Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers Co-op
If you come to Anchorage and want to fly home with a very Alaskan souvenir or gift, then I suggest you stop by the Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers Co-op. Their shop is in downtown Anchorage on the corner of 6th and H streets.
Owned by a group of Native Alaskan Women, the co-op purchases qiviut from the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer and other sources. After having it specially washed and spun, the super fine finished qiviut yarn is sent back to the co-op, which distributes it among the women. Each of the knitters has a specialty pattern from their village. The finished product is like light fuzzy lace, but is suitable for even an Alaskan cold day. They make scarves and hats, but their signature item in a "smoke ring," which is like a loose turtle neck collar (without the shirt) that goes around your neck. You can pull it up over your head like a hood.
Musk Ox shed their downy under-coat in the spring in great chunks of the softest gray fur you will ever see. In Alaska, only Native Alaskan's may collect the qiviut, as this fur is called. Qiviut is the warmest natural material. It is 8 times warmer than wool for the weight. So when they spin it and knit it, it tends to be thin and light and extraordinarily warm. It is not inexpensive. But it lasts well, washes well, is soft and not itchy, and is quite beautiful. The natural gray color is lovely and they do not dye it.
If you wanted to try your hand at knitting qiviut, you can buy a skein for about $80 at the Oomingmak shop. They even have some samples of knitted musk ox fur at the airport.
