Karelian Double Run Scarf: Inspiration from the Craft Museum of Finland

The Karelian double running stitch embroidery and several other styles of colorful countedthread embroidery were first described in writing by ethnologist Theodor Schvindt in 1894 and 1895 in his book Suomalaisia koristeita (Finnish Ornaments). He traveled widely in Karelia and recorded the method of embroidering a multicolor pattern consisting of small squares on the diagonal, which was found on the headdresses of women who belonged to the Eastern Orthodox faith. Finnish designer Mari Voipio has translated these patterns into a stunning contemporary scarf design.

Materials

• Light- to medium-weight fabric or premade scarf, 16" × 40"–70" (40 cm × 102–178 cm) and 14-count soluble or waste canvas
• Anchor Stranded Cotton Mouliné (100% cotton), 8.7 yd (8 m)/skein, red #00046 (3 skeins) and blue #01036 (2 skeins)
• Needles: tapestry #24 and embroidery #8 or #9
• Needle threader (optional)
• Embroidery frame (size to accommodate entire design area), Q-snap (6" [15.2 cm] square), or hoop (6" [15.2 cm] diameter)
• Sewing thread: medium blue and white, 1 spool each
• Scissors: fabric and embroidery
• Fray Check or fabric glue (optional)

Design Size: 2½" × 12½" (6.4 × 31.8 cm)
Finished Scarf Size: 14" × 54½" (35.6 × 138.4 cm)

About: Mari Voipio credits her life-long interest in historical textiles to her mother and both grandmothers. She conducts research primarily to support her teaching; her current focus is on the folk textiles of preindustrial northern Europe.

All items in the library are intended for personal use. Please do not distribute without written approval.