Author: admin

Sami Craft Supplies

A selection of Saami reindeer leather kits and craft supplies are now available for purchase.

Sami Reindeer Leather Bracelet Kits

Sami Reindeer Leather Bracelet Kit
Sami Reindeer Leather Bracelet Kit

These Kits include:
Reindeer leather strip
Pewter thread
Reindeer Antler button
Linen thread
Nylon thread
Leather Glovers needle
Sharp needle

Pewter Thread

Pewter thread is traditionally used for embroidery and embellishments on Sami style clothing.
The pewter thread is 96% tin and 4% silver. Nickel free.

For more information about how pewter or tin thread was made by the Saami please visit All Fiber Arts – The Saami Art of Tin Thread Spinning.
The sizing of pewter thread refers to the diameter of the thread before it is spun.

Thread Before SpinningSpun Thread Size
.25 mm
.70 mm
.30 mm.80 mm
.35 mm.90 mm
.40 mm1.05 mm
.45 mm1.15 mm

Tin or Pewter thread is available in various widths and lengths:
.25 mm, .30 mm, .35 mm, .40 mm
Price per Meter £6.50

Vadmal (Wadmal)
Vadmal is a felted woolen cloth that has been beaten in cold water to make it smooth and water resistant. It is lovely for use in Saami style clothing, embroidery and for Viking style textiles.

Vadmal Felted Wool
Vadmal Felted Wool

VADMAL (Wadmal) is a type of woven and felted wool that has been made in Scandinavian countries for many years. The wool cloth is woven on a floor loom and then beaten in a hammer mill until the wool felts to a smooth surface. The Vadmal felting process creates a wool cloth that is water and wind resistant.
Along with reindeer skins, Vadmal cloth is used by the Sami for much of their clothing and crafts. Wadmal is also used for reenactment clothing.
The Vadmal Wool fabric is made with natural wool colours and may show some small darker spots in the fabric. This is not dirt but is small flecks of naturally coloured sheep wool (greys and browns) The surface of Vadmal wool is smooth and makes a wonderful fabric for hand stitching and embroidery.

For more information about Vadmal wool cloth, please visit my Blog at All Fiber Arts.
Please contact me if you are looking for Sami craft supplies that you don’t see listed. I have a small studio so space is limited and I don’t keep everything in stock but can order it in.

 

Sami Reindeer Leather Jewelry

I make a selection of reindeer leather jewelry, bracelets, arm bands, necklaces using natural materials and techniques in the tradition of my ancestors. I use natural reindeer leather, organic cotton yarns and pewter thread.

The bracelets or arm bands are decorated with organic cotton bands that have been woven on Sami style heddles or a Scandinavian band loom. The Sami wove colourful bands for many uses, as shoe laces, as belts, as ties for their sleds, as harnesses for the reindeer, as trim and decoration on their clothing. Some of the bracelets are also embroidered with Pewter thread, known as poor man’s silver that was also used to decorate their clothing.

Reindeer leather is a precious commodity that is difficult to source. Most of the reindeer hides are used by the Saami people for their own clothing and personal use. I am only able to purchase the reindeer leather in small quantities that are sold as scrap leather. Nothing is wasted. I order all of my supplies from the Sami people in Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Some of the Sami bracelets and arm bands are also trimmed with fish leather.

 

Finnish Folk Rya Kits

This new series of Rya Rug kits that I am designing are based on the traditional folk Rya of Finland. ‘Suomen Kansanomaiset Ryijyt’.
Some of the earliest Rya in Finland date back to the 1700’s – 1800’s. Many of the rya of that period were geometric in shape, containing repetative squares, diamonds, diagonals and fish net patterns.
The Rya yarns were dyed using mainly local dyeplants of the region, such as Anthemis tinctorial – Marsh Labrador tea, Myrica gale, Bog myrtle, Birch leaves and bark, Alder buckthorn, Alder leaves and catkin, Willow bark, Spruce and pine cones, Parmelia lichen, Lichen saxatilis, Northern bedstraw. Red’s were obtained from Cochineal and Blues from Indigo, both of which were imported. Colours were darkened or blackened with the addition of iron to the dyebath.

Pori 1836
149 cm x 206 cm
Warp: Hemp
# Threads between rows: 8
Length of Pile: 1 cm
Owner: Yrjö Uotila

Pori1836
Pori1836

Hämeenlinna 1711
152 cm x 188 cm
# Threads between rows: 12
Rya Pile Length: 1.5 cm
# Threads per Knot: 6
Owner Galerie Horhammer, Helsinki
Deposited in Finnish National Museum

Ryijy - Hammenlinna 1711
Ryijy – Hammenlinna 1711

Pirkkala 1792
158 cm x 190 cm
Warp: fine linen thread
# Rows between rows of pile: 6 – 8
Length of Rya Pile: 1.1 cm
# Threads per rya knot: 3-4
Owner: Trade Councillor N. Tirkkonen

Ryijy Rya Rug - Pirkkala 1792
Ryijy Rya Rug – Pirkkala 1792

Jämsä
145 cm x 171 cm
Warp: Thick Hemp thread
# Threads between rows: 24
Length of Rya Pile: 3 cm
# Threads per Rya knot: 3

Ryijy Rya Rug - Jämsä
Ryijy Rya Rug – Jämsä

I will be adapting some of the Finnish rya rugs into smaller versions.
Rya Kits, Prices and details to come shortly.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
I am updating this website on a regular basis with new hand dyed yarns, handwoven items and other products. If you would like to keep informed of the latest developments, please Subscribe to my new Newsletter.
Päivi

Ikkuna Rya Rug Kits

I first designed these ‘Ikkuna’ Window Panes Rya kits about 20 years ago. I wove the first sample rya on my Glimakra tapestry loom. Each window pane gives a view of a different hand dyed colour, framed in black. The popular kits have gone through many variations over the years.

Ikkuna 2015 Rya Rug
Ikkuna 2015 Rya Rug

Ikkuna Rya Kit 2020

The new 2020 version of this rya kit will be dyed using the colours of nature. The dark window panes are of natural brown wool.
The coloured windows will each be dyed using natural plant dyes.
When working with natural dyes, the colours are seasonal. Not all dyeplants are availabe throughout the year. The type of soil that the plant grew in, the growing season, the quantity of dyestuff in the natural plant, the acidity or pH of the water, the temperature and length of time in the dyebath are all factors that affect the final colour that emerges. There are no repeats when working with nature’s colours. Each kit is unique.

Ikkuna 2020 Rya Rug Kit
48 Squares of Natural Plant Dyed Colours
Surrounded by Natural Brown Wool
Backing Length: 45 cm x 50 cm
Finished Size: 40 cm x 40 cm
Price: £150.00 GBP
plus shipping

The Rya kit includes:
Rya backing canvas
1.5 cm Rya Ruler
Plant Dyed Rya wool yarn
Pattern

If you have any questions, or would like to order a larger size in this design, please contact me.
Päivi

 

Shipping Rates

Shipping Rates are based on the size of the package, the weight, the country that the item is being shipped to and the Shipping Class.
All Shipping Rates are estimates. There may be some variation once the package is weighed and current postage is applied by Royal Mail.
The Shipping Rates shown are for a Small Parcel weighing up to 250 grams.

Shipping RegionParcel WeightInt. StandardInt. Tracked /Signed <£50Int. Tracked /Signed £250
UK (1st Class/Signed For)250 Grams£ 3.58£ 4.85
Europe250 Grams£ 5.10£10.00£ 12.50
Canada / U.S.250 Grams£ 6.50£ 11.00£ 13.50
Elsewhere250 Grams£ 6.50£ 11.50£ 14.00

Normally International shipping takes approximately 7-10 days to arrive. Parcels are not considered lost by Royal Mail until after 30 working days.
However, during this Covid19 crisis, all shipping times will be delayed.
Our local post office is currently only open 2 days per week, for 2 hours per day.
Generally, I try to ship once a week.
Your patience and understanding is appreciated.

Buyer is responsible for any additional taxes, duties or customs fees that may be charged.

Tapestry Yarn Kits

These are hand dyed tapestry wool yarn kits. The yarns that I use for these kits are organic wool, no nylon, no chemicals, just pure natural wool. The yarns are all dyed using natural plant dyes.
The wool yarn is a suitable for embroidery, tapestry work, needlepoint, crochet or fine knitting.
Each skein is approx. 10 meters in length
10 skeins of naturally plant dyed rainbow colours per pack.

The natural dyes are created using plants, leaves, flowers, tree barks and minerals that have been used and tested through the ages. Naturally dyed colours fade gently yet remain beautiful.
Some of the dye plants that I use to create the many shades of the rainbow are:
Reds: Madder root, Brazilwood, Cochineal
Yellows: Weld, Fustic, Dyers Greenwood, Flame of the Forest
Blues: Indigo, Woad, Japanese Indigo
Purples and Greys: Alkanet, Logwood

I love to dye rainbows of colour using natural dye plants. These tapestry yarns are the results of my experiments. Natural dyes produce colours that are unique yet harmonious with each other. Not to be repeated. I hope that you will enjoy creating something new with the yarns as much as I have enjoyed making them.

I will be adding more naturally dyed yarns each week, so please check back for new plant dyed colours.

Please note that hand dyed yarns take up dye at different rates, so may have some colour variation throughout the skein, creating a unique look to the yarn. Some natural dye residue such as Indigo may rub off onto your hands.

I am updating this website on a regular basis with new hand dyed yarns, handwoven items and other products. If you would like to keep informed of the latest developments, please Subscribe to my new Newsletter.

1970’s Rya Rugs

These are some rya rugs I designed a few years ago, in the style of the 1960’s – 70’s rya rugs. The yarns were all hand dyed. The rugs were woven on a floor loom.

Rya Rug Exhibit
Rya Rug Exhibit

Solar Sky Rya Rug
Approx size: 45 cm x 70 cm

Solar Sky Rya Rug
Solar Sky Rya Rug

Diamonds and Tears Rya Rug
Approx size: 50 cm x 50 xm

Diamonds and Tears Rya Rug
Diamonds and Tears Rya Rug

Vortex in Blue Rya Rug
Approx size: 45 cm x 50 cm

Vortex in Blue Rya Rug
Vortex in Blue Rya Rug

Prime 17 Rya Rug
Approx size: 40 cm x 70 cm

Prime 17 Rya Rug
Prime 17 Rya Rug

Licorice Allsorts Rya Rug
Approx size: 40 cm x 70 cm

Licorice Allsorts Rya Rug
Licorice Allsorts Rya Rug

Aurora in Hemp Rya Rug
100% Hemp Yarns
Approx. size: 70 cm x 220 cm

Aurora In Hemp Rya Rug
Aurora In Hemp Rya Rug

Scandinavian Weaves Workshop

Over the coming weeks, I will be offering some new weaving courses, designed for the Intermediate or more experienced hand weaver.
The workshops will specialize in Scandinavian traditional weave structures.

The weaving workshops will be offered as 1 or 2 day courses.
4 Shaft Table Looms will be pre-warped and ready to go.
Other weaving yarns and materials will be provided.

The workshops will take place in my home studio.
I can accomodate up to 2 persons per class.

Please note:
Due to the current Covid19 Virus, I will not be offering workshops at this time.

Please contact me if you are interested in any of these workshops and would like to be kept informed of further information.
I will also update information about the workshops via Twitter.

Paivatar Studio
Paivatar Studio

Some of the new weaving workshops will be:
Rya Rug Weaving Workshop

Vortex in Blue Rya Rug
Vortex in Blue Rya Rug

Finnish Raanu Weaving Workshop
Finnish Raanu
Finnish Raanu Weaving

Kuultokudos Transparency Weaving Workshop
Kuultokudos
Kuultokudos

Täkänä Doubleweave Pickup Workshop
Takana Steps
Takana Steps

Krokbragd Weaving Workshop
Krokbragd
Krokbragd

Plant Dyed Sock Yarns

Suomi Sock Kits
I have designed some sock knitting kits using natural plant dyed wool yarns.
The Suomi Sock knitting patterns are based on traditional Finnish folk knitting designs that I remember from my childhood.

Suomi Socks Knitting Pattern
Suomi Socks Knitting Pattern

In my Paivatar Yarn Etsy shop you may purchase a PDF Instant Download of the pattern
as well as some of the hand dyed wool sock knitting yarns.

Some of my hand dyed sock yarns are now available for sale in my Web Shop.

BFL Superwash, No Nylon Sock Yarns
No nylon has been added to the wool yarn. Just wool and plant dyes, pure and simply natural.

These are sock wool knitting kits made with locally sourced British 100% Blue Faced Leicester wool. The wool has been spun with a high twist making it ideal for knitting strong socks that should last for some time.
The wool is superwash, so that if you happen to toss them into the washing machine they should be ok.
However, it is best to hand wash plant dyed wool socks in order to help maintain the naturally dyed colours.

About Superwash Wools
Superwash is a treatment applied to wool fibres which makes more resistant to shrinking. In the 80’s superwash treatment got a bad rap because in some countries the effluent was not recycled. This has however has changed dramatically as the EU enforced very strict laws and any by-products must be removed from the water before it is discharged into the water systems. This now means that the water discharged actually is better than the drinking water you get from the tap. Not all countries have the same regulations and we only use superwash wool which is from highly regulated treatment plants in the UK and Europe (which also have very strict standards). We are very particular about where our wool is superwash treated. Jeni has personally been to visit our Superwash treatment plant in the UK and this was a really interesting visit, the owner has PhD in this area and employs the most up-to-date superwash techniques and is always trailing new ideas.

So… what does the process involve? Firstly the wool is treated in chlorine in the water to dull the tips of the scales of the wool, this reduces the ability of the scales to stick to each-other and therefore reduces felting. Secondly a super thin coating of resin is applied to the fibres permanently bonding to the wool, this smooths the scales, improving the handle and also prevents felting.