Jane and I did a lot of sewing when we lived in Uummannaq. While I sewed harnesses and sledge bags, Jane made sealskin gloves, and these small mittens and booties for a baby in the family – sorry, can’t for the life of me remember which one, just now. Jane took sewing classes run by some amazingly talented Greenlanders in Uummannaq.
Jane also made big mitts with thick liners for me to use when sledging, but these mittens were gifts, so even though they were really warm, they were definitely not working gloves. It was one of those “hands off” moments!
However, we used the same needles and sinew to sew with, as sealskin just ain’t easy to work with. The darker fur is sealskin. The white ruff is rabbit. Polar bear fur is often used instead of rabbit fur, and sometimes even dog fur is used.
I’m writing this thinking that some readers might have a problem with this, but then I hope it’s also a little fascinating. It’s another world, and in many ways a far more sustainable one than most other countries.
Chris
Leave a Reply