Carving the Nøstepinne: Norwegian Yarn-Winders Class with Josh Torkelson

Learn to carve one of Norway’s most charming and practical textile tools, the nøstepinne, or yarn winder! Nøstepinner were essential household tools for winding yarn into tight, center-pull balls long before mechanical winders existed. Across Norway, these simple forms became canvases for creativity, with examples that feature chip carving, relief carving, and decorative carving in the round, such as rings, chains, or the classic ball-in-cage. This class is designed for students who have some prior carving experience and are ready to build on their skills. It is not a first-time carving class, but it is well suited for students at the beginning-intermediate level through advanced carvers. Instruction and projects can be adapted to meet each participant’s comfort level and goals. Students will study historical examples from Vesterheim’s collection and use them as inspiration while designing and carving their own nøstepinne. Over three days, we will explore chip carving, relief carving, and carving in the round. Each student will leave with a finished or nearly finished tool ready for use or gifting. Josh Torkelson is a woodworking teacher endlessly fascinated by the repeated patterns and the elaborate decoration of everyday objects in pre-industrial Scandinavia and Scandinavian America. He has been carving since middle school and has taught throughout the Midwest, including at the American Swedish Institute, Vesterheim Museum, the Avon Hills Folk School, St. Olaf College, and Minneapolis Community Education. When he isn’t carving he is knitting, playing banjo, or out about town on his bike.Vesterheim offers a 60% discount for in-person class tuition on a space-available standby basis to any year-round resident living within 50 miles of Vesterheim. Students will be notified about the availability of an opening in the class 21 days before the starting date of the class period. Discounts do not include materials fees. If local area residents want a guaranteed place in a class, they must pay regular class tuition.The local standby option is supported by Decorah’s Depot Outlet.