This pattern was the base for Joan’s Pacific Northwest Indian Sweaters class at the Manchester NH TKGA show in July, 2008. Joan does not have a webpage, but her upcoming class schedule is right here on her Ravelry Profile.

Class description:

Cowichan sweaters are the best known authentic ethnic sweater style developed on the North American continent. The Salish Indians of Vancouver Island, British Columbia and Washington State probably began knitting around the 1860’s using thick handspun wool in natural sheep colors. Influenced by European settlers and missionaries, they adapted their own Indian symbols and totems into color pattern knitting. Students will learn techniques specifically used in Cowichan knitting which adapt readily to non-ethnic knitting as well: woven color-stranding, seamless construction methods and shawl-collar shapings unique to these sweaters will be covered by knitting a mini model.