Adult Classes & Workshops

Youth Classes & Programs

Slöjd

Youth Group & School Programs

Scholarships

The American Swedish Institute, founded in 1929, serves as a gathering place for people to share stories and experiences around universal themes of tradition, migration, craft and the arts, all informed by enduring ties to Sweden.

American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA
612-871-4907 phone
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What is Slöjd?

Slöjd, or Swedish handcraft, is a type of craft in which useful and decorative objects are made completely by hand or using only simple tools.

We are working to increase the understanding and appreciation of the process and art know as Swedish slöjd, or handcraft, and thereby preserve, foster, and increase access to a vital part of Minnesota’s folk art tradition and heritage.

Funded in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, these workshops give ASI the opportunity to work with master artists from throughout Minnesota, as well
as purchase equipment, tools, and materials that allow us to stay true to the basic slöjd principles of using traditionally accurate tools, materials, and techniques to create beautiful and useful objects.
 

Photo: Vanessa Meade Photography

Photo: Vanessa Meade Photography

Workshops for Adults 

Felted Purses: Slöjd (Handcraft) Workshop for Adults
Saturday, May 19 ―10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Just in time for summer, felt a lightweight but sturdy merino wool purse, with attached straps and closure. Using the resist method of felting, participants will lay down multiple layers and colors of fine merino wool along with silk fabric and yarn embellishments. After creating and attaching a strap, you will carefully wet felt the entire project. By rolling in bubble wrap and muslin, and doing final shaping with your hands and felting tools, you will turn wool into a work of wearable art! Bring your creative spirit and sense of adventure for a spring day of felting. This workshop is taught by felt-maker and felting instructor Judy McDowell of Misty Meadow Designs.

Cost for the workshop is $95 for ASI members and $105 for nonmembers, and includes all materials. Please bring a bag lunch. Advance registration is required, and space is limited. Sign up by calling 612-871-4907.


Scandinavian Rag Rug Weaving Workshop
Monday, May 21 ― 1–4 p.m. (informational session)
Monday, June 4–Friday, June 8 ― 10 a.m.–4p.m. at the Weavers Guild of MN (WGM)

In this class, students will learn to wind a warp, warp a floor loom, and weave a rug. Creating a durable rug is important and students will be taught specific weaving techniques to accomplish this goal. Students will learn how to select fabric, prepare fabric for weaving, and finish ends. Rugs will be woven in plain weave with a set of five ends per inch using Finnish cotton seine twine as warp and cotton fabric strips as weft. Bring any fabrics you are thinking of using in your rug to the informational session. This class is taught by Wynne Mattila of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota (WGM), whose goal for each of her own rugs is to create a piece exhibiting technical perfection, delightful aesthetics, and everyday functionality. Students may need to spend time at the WGM in between classes in order to complete their rug.

This class in intended for all levels, including beginners, and costs $275 for ASI and WGM members, and $325 for nonmembers. A materials fee of $37 will be collected in class, payable to the instructor. Advance registration through ASI is required by Friday, May 11, and space is limited. Call 621-871-4907 to register.

This ASI class takes place at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota, located in the Textile Center at 3000 University Ave SE; Minneapolis, MN 55414.


Birch Bark Boxes: Slöjd (Handcraft) Workshop for Adults
Saturday, July 14 & Sunday, July 15 ―9 a.m.–5 p.m.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Scandinavians commonly kept small, flat birch bark boxes in their pockets for the then-popular taking of snuff. Larger finger and lap jointed boxes were used at home and on the farm, and often held goods such as coffee, tea, tobacco, salt, tacks, and paint pigments. Birch bark boxes dug up and dating to before the 10th century appear to have kept butter.

Today, these boxes are not only decorative, but continue to be treasured places for keepsakes, buttons, spare change, and even dried fruits, nuts, and oatmeal. Students in this two-day workshop will be introduced to the beauty of birch bark as they learn to make these little boxes using a combination of centuries-old techniques and a few new methods, too. Walk away with one or two completed boxes from this workshop, led by birch bark artist Fred Livesay. The workshop is for all levels; no prior experience required.

This workshop costs $195 for ASI members and $220 for nonmembers, and includes all tools and materials. Students can purchase lunch from the ASI café, or plan to bring a bag lunch. Advance registration is required, and space is limited. Please sign up by calling 612-871-4907.


Beginning Inkle Weaving Workshop
Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24 ― 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Inkle weaving is a fun and creative craft. By using this small, portable loom students can make bands, belts, straps, accessories, bookmarks, dog collars, trims and more! Students will learn how to read and design a draft, warp the loom and weave a simple project. After learning the basics, students will develop a colorful design of their own patterns or learn more intermediate techniques incorporating contrasting colors, inlay or pick-up. This class is taught by Carol Johnson of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota (WGM), who has been weaving since the 1990s, using tablets, rigid heddle and floor looms, and is co-founder of Studio Tupla.

This class costs $105 for ASI and WGM members, and $125 for nonmembers. A handout fee of $2 will be collected in class, payable to the instructor. Yarns will also be available for purchase from WGM. Advance registration is required by Wednesday, June 13, and space is limited. Please call 612-871-4907.


Shadow to Light: Workshop with Master Textile Artist Helena Hernmarck
Friday, July 27–Sunday, July 29 — 9 a.m.–5 p.m. each day

Helena Hernmarck, our era’s legendary trompe-l’oeil weaver, offers the rare opportunity to get an insight into her weaving technique in a three-day workshop to take place at the American Swedish Institute June 27–29, 2012. Hernmarck will take students on a private tour of the ASI exhibition In Our Nature: The Tapestries of Helena Hernmarck. She will explain and demonstrate her weaving technique, assisted by two or three master students. Hernmarck will also illustrate her use of color when selecting yarns and will demonstrate how she uses color blended “butterflies,” or yarn bundles, to make her creations. Students will then work under the guidance of Hernmarck to create their own sample piece that goes from “shadow to light,” as they work on the illusion of a shadow on their own frame or table loom. Participants will also receive a take-home handout outlining Hernmarck’s technique. This workshop is co-sponsored by the Weavers Guild of Minnesota (WGM).

We are no longer accepting applications for this workshop. If you are interested in meeting the artist, there are opportunities to do so on Thursday, July 26 at 7 p.m., when we host a talk by and reception for Helena Hernmarck, as well as at the talk by Frida Lindberg on Friday, July 27 at 7 p.m.


Beginning Floor Loom Weaving Workshop
Friday, Aug. 24 ― 5–9 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25 & Sunday, Aug. 26 ― 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at the Weavers Guild of MN (WGM)

Do you want to explore weaving? This class lets you discover the fun and creativity of the craft! Students will learn all the fundamentals, starting with a basic weaving vocabulary and graduating to: preparing a warp, warping a loom, and reading a draft. The instructor will guide you through a basic project and students will complete a wool scarf or a cotton table runner in plain weave or twill. This class is taught by Carol Johnson of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota (WGM), who has been weaving since the 1990s using tablets, rigid heddle and floor looms, and is co-founder of Studio Tupla.

This class costs $185 for ASI and WGM members and $220 for nonmembers. A handout fee of $10 will be collected in class, payable to the instructor. Yarns will be available for purchase from the WGM. Advance registration through ASI is required by Wednesday, Aug. 15, and space is limited. Please call 612-871-4907.

This ASI class takes place at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota, located in the Textile Center at 3000 University Ave SE; Minneapolis, MN 55414.


Ready, Set, Weave: Make a Wool Scarf Workshop
Saturday, Sept. 22 & Sunday, Sept. 23 ― 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Learn the basics of the rigid heddle frame loom and create a cozy scarf. Students will learn the direct warping technique, a quick process that gets you weaving in a short time. This is a great introduction to weaving and the ideal class for students who want to find out if weaving is for them. Bring a rigid heddle frame loom in good working condition and an 8 or 10 dent reed, if you have them. If not, rigid heddle frame looms are available upon request to use during workshop. When registering, please indicate if you need to borrow a loom. This class is taught by Carol Johnson of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota (WGM), who has been weaving since the 1990s, using tablets, rigid heddle and floor looms, and is co-founder of Studio Tupla.

This workshop costs $105 for ASI and Weavers Guild of MN members, and $125 for nonmembers. A handout fee of $5 will be collected in class, payable to the instructor. Yarns will also be available for purchase from WGM.  Advance registration is required by Wednesday, Sept. 12, and space is limited. Call 612-871-4907 to register.

 

Workshops for Youth

Youth Slöjd (Handcraft) Workshop:
Hooks and Whorls Woodworking
Sundays, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 – 1-3 p.m.

Useful hooks and whorls from recycled Christmas trees — a true Swedish slöjd tradition! Are your soggy mittens and gloves heaped by the back door in the winter? Send your kids to ASI to organize them. Children in this slöjd course will use the whorls of recycled Christmas trees to create hanging hooks or wall hooks. Instructor Fred Livesay, who has over thirty years of experience, will guide your children in the safe and proper use of slöjd carving knives, hand saws and hand drills. Proud students will leave class with finished hooks ready to use at home.

This 2-session workshop is for youth ages 8 and older and will be held on Sundays, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5. Cost is $50 per student including materials. Registration is required and space is limited. Call 612-871-4907 to register.


Youth Slöjd (Handcraft) Workshop: Playful Pockets
Sundays, February 19 and 26 – 1-3 p.m.

Design, sew and create your own pocket to wear every day. Great for carrying everything from cell phones to toys to secret notes. Pockets have traditionally been worn as part of folk costumes but are making their way into everyday use. Youth will learn the four hand stitches most commonly used, design and complete their pockets in this 2-session workshop.

Playful Pockets slöjd is for youth ages 8 and older and will be held on Sundays, Feb. 19 and 26. Cost is $50 per student including materials. Registration is required and space is limited. Call 612-871-4907 to register.


Youth Slöjd (Handcraft) Workshop:
Crazy Creatures Woodworking
Sundays, March 18 and 25 – 1-3 p.m.

Youth will use pine and birch branches to create a variety of crazy creatures while learning and refining woodcarving skills. Instructor Fred Livesay, who has over thirty years of experience, will guide your children in the safe and proper use of slöjd carving knives, hand saws and hand drills. Proud students will leave class with finished crazy creatures ready for play or decoration at home and for community use at ASI.

This 2-session workshop is for youth ages 8 and older and will be held on Sundays March 25 and April 1. Cost is $50 per student including materials. Registration is required and space is limited. Call 612-871-4907 to register.


Youth Slöjd (Handcraft) Workshop: Knitting and Knotting
Sundays, April 29 and May 6 — 1–3 p.m.

Knit and knot rings, bracelets, lanyards and more using spool knitters, macramé frames, and braiding disks. Add buttons or beads to create a unique look that is all your own.

This two-session Knitting and Knotting slöjd workshop is for youth ages 8 and older. Cost is $50 per student including materials. Registration is required and space is limited. Call 612-871-4907 to register.