Arming Caps

A pattern & instructions for someone with at least minimal sewing skills.

An arming cap is a quilted fabric cap which was worn separately or under additional head protection such as a chainmail coif, skullcap, or helmet. The quilted cap provided a layer of comfort and protection between the chain mail coif and the head. While chainmail is quite resistant to punctures, its flexibilit y provides little protection against crushing blows, which the padded arming cap does provide.

A pattern and instructio ns for making an arming cap.

A video tutorial on making an arming cap.

Photos of a quilted arming cap, padded with two layers of dense cotton batting.

The plain coif/cap is probably the most versatile piece of garb in the Middle Ages. It was worn for centuries and changed very little. It's comfortabl e, practical and easy to make.