I greatly admire people who learn a technique, investigate it thoroughly, and then go beyond. This issue includes two articles about artists who have taken the Norwegian tradition of sprang and made it a central point of their lives!

Carol James is an American who learned sprang when she was asked, years ago, to reproduce some military sashes in the stretchy knotting technique. Now she has written books with instruction and patterns, and produced how-to videos. She teaches workshops, and continually experiments with new patterns and items to create — even pants. She’s amazing; read “Twist of Fate: Carol James’ Journey in Sprang.”

Liilian Saksi, a Swedish-born artist living in Norway, explores color in her abstract art works. Using sprang, she is able to highlight the wool yarn she spins. Her relationship with the sheep she raises is an important part of her practice. The titles of her works often include the names of the sheep whose wool is used.  Read: “Liilian Saksi: An Artist in Språngning”

Liilian Saksi in the process of making “Konfetti (“Confetti,” from the fleeces of Frida, Lovikka, and Anni), 2022.

Liilian Saksi included a wonderful essay by textile artist and author Anne Karin Jortveit on her website, about the connection between humans and animals — in this case, sheep. I am sure it will resonate with many Norwegian Textile Letter readers. This issue includes a translation of the essay, along with information about a couple of Jortveit’s works. See: “To Seek Connections (Or Wanting to Know Where Things Come From).”

Anne Karin Jortveit. Sørgen’s Signatur (Sorrow’s Signature), 2022. Rug hooking on fabric with hand-spun wool thread (187 x 143 x 5 cm).

I know that many Norwegian Textile Letter readers are fans of ryas, or pile coverlets, from all the Scandinavian countries. This issue includes a translation of a blog post by Elisabet Jansson about some historical Swedish ryas. Read: “Ryas at Sörmlands Museum.”

I will just mention the other articles, and let you discover and enjoy them. Mendable: An Exhibit and Environmental Investigation describes the textile works that were part of an exhibit of the Norske Kunsthåndverkere (Norwegian Association of Arts and Crafts). Molly Elkind reviews a book about Norwegian weaver Solveig Albert’s 100 “miniatures,” Continuum. Katherine Larson and Marta Kløve Juuhl wrote a scholarly article for the Archaeological Textile Review, Norwegian Double-Cloth: Warp-Weighted Loom Experiments in a Complicated Technique. Larson also wrote an overview for Norwegian Textile Letter readers, with background and highlights of their research project. (Don’t miss her story of pennies and the pandemic…)

This is the first issue in the new semi-annual publishing cycle. The next full issue will come out in October, but several articles will be coming out before then, and added to the main page for this issue.

Thank you to everyone who helps support the Norwegian Textile Letter with donations to cover expenses. Your financial support is crucial; an end-of-the-year donation would be much appreciated. Thank you for being a subscriber! 

Robbie LaFleur

For those who would like to donate, here’s an easy link.