Table-made hairwork is a beautifully intricate and meaningful way of using human hair fiber to weave corded, hollow, or flat braids which were often used for constructing Victorian and US Civil War Era jewelry. Hand-artisans have been working with hair for hundreds of years throughout the world, including in the village of Våmhus, Sweden, where the hairworkers there have continued to practice the traditional craft to this day, despite a decline in global popularity in the early 1920’s. Presently, hairwork, the sentimental art of using human hair to make a variety of expressive objects, is growing.

Using collected artifacts and source material from books published in the 1800’s, students in this Friday evening to Monday afternoon class will learn 4-5 braid designs including hollow and flat braids. These, in addition to the 4 patterns learned in the prerequisite bracelet class, will provide an array of braids to include in a hairwork sampler. This way of displaying hairwork can serve as a record of learned skills and as inspiration for future projects.

Note: The hair bracelet class is a prerequisite for the sampler class.

Required Tools

• Something
• Something
• Something

Optional Tools

• Your favorite embroidery scissors and hairwork tools such as hair tables, bobbins, floss, wire and/or a variety of knitting needle sizes.
• The instructor will provide human hair to use during the course. If an individual wishes to bring hair to the class, please make sure it is at least 12” long. A hank of hair about ¾-1”’ in diameter is sufficient.