Courses

Minnesota's history is interwoven with the history of hat-making. Europe's hunger for beaver felt top hats drove the voyageurs into the heart of fur country. Most of the fur traded at Grand Portage eventually became felt hats. There is no softer, warmer or more pliant fiber as fur-felt. We will…

A pair of sandals that fits just right is a highly prized possession—and all the better if they are attractive and one-of-a-kind. Create a pair of custom hand-stitched leather sandals to enjoy for years to come. Students will sketch ideas and discuss execution, working from a few basic designs the…

Remember the last time your feet were too cold to enjoy wonderful wintry weather? Do away with rigid unbreathable footwear and discover the traditional footwear of the north: mukluks. The flexibility of the natural materials used in construction allows the foot to generate heat, and a breathable layering system allows…

North House is pleased to announce an opportunity to experience the rich ecological beauty and cultural history of the Gunflint Trail AND immerse in the traditional northern craft of mukluk making. This session of Expedition Footwear: Making Mukluks will be taught by long-time North House instructor Jo Wood at Gunflint…

Hang on to your hat! This course moves fast: start by custom fitting a pattern to fit your head, then pick from a variety of leather colors, and finally cut and stitch the pieces together. By the end of the day, you’ll have an understanding of some of the elements…

Forget about stepping out of bed onto cold floors on wintery mornings—these hand-crafted cozy slippers will keep your feet toasty all year long. Sew your own custom pair of leather slippers, lined with soft fur and finished with non-slip soles to make them perfect house shoes. Leatherworking and shoemaking techniques…

Rings on fingers have been around since the beginning of civilization. Egyptian and Greek legend place the wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand, because of a belief that the vein of that finger directly traveled from the heart. The Romans extended this description and called this…

Discover the designs, color, styles and technique of traditional bead embroidery as you work with Ojibwe cultural specialist and Grand Portage band member Marcie McIntire, sewing and decorating a pair of moccasins in this course co-sponsored by the Grand Portage National Monument. The course begins with an overview of the…

Nålbinding, similar to but far older than knitting or crochet, is a way to make a looped-structure fabric with a single needle. Nålbound mittens are valued for warmth and practicality and in this workshop you'll learn nålbinding, as well as the basics of shaping a Scandinavian-style "work" mitten. A variety…

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…

Tired of synthetic ‘fluff’? Clad your torso with the miracle fiber: wool. Learn the history of wool, why it works, and how to maximize its performance as clothing with outdoorwear designed by Kevin Kinney, owner of Empire Canvas Wear of Duluth. In this class you will learn the basics of…

A North Shore favorite returns! Meredith Middleton, taking the reins for the retiring longtime instructor Molly Sharp, will offer an extended version of this popular course. The five day immersive experience will allow students to create a number of pieces, or work on more complicated projects. If you've ever collected…

If you’ve ever picked up a rough stone and wondered what’s inside, it’s time to try your hand at the magic of stone cutting! Veteran goldsmith and stone cutter extraordinaire Michael Seiler will lead students through the process of cutting, finishing, and polishing a variety of agates ­- perfect for…

The serene and dramatic landscape of northern Scandinavia is the land of the midnight sun, the northern lights and the Saami, a nomadic tribal group that follows the migration of the reindeer. Traditional Saami adornment incorporated elements of their northern landscape – softened reindeer leather and sculpted antler. In this…

Expand on your Saami bracelet skills! In this class we will create a wide multi braided bracelet with a variety of intricate braids and coils using traditional spooled pewter coil. If you loved the single braid style of the Saami bracelet class and want to experiment with different braiding combinations…