Klamath Falls, Oregon – A simple cloth bag can carry more than groceries. At the Downtown Klamath County Library this month, it will carry a little history, a little handwork, and a story that reaches all the way back to a stone carving in Sweden.
On Thursday, July 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the library’s Program Room will turn into a small workshop for people who want to try something old with their own hands. The event will focus on sewing Martebo Bags, a historical-style carrying sack introduced through a craft program courtesy of the Society for Creative Anachronism.
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The name “Martebo Bag” comes from a 14th-century stone sculpture in the Martebo Church in Gotland, Sweden. The carving shows a woman carrying items to market in a sack over her shoulder. Centuries later, that everyday image has become the starting point for a local hands-on lesson in historical craft.
The Society for Creative Anachronism is returning to the Downtown Library with historical crafts and seminars, offering monthly lessons designed to be both educational and practical. This July event gives participants a chance to learn about the background of the Martebo Bag while making one themselves.
Space, however, is limited. The library says about 20 people will be allowed to attend. Registration is optional, but it will help organizers know how many people are interested and how many supplies should be prepared. The form also gives registered participants priority over people who arrive without signing up.
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If more than 20 people express interest, additional participants may only be allowed if someone from the first group withdraws or if the event organizer permits more people during the program.
Those who want to register online can use the form here: https://forms.gle/DbZ3NLMunT871jJi8. Anyone unable to complete the online form may call the library at 541-882-8894, extension 10, or stop by the Information & Reference desk at the Main Library downtown.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, July 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Downtown Klamath County Library Program Room. For anyone curious about sewing, history, or simply making something useful by hand, the Martebo Bags workshop offers a small but memorable doorway into the past.
