Arctic Lace: Knitting Projects and Stories Inspired by Alaska's Native Knitters

by Donna Druchunas

Qiviut, or musk ox down, is a world-class fiber―luxurious, warm, and lightweight. People who experience it become obsessed. Qiviut makes perfect hand-knitted lace, as demonstrated by the Alaskan artisans of Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers' Co-op. This book presents how-tos for knitting and designing lace, projects suited to new as well as experienced lace knitters, yarn sources, and comprehensive cultural background.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference, Cultural

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2006

About the author

I grew up learning many different crafts from my mother and grandmothers including knitting, crochet, rug-hooking, embroidery, and sewing.

After a 25 year vacation from crafts, I started knitting again and learned to spin and dye wool with natural dyes.

Before I returned to knitting, I spent almost 20 years working in corporate cubicles as a writer, designer, and creative services manager. My cubes were in military training facilities, small businesses, and large corporations. During that time, I wrote and designed marketing materials, training courses and technical manuals for many types of hardware and software products.

I also streamlined documentation production processes for several companies. I was recruited by Fujitsu-ICL Systems and Hewlett-Packard's Colorado storage division to establish in-house creative services departments and to implement procedures based on systems I originated earlier for the US Navy Fighter Weapons School at NAS Miramar and Pyxis Corporation in San Diego.

After all that time, I rebelled and left my cubicle behind to combine my interest in knitting with my skill at writing easy-to-follow instructions. My designs and articles have been featured in Family Circle Easy Knitting, Knitters, Piecework, Interweave Knits, Fibre Focus, and INKnitters magazines, and I design patterns for several yarn companies.

I was born in New York City, but today
I live at the foothills of the Colorado
Rocky Mountains with my husband and
two cats, who are very helpful when it
comes to testing new knitting designs!

Reviews

[Beth666ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay I am trying to knit the fingerless gloves. THEY ARE KILLING ME. Yarnovers when you switch needles - hard. The book is v. interesting--background on the Native/Indigenous knitters. I thought it'd be that knitting was their lifelong pastime--but they were taught it by a Swedish woman (I htink?) and then now have a collective where several women knit scarves with Native tribal patterns and they are sold to the public. They use Quiviut (sp) yarn, which is apparently one of the most expensive, rare yarns in the world. It comes from the down of a small buffalo-type thing. It's been a while since I read this, to be honest. The damn gloves linger, however.

[Tisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read this book very carefully, rather I skimmed over it. I had originally thought that it was a book of patterns, but really it was an overview of all the tribes of people living in Alaska and their connection to knitting.

[Aubree Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands down the best knitting book ever. The explanations are simple. This was my first experience knitting lace, and I figured it out easily thanks to this book. Also, the patterns are simple enough to use as bases to build other patterns from.

[Laceystew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't knitted anything from the book yet, but I enjoyed reading the book!

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an interesting read; but, not so great with the patterns.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learning about quiviut, the musk ox and the Alaska Natives knitter's cooperative was very interesting. There was also a good chapter on other fibers and how they work for lace knitting (since quiviut is very expensive). The patterns didn't do a lot for me, but I suspect they would be good patterns for beginners.

[Alexander Moriarty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not knit yet, I got this book to learn more about lace knitting, qiviut, and the Musk Ox Producers' Co-op in Anchorage. Very interesting; appreciated the focus on the actual lives of the Co-op members and respect for their privacy. I am going to buy a copy for myself and learn how to knit after this.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history of the peoples of Alaska and how different lace knitting patterns have developed within tribes over the centuries. Plain pattern, beautiful lace repeats.

[Lily · Rating 1 out of 5]

All black-and-white, mostly text, very few patterns

Not worth buying.

[Lisa Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading the history in this book, but then I'm a big ol' history geek like that. LOL

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because it provides some cultural history on the Oomingmak knitters and traditional designs, as well as patterns.

[Martha]

lace patterns tend to have well over 50 row repeats

[Christine Stanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful book. I love all of the musk ox information and the patterns in the book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part local knitting history, part instruction, part patterns, this is an interesting book. Color photography would have greatly helped it. I like the lace patterns.

[Jennie Vandevalk]

signed by the author on our Alaskan cruise

[Kayoc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting history. The patterns are killers though. Almost done with the one I started, but I've had to re-do a lot. Not sure I will knit any of the others.

[BookMouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some pretty lace designs but not enough to justify buying the book.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked this. Nothing for now. Stitch patterns along with projects.