Here is some suggestions for Finnish Sue:
- Almost every area in Finland have regional dress. Their designs are based on actual peasant wardrobe from 18th and 19th century. Nowadays regional dresses are not very popular, not among younger anyway. If one decides to buy or make regional dress, one don't have to choose the dress of her/his own area, but I think many do. I don't have regional dress, but as a child I had the one my mother sewed for me. Here is link to picture of similar dress:
http://kauppa.vuorelma.net/PublishedService?file=page&pageID=9&itemcode=Munsala
As you see, woman has kind of "bonnet" on her head. There is wide bobbin lace on the bonnet.
- The flag is blue cross on white background.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland
-
On Viking Age Finns were famous of their witchcraft. Viking could buy some spells from Finnish witch. Witch would give him knotted rope. Then on the sea, if there was no wind, they could open a knot and it would give nice good wind for them to sail. They should not open too many knots, or there would be a storm. I do not have link to that, because, you know, these things are so old they are a bit hard to find on Internet Age
!
Hope that helps on designing!