Finger-Woven Viking Linen Braids

Learn about the rich, storied history of Swedish flax growing, processing, and using linen flax fiber. Linen enthusiast Wendy Johnson will discuss the use of flax and linen during the Norse/Viking era. Students will then spend the afternoon learning a finger-weaving technique to make linen braids, a technique that dates to the time of the Norse and Vikings and has been found in the Birka, Sweden Viking burial mounds. Turn your finished braids into necklaces, lanyards, and bracelets, and feature a basalt stone bead—a stone with a mystical grounding aspect common to the Viking regions. If you don’t finish your projects during the workshop, you’ll leave with the materials and skills to complete the rest at home!

Prerequisites:

Skill level: Open to all skill levels.

Ages: Suitable for ages 16+.

Tools & Materials:

A $10 materials fee is payable to the instructor in class, which covers the materials to make six 34-inch-long braids with a basalt stone bead.