Fiber Art
Karesuando Mittens: Swedish Sámi Mittens from the Far North
Course Overview
The Sámi are Scandinavia’s only UN-recognized indigenous people, and have a culture rich with fiber traditions. Though known for colorful and highly family- specific gáktis, the penchant for bright colors extends to knitted goods as well. Join instructor Laura Ricketts, who has studied Sami knitting traditions extensively throughout Scandinavia, and explore Sami culture in the far north of Sweden in and around the towns of Karesuando and Jokkmokk through knitting the Karesuando mitten. Students will cast on and knit a miniature size, traditional Sami mitten, and leave with the knowledge to translate their skills to a full-sized pair of mittens. Students should know how to cast on, knit in the round, and do decreases and color work.