Arctic Lace Book

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ISBN 978-0-9668289-7-9
Audo book is NOW AVAILABLE.

Errata

Page 124: Fish Trap Hat & Wrist Warmers chart correction
Page 131: North Star Scarf chart correction.
Page 148: Grass Basket Cropped Ruana Vest chart correction.
Page 155: Horglass Boa is 60 inches long, not 48.

Audio book of Arctic Lace is available. “I invite you to join me on my journey in learning about the extraordinary knitters, unusual animals, luxurious fiber and beautiful lace knitting of Oomingmak.”To wet your appetite, scroll down for some project photos. You can also read about my 2004 research trip to Alaska on my trip blog. Also check out the Alaska photo album and about the 2006 book launchin Alaska.What’s it about? Qiviut.Qiviut, or musk ox down, may be the world’s most luxurious, warm, and lightweight fiber. People who experience it become obsessed with its exquisite softness. Qiviut makes perfect hand-knitted lace, as demonstrated by the Alaskan artisans of Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers Co-op. This book presents instructional workshops on knitting and designing lace, a sequence of projects suited to new as well as experienced lace knitters, a list of yarn sources, and comprehensive historical background.Need some qiviut yarn or spinning fiber? Check out these sources.Miss the blog book tour? Click hereto see the archive.

Here’s what you’ll find inside the book:

A simple step-by-step introduction to knitting and designing lace, applicable to any yarn.
Fifteen projects, for beginning to intermediate lace knitters.
Information about the history and use of qiviut, possibly the world’s most exquisite fiber.

Stories about Yup’ik and Inupiat women and their culture.

  • Preface: Following my Obsessions to the Arctic
  • Introduction: The Oomingmak Knitter’s Co-op
  • Chapter 1: The Yup’ik and Inupiat People
  • Chapter 2: Villages and Knitters
  • Chapter 3: Musk Oxen
  • Chapter 4: Qiviut Fiber and Yarn
  • Chapter 5: History of the Co-op and Musk Ox Farm
  • Chapter 6: Lace Knitting Workshop
  • Chapter 7: Projects
  • Chapter 8: Designing Your Own

Praise for Arctic Lace

I have been involved with the Co-Op since 1969 and have longed to see the history and story of this unusual Co-Operative written down. I think that this book “The Arctic Lace” will help to introduce more people to a truly luxurious fiber, some of Alaska’s peoples, and to these remnants of  the last Ice Age, the Musk Ox. I am pleased to see that Donna has helped to capture the spirit of the Co-Op and is honoring the resilient knitting members of the Co-Op.

 

– Sigrun Robertson, Executive Director of the Oomingmak Co-operative

You know that fluffy spot behind a cat’s ear? Where the fur is so soft you can hardly tell you’re touching it? That is the closest I can come to describing the feel of Qiviut; the down from an unlikely source: Musk Oxen. This beautiful new book, Arctic Lace, fills a large space in our lace-and-fiber history category and the author, Donna Druchunas, gives us a thorough history of Alaska’s knitters – with dozens of wonderful, historic photographs – plus the founding of Oomingmak Co-op.

– Meg Swansen on schoolhousepress.com

Everything you ever wanted to know about qiviut but were afraid to ask. There’s a wealth of information about qiviut and its history, along with lace projects to knit. There are also “templates” for people who would like to design their own projects, and lots of lace charts to put together with the samples. It reminds me, in a way, of Poems of Color, another book I loved. I think this book is to qiviut as Poems of Color is to Bohus.

 

– Wendy D. Johnson on wendyknits.net

Beautiful Inuit designs and easy to follow tutorials for both New and Established knitters make Arctic Lace a celebration of our collective knitting heritage!  A must-have for all knitters who want to better understand lace – and the diverse knitting world!

 

– Annie Modesitt, author of Twist and Loop (Potter Craft) and Men Who Knit and the Dogs Who Love Them (Lark)

Donna is at it again, doing what she does best–giving us a hands on in depth look at historical knitting and modernizing it for the knitter who needs to know.  Her combination of Native Alaskan lace designs and soft qiviut down from musk oxen will have us all getting out our lace needles once again.

 

– Cheryl Potter, author of Lavish Lace (Martingale & Company)

Arctic Lace is most comprehensive, highly creative, and wonderfully detailed. The lace designs inspired by Native Alaskan art are unique treasures certain to appeal to any knitter!

 

– Ann McCauley, author of The Pleasures of Knitting (Martingale & Company)

From the rich, historic background of the indigenous Alaskan-American peoples comes the art form of beautiful lace fashioned from the wool of the musk ox. Their traditional patterns were lovingly researched and recorded by Donna Druchunas in Arctic Lace. The wealth of patterns included in the book make it equally valuable to the beginner, intermediate and advanced lace knitters. The easy 1-2-3 tutorials, detailed stitch library, and handy templates aid us in indulging in our knitting passion and design our own lace projects.

 

– Marcia Lewandowski, Author of Folk Mittens (Interweave Press) and Andean Folk Knits (Lark)