Courses

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. You will design a pair of moccasins to make, choosing from either a baby or…

Discover the designs, color, styles and technique of traditional bead embroidery while crafting moccasins designed for baby feet. Create gift that will be treasured for years to come (and that will stay on those adorable little feet). Students will design and sew a pair of moccasins using quality tanned deerhide.…

The anorak is the traditional outer garment worn throughout the far North and Arctic climates. It is designed to be worn over heavier insulating layers to block the wind and shed snow. This anorak design may be made from a variety of fabrics and features large sleeves with adjustable wrist…

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 blanket coat made from a Hudson Bay-style blanket is an inspiring & distinctive example of style and craft. In this skill-building workshop, students will gain the patterning, fitting, and sewing skills they need to create their own unique blanket coat. Made from new or recycled warm wool blankets, these…

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…

Up north, there's a saying that there's no bad weather, just the wrong clothes. Outfit yourself with the right sort of clothing to protect your body from the elements in this course, in which you will design a comfortable and warm pair of deerskin mittens to wear during the winter…

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…

Warm up winter by making your own woolen slippers or short boot liners. Using the ancient no-knitting wet felting technique, you will make a cozy, warm pair of slippers or boot liners. The craft hasn’t changed in centuries except we now can choose plastic instead of animal skins and soap…

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 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…