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Ra-Ro Journal
Rare Stories
Stories, news and behind the scenes of Portuguese craft. What’s happening in the workshops, at the fairs and at Ra-Ro.
How to wash and store wool blankets and knits without ruining them
Wool should be washed rarely, by hand, in cold water and never wrung, then dried flat. Here is how to treat each piece, from papa blankets to crochet, and how to store it away from moths.
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A cosy home in winter: 10 ideas with handmade pieces
A cosy winter home comes from layers of wool, warm light, a shared table and natural materials. Here are 10 simple ideas with pieces handmade in Portugal.
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Portuguese wool: sheep breeds, burel, Ecolã and how to choose a wool piece
Portuguese wool comes from native breeds such as the Serra da Estrela, the Churras and the Bordaleira. How they differ, what burel is, who Ecolã is and how to choose and care for a piece.
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Portuguese wool blankets: cobertor de papa, manta lobeira and shepherd's blanket, what is the difference
The cobertor de papa is a churra wool blanket woven in Maçainhas, near Guarda; the manta lobeira and the shepherd's blanket are two versions of it. The Ecolã shepherd blanket comes from Manteigas a...
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Burel: what it is, how it is made and how to care for Portugal's mountain wool cloth
Burel is wool that is woven and then beaten in water until it becomes dense, warm and resistant to wind and rain. How it is made, where it comes from and how to look after it.
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The phone and the wool: the Cobertor de Papa diary
A paper diary covered in Cobertor de Papa, the woollen blanket of Guarda's shepherds. Made in Céu Reis's workshop, with her mother, Rosa Baía, at the loom.
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Pulling on the barrete: Madeira's most serious hat
A hat with earflaps and a tassel on top that was once farm workwear. The Enfia o Barrete collective keeps Madeira's barrete de orelhas alive.
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Cobertor de Papa: the shepherds' blanket that Maçainhas still weaves
A pure wool blanket, dense and almost waterproof, made in Maçainhas by one of the last crafts of its kind. The story of the genuine Cobertor de Papa from Beira Alta.
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