Experience / Events / Skinnfell—Block Printed Sheepskin Hat

Skinnfell—Block Printed Sheepskin Hat

Join Becky Utecht and Sue Flanders for a day of creating a warm and woolly sheepskin hat using skinnfell techniques! Skinnfell is the Norwegian art of embellishing a tanned sheepskin into a beautiful decorative or wearable object through stitched and finished edges, printed with wooden block stamps. Students will learn about the history of this traditional craft while cutting the sheepskin and printing it with the provided patterned stamps. Special attention will be given to the use of the instructors’ Norwegian print blocks and the symbolism of different patterns meant to bring good will to the user. Then students will stitch, cover the seams, and finish the hem to create a unique and personally meaningful hat. Though there will be time in class to finish, students may want to finish the final stitching at home. This class offers a broad overview of this craft, which offers many decorative and useful applications for future projects!

This project is appropriate for ages 18+ and is open to all skill levels. Please note that to complete this project, students need some hand strength and flexibility, as sewing leather is more difficult than cloth.

A $60 materials fee covers tanned sheepskin for one hat, leather cutter’s needle, thread, hat pattern, instructional handout, use of wood blocks and paint, and other necessary supplies. Students are also encouraged to bring a leather thimble and jewelry pliers, if possible, as these are helpful for sewing leather.