

Ibrahim al-Rashid wrote on May 30th, 2021

This is really great, Caitrian! If you are interested in another possible method for making stiff hats, check out my entry using paper in a hat.

Agatha Wanderer wrote on May 28th, 2021

Great job on your ketche! I hope you enjoyed your creation process and that you learned some useful techniques for future wacky headwear!

Isabel del Okes wrote on May 27th, 2021

This is a great hat! Thank you so much for sharing your research and your process.