Northern Threads 
Handmade Exclusively for Northern Threads
Our one-of-a-kind seam rippers are handmade out of Caribou and Moose antler by Alaskan artist, Tim Hanson.
About the Artist
Tim moved to Alaska 26 years ago. He has enjoyed being an avid outdoorsman hunting, fishing, and trapping all over the state. In 2009 he married his wife Bonnie who’s an avid sewer which leads us into how the antler seam ripper came about.
that started it all.
How it all got started…
“Through the years as I explored Alaska I would always come home with Caribou and Moose sheds. As time went on I had quite a collection and had no idea what to do with them. One day I noticed that my wife was frustrated and I asked her what I could do to help. She said nothing unless you can figure out how to make this seem ripper handle fit better in my hand, and that’s how it all started.”
The Process of Turning Antlers into Art
Tim uses a lathe doing a process called turning. Turning is a material removal process that rotates the workpiece against a cutting tool. Turning can be done using many materials such as acrylic, wood, or even metal. Antler is one of the most challenging to work with because of its dual hardness, the inner core is soft, while the outer material is hard. The beauty of turning antler is no two are the same, from the curvature to the colorization. Tim produces some very unique pieces that can be used every day in your sewing room or displayed as a true piece of Alaskan art.
The Uniqiueness of Each Seam Ripper
Different colors intertwined throughout each seam ripper tells a story of that animal. Colors in antlers vary from the species of the animal to what vegetarian was in their environment when they shed their antlers. Shedding is the natural annual process of antlers falling off. The shedding or “dropping” of the antlers happens in the winter months once the antlers have reached their full growth for that season. Once the growing has stopped the velvet that covers the antlers dies. Once all the dead velvet has fallen off, the beautiful white-toned antlers will be visible. The antlers will then change color as the moose or caribou will mark their territory for the upcoming mating season by rubbing their antlers on trees & brush.
