Colorful quilts are hanging on a clothesline, blowing in the wind. They are set against a scenic backdrop of a blue sky with fluffy clouds, a red building on the left, and a grassy field leading to the ocean in the background.

Unique Crafts from Creativity and Necessity

By Newfoundland & Labrador

In Newfoundland and Labrador, craftspeople rarely call themselves artists, but that doesn’t stop their work from singing with creativity and colour. Around here there’s always been a foggy area between form, function, and fine craftsmanship – largely because creating things out of necessity was commonplace. And even though these items truly are pieces of art, chances are you won’t find them hung on a wall.

Close-up of colorful, textured fibers hanging in various shades, including pink, purple, green, blue, orange, and red. They appear to be drying or displayed outdoors, creating a vibrant and tactile scene.

Colourful Creations

Knitwear

Two knitted mittens with black and white patterns hang from clothespins on a line. Behind them is a weathered wooden wall with chipped paint and a view of the ocean and snow-covered land in the background.

Warm Mittens

Hand knit crafts like sweaters, hats and socks come in all sorts of designs. A particular oddity are cuffs (mitts) designed to free up your index finger and thumb for added dexterity while keeping your other fingers together for warmth. These instantly recognizable trigger mitts are usually adorned with diamonds, but in this place patterns can be as unique as the person who knits (or weaves) them.

Hooked Rugs

A person with bright pink nail polish uses a wooden needle punch tool to stitch colorful yarn into a burlap fabric. The yarn is orange and teal, creating a pattern on the textile.

Rug in Progress

Hooked rugs and mats are a traditional domestic craft that has found its way into many talented hands in Newfoundland and Labrador. In the past, rug hooking was a good way to pass the long winter months and a recent resurgence has seen a new generation of rug-hookers bring beautifully detailed mats to life.

Quilts

Quilts on the Clothesline

While the practical value of a good quilt cannot be denied, there’s no reason they have to be so colourful. Across the province these vibrant and cozy works of art are easy to find, and you often spy them hanging on the clothesline snapping in the ocean breeze. Quilting guilds are a popular social activity, and the quilts often depict local scenes or history.

Pottery

Hand-Made Pottery

Local pottery ranges from colourful wheel-thrown and sculpted pieces to meticulously crafted, one-of-a-kind hand-carved pottery. Newfoundland and Labrador’s natural and cultural heritage is a big inspiration that is reflected in the raw materials and choice of form and patterns.

Labrador Soapstone

A wooden table displays various small stone sculptures, including inuksuks and abstract figures. Each piece is accompanied by handwritten information cards. A window with a view of a building is in the background.

Amazing Stone Carvings

Labrador Inuit stone carvers chisel out magnificent images depicting the unique Inuit spirit and culture. Tales of the hunt are etched in large and small sculptures, harnessing the Inuit traditions passed down from generation to generation. Here, local creativity mixed with traditional materials have produced some of the worlds most exquisite soapstone carvings.

If you’re interested in any of the hundreds of local artisans or crafts people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, you can view a listing of shops and galleries to get inspired (and a craft if you’re so inclined!).