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Journal
Articles on choosing, care, the history of the craft and Orenburg down shawls.
We collect practical tips and stories that help you understand the Orenburg down shawl better: how to choose an item, how to tell a gossamer shawl from a shawl, how to care for down and why handwork is valued.
All articles
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About the craft
Types of Down Items and How They Differ
Let's go through the main types of classic down items and point out how they differ from one another. In essence, each…
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About the craft
Care. Washing. Drying a Shawl
The Orenburg down shawl has today become a fully-fledged part of so-called urban fashion. While it used to be worn by spirited…
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About the craft
How to Get Rid of Prickliness
First, let's figure out why a down shawl can prickle. Down itself does not prickle; it is a short undercoat, very soft…
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About the craft
How to Fluff a Down Shawl Properly
A genuine Orenburg down shawl fluffs up naturally as the item is worn. Gradually the down begins to come out of the…
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About the craft
Washing a Down Item
It is advisable to wash a down item no more than once a year, and that is if it is worn constantly.…
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About the craft
Storing Down Items
No special storage conditions need to be created; the only but important point is to protect the item from moths. To avoid…
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About the craft
Craftswomen's Techniques in Creating Down Masterpieces
The famous Orenburg down shawl. As soon as you say these words, you feel warmer. Down knitting as a craft originated more…
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About the craft
Down Yarn for Knitting: Items and Care
Back in the distant 18th century, more than 200 years ago, needlewomen in the Orenburg Region began making yarn from the down…
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About the craft
How the Orenburg Cossacks Welcomed the Tsar's Son
After a long journey abroad, Tsesarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich returned through the lands of the Orenburg Cossacks. Not only the Cossacks but also…
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About the craft
Tools for Processing Down and Knitting
The history of knitting goes back centuries. Preserved knitted items have come down to us from the 19th century BC. Probably the…
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Articles that help you choose an item
If you are choosing a shawl for yourself or as a gift, start with the articles on size, density, warmth and the differences between items.
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A gossamer shawl is fine, openwork and almost weightless; it can be pulled through a wedding ring. A shawl is denser and warmer and is worn in cold weather. A warm openwork shawl sits in between: it keeps you warm but retains an openwork pattern.
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Gossamer shawls are most often 120×120 and 150×150 cm, shawls from 100×100 to 150×150 cm, stoles about 60×200 cm. For everyday wear a medium size is more convenient; for a gift, one that looks more striking when unfolded.
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For the older generation, people more often choose a warm shawl or openwork shawl in a natural colour: they are practical and keep you warm. A gossamer shawl is a festive option for a holiday, especially in gift packaging.
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Density can be seen against the light: the fewer gaps in the middle, the warmer the item. Weight is also a clue — a warm shawl is noticeably heavier than a gossamer shawl of the same size.
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About the journal
In the Shalnoy Orenburg journal we publish articles about Orenburg down shawls, gossamer shawls, openwork shawls and stoles: we write about choosing, care, the history of the craft and the features of hand knitting and natural goat down.