Sámi bandweaving book: Girjjit
Girjjit: Samiska vävmönster från Karesuando, Jukkasjärvi och Gällivare
Book: Sámi weaving patterns from Karesuando, Jukkasjärvi and Gällivare
Published by the Sámi Handicraft Foundation
Girjjit is the mother lode of Sámi bandweaving patterns--it fueled my quest to bring these Sámi books to you and nearly led to a visit to Jokka (someday!). Not just a pattern book, this book represents the collective efforts of ethnologists, curators, and Sámi weavers to document and preserve the living cultural tradition of Sámi bandweaving. The patterns were selected from an inventory made of Sámi bands done in the 1970s. The samples for the book were all woven by Sámi women.
Nearly all the 102 patterns are pick-up patterns ranging in difficulty from 7 to 25 pattern threads. Each band includes a warping order, pick-up chart, and technical notes with information on yarn, use, and origin. Does not include instructions on how to set up a bandweaving project. A bountiful pattern book for the collector and advanced bandweaver.
This is one of three Sámi bandweaving books I carry. All the way from Jokka, Sweden, these Sámi produced books offer a smorgåsbord of bandweaving patterns. The journey was long (by way of a Swedish train, a Dutch bike, a Danish plane, and a reindeer or two) so you can marvel at the rich cultural tradition of Sámi bandweaving. This is a rare opportunity to grab a copy of a small second-printing of these long out-of-print books. Additionally, the second printing of Girjjit includes corrections to the first edition. Text in Swedish but the patterns are visual. I include a basic glossary (e.g., colors, “pattern threads,” “ground threads”). I also recommend the free translation program DeepL.
Softback. 136 pages.
ISBN 91-630-9564-5
You can weave Sámi pick-up bands with a regular rigid heddle or on a band loom, but I highly recommend Stoorstålka’s pattern heddles. The Sigga heddle is especially helpful when weaving designs with groups of pattern threads that move, or “jump,” together. Along with yarn and other weaving supplies, Stoorstålka also sells excellent instructional kits with accompanying YouTube videos. They ship to the US.
