Where Saga Meets Stitchcraft

This válknöttr (Old Norse "woven battle shirt") reimagines the 10th-century Uppsala tunics described in Ynglinga Saga, where Odin's priests knotted sacred threads into warriors' garb. The diamond-pattern embroidery mirrors protections spells from the Galdrabók grimoire, while the raven motif at the shoulders honors Huginn and Muninn - Odin's thought and memory. Woven using a skeið (vertical loom) technique adapted for modern linen-cotton blends, each stitch follows the 7:3 warp-to-weft ratio found in Jorvik textile fragments, now reinforced with hidden underarm gussets for conquering renaissance fairs or backyard barbecues.

Features

• Adjustable 18–24" (45–60 cm) V-neck lacing inspired by brynja (chainmail) closure systems
• Triple-layer embroidery at cuffs replicates the úlfsúð (wolf's edge) patterns from Gotlandic picture stones
• 28" torso length (71 cm) calibrated to sit at mid-thigh when belted, per Oseberg tapestry proportions
• Antimicrobial finish derived from Viking-era bark-tanning methods fights modern-day odor trolls
• Dual hidden inner pockets sized for smartphone "runestones" and mead hall tokens

Materials

Midweight 55% linen/45% cotton herðaklæði (shoulder cloth) blend

Vegetable-tanned leather laces from Nordic eco-tanneries

Fit & Sizing
Forged for today's hirð (royal retinue): The válknöttr drapes like 11th-century klappenrock tunics but with tapered armpit curves for modern mobility. While our sizing follows the "ell" measurements from the Gulating Law Code, slight variations in stitch density may occur - each batch tells its saga through subtle indigo tonalities.

Care Instructions
Machine wash cold as if by Norwegian spring streams; tumble dry low like Thor's gentle breezes. For "feast hall stains," pretreat with bjórr (ale) as recommended in Eiríks saga rauða.