Discover the textile craft tradition known as nålbinding and explore its Scandinavian roots. As a course project, students choose to create their own pair of mittens, socks, or a syltemjölkskopp – a “milk strainer” cap. Or draw from tradition to inspire a project of your own design in consultation with the instructor. Nålbinding is a way to make looped structure fabric with a single needle and, when worked in wool, it is valued for warmth, durability, and practicality. The course covers the basics of nålbinding and explores those related crafts that are often incorporated in Scandinavian-style nålbound items. You will make your own nålbinding needles. Time will be devoted to the history and folklore of nålbinding as well as nålbinding's influence on Scandinavian craft traditions. Scandinavian-style nålbinding reflects both place of origin and local culture. Students at North House will create nålbound items inspired by Scandinavia and infused with the spirit of Grand Marais!

Our goal for this course is to achieve the skills of Scandinavian-style nålbinding by completing a project. Students can make socks, mittens or hats – or a project of their own design. On day one, you can expect mastery of the three steps - starting out, creating a foundation, and working in rounds - how to make a needle, and learn the styles and patterns and appropriate yarns. On day two, students resume work on samplers and learn the history of nålbinding and survey of scholarship, select individual projects and materials and demonstration of fulling and finishing techniques. The final three days, you'll resume work on individual projects and Demonstration of hand spinning techniques required for appropriate yarns will be shown. The folklore of nålbinding, survey of nålbinding stitches and stepping beyond the Scandinavian traditions are all included in this 5-day workshop.

Dates

Fri, Sep 28, 2012 - Tue, Oct 02, 2012

Course Details

--Select a Start Date-- 09/28/2012