Lecture Covers the Stitch That Kept the Alutiiq Kayaker Dry

logo-w-sunburstKayla Desroches/KMXT

A special stitch is what historically kept Alutiiq kayakers dry, and one crafter will walk her audience through the sewing method at a lecture tonight. The talk is part of the Alutiiq Museum’s fall lecture series.

Kodiak local Susan Malutin says Alaska Natives in every region use a waterproof stitch.

“The techniques of constructing it and the different hides are all possibly different, but the purpose is the same. To keep that kayak waterproof so that they don’t have those leaking problems, and it’s amazing, every area that may have just a little different touch to that sewing technique, it still works the same.”

She says the technique begins with two hides which, in the case of the kayak in the Alutiiq Museum collection, means sea lion and harbor seal skin.

“And you sew the two hides, but you don’t sew through them and it’s kind of like a weaving stitch in between, and then when you turn it over to the inside, you will put a piece of beach grass and then sew the seam with an overhand stitch.”

She says the beach grass swells when it gets wet and blocks the gap.

The technique is better seen than heard, and that’ll be one advantage of attending Malutin’s lecture tonight. It’ll begin at 7 p.m. at the Alutiiq Museum.

Check Also

Kodiak Island Borough’s assessor certified at highest level, one of five in the state of Alaska

Taxes – even just the word – can trigger a negative reaction in people. But …

%d bloggers like this: