What would you wear to wrestle reindeer on the Arctic tundra? The Saami people dress in warm, functional clothing that is outrageously colorful and unique. We’ll explore a bit of that cultural playfulness while constructing a Saami-inspired elegant winter hat. You'll learn fine hand sewing techniques and work with wonderful fabrics – wool outside and cotton inside – allowing flexibility for your own creativity and preferences. In addition to sewing demonstrations, coaching, and time to sew, we’ll also enjoy stories, music, pula, and butter-making. Treat yourself to three days of peaceful sewing, good company, and come away with improved sewing skills and a hat that really is both practical and elegant.

In addition to sewing, we will explore Saami culture and how their fashions are designed to be functional as well as beautiful. Flexibility is built into the course through trim choices and type of tie for the hat to either increase simplicity or complexity and adjust time to completion. Techniques to be demonstrated and developed during the course include: applying trims with hand stitching, gathers, pleats, blind stitching, and blanket stitch. For those who have not sewn before, or are unfamiliar with hand sewing, join us the evening before the course begins for an introduction to working with fabric, basic tools and their use, hand sewing, machine setup and basics. You’ll finish a storage bag for your hat before beginning the main project.