What is a burial shroud?
A shroud is a piece of cloth used to wrap a body before it is buried directly into the ground, offered to the sea, cremated or placed into the coffin. Shrouding has been practised for thousands of years and although it was in the last few centuries replaced with coffins, it is now returning as we are becoming more environmentally conscious and aware of choices we have when planning our own or our loved ones’ last rite of passage. Shrouding a body, whether performed by the loved ones or by the end-of-life doula or a funeral director is a part of the tender send off. It is the last swaddling, the last tucking to sleep.
Do you make traditional shrouds? How do they work?
I make two different types of covers for the body: All-in-One and Soft Covers. A shrouded body or a body covered with a soft cover is placed in a willow carrier or a biodegradable stretcher and they are buried or cremated together.
All-in-One shroud: a long piece of fabric (roughly three times body length) which includes a decorative overleaf and three ties. The shrouded body is placed into a willow carrier or it can be placed into a traditional coffin.
Soft Cover: a tunnel-like structure. Front and back panels have hidden recycled cardboard inserts so that the cover resembles a soft coffin. This design requires a willow carrier. The body can be clothed or wrapped in natural fabrics provided by you or your funeral director or it can be wrapped in All-in-One Shroud first and then covered with a Soft Cover as in the demonstration below:
Three ties are placed in a willow carrier.
All-in-One shroud is unfolded. Decorative overleaf is at the top.
The body is gently placed into the middle section. Bottom section is is used to cover the body.
Decorative (top) part is placed on the top. Each tie is used to fasten the body.
At this stage, the shrouded body can be buried. Most of All-in One shrouds are made from thicker fabrics and ties are hidden underneath so the body is less visible.
As this shroud is made from thin cotton, I recommend using a Soft Cover to create a soft, coffin like shape.
Are your shrouds suitable for Natural Burial Grounds?
Yes. For natural burial/green funerals, all shrouds are made from 100% biodegradable materials. My shrouds are made from vintage and salvaged natural fabrics: linen, hemp, cotton, wool and silk. I make padding using sheep fleece from our local farms, feathers from recycled pillows or recycled shredded textiles.
Vintage textiles tend to be organic by default and usually contain little or no synthetic dye. With contemporary fabrics, this usually is not the case so please check with your Natural Burial Ground if they accept fabric made with natural fibers but with traces of synthetic dye.
To decorate fabrics and to bring personalised imagery, I use eco printing (also known as botanical printing) and cyanotype processes.
Botanical printing. Also known as eco printing, this process involves natural plant dyes and fresh leaves containing high quantities of tannin which bleeds into a fabric creating beautiful ghost-like prints. Using leaves from a deceased garden can make a shroud particularly beautiful and meaningful.
Cyanotype. Cyanotype is a 19th C photographic technique of exposing images onto a pretreated surface using sunlight. The images are light sensitive and will eventually fade away- a beautiful metaphor of transience of life.
Currently, there are 270 Natural Burial Grounds in UK.
How will a shrouded body be transported?
A shrouded body is placed in a willow carrier or a biodegradable stretcher and they are buried together. I don’t provide carriers and stretchers but can recommend excellent local suppliers. Your funeral director and the management of your Natural Burial Ground will also be able to advise.
Are your shrouds suitable for cremation and traditional funerals?
Yes, but please ask your funeral director or your local crematorium if they accept shrouded bodies. The shroud can be made from most textiles although I tend to use predominantly natural salvaged fabrics. Shrouded body is placed into a willow carrier made especially for cremation. The alternative is to place a shrouded body in a standard coffin.
How much do they cost?
Each shroud is completely unique and takes several days and often weeks to complete.Using textiles provided by you can significantly help with keeping the costs down. Prices do not include a post or a willow carrier or a stretcher.
Price List
All-in-One shroud:
Dagmara’s choice of fabrics £450
Your fabrics from £450
Dagmara’s choice of fabrics with panels with cyanotype and eco print £650
Soft covers for natural burials.
Simple soft cover, Dagmara’s fabrics £450
Soft cover with cyanotype, botanical prints and other embellishments £650
Your fabrics from £450
Winged soft cover from £ 950
Wings from £450 . Wings come in a variety of sizes and are quilted with a washed sheep fleece or shredded fabric. Wings can be permanently attached to a soft cover or temporarily placed either on the soft cover or a coffin and later used as a decor.
Willow Carriers for Natural Burials or cremation are around £250.
How many shrouds do you have in stock? How do they work? How big are they?
I am currently developing my portfolio and aiming to have a stock of 10-15 ready to buy shrouds. These will be available online. At the moment I have 5 shrouds available but please check my site for more soon . You are also welcome to arrange a visit to my studio in Brighton and look at them. Some shrouds can be additionally embellished with personal textiles of emotional value and history and with a personalised imagery. I can send a shroud directly to you or the funeral home and will supply easy to use instructions on how to shroud the body.
Can I order a bespoke shroud? Can we make it together?
Yes. I love commissions. Integrating family textiles into a shroud makes it a particularly tender and a powerful sendoff. Or we can make it together. I can also facilitate workshops where you may want to make a shroud for yourself or your loved ones. Please contact me if you are interested in attending Make your own shroud session.