Both Scandinavian Weavers and Rag Rug Weavers have been busy this summer volunteering at the American Swedish Institute during the run of “Karin Larsson: Let the Hand Be Seen.” (See previous blog posts for details.) It’s been an amazing opportunity to demonstrate weaving to museum guests, who have been an enthusiastic and curious audience.

Many older guests have shared fond memories of cutting up old clothing and textiles into strips, then sorting them into piles by color, winding them into balls, and delivering them to the local “Rug Lady,” who wove the strips into rugs. Some guests are lucky enough to own rag rugs passed down from family members. so sturdy and well-woven they are still in use today.

This past Monday, Nancy Gossell, Judy Larson, and yours truly arrived at the ASI mansion in the wee hours of the morning to appear on a local news channel’s live broadcast. We were helping promote ASI’s “Cocktails in the Castle,” a night of celebration and craft (both the weaving and cocktail kind). Our interview appears about halfway through the video clip.

https://www.fox9.com/video/1513598

The exhibit will be on view at ASI through October 27. Scan Weavers will be on hand to weave on the following Thursday evenings: September 26, October 10, and October 24. Admission is free on Thursdays after 3:00 PM, so stop by if you can.

For a lovely recap of the Karin Larsson exhibit, check out this article on the Modern Daily Knitting blog:

https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/community/meet-the-mother-of-swedish-style-fiber-craft/

If you’re not able to make it to Minneapolis to see this marvelous exhibit, you’ll have another opportunity in 2025 when it moves to the Swedish American in the historic Andersonville neighborhood in Chicago.

https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/