Upcoming Webinar Featuring Norwegian Knitters Arne & Carlos
“Healing Trauma through Craft.” World Hope Forum. December 17, 2023, 9 am-11 am CST. Register for free.
Recent events continue to challenge our sense of humanity on an international scale and so the next edition of World Hope Forum has gathered speakers who practice mending, caring, and giving; a hopeful attempt before the Holidays to knit society back together. Among the featured guests are well-known authors Arne & Carlos: “Arne Nerjordet and Carlos Zachrisson are highly regarded fashion designers, textile artists, YouTubers, and authors. Their work is highly influenced by their Scandinavian background and everyday life in rural Norway. They work under their artist name ARNE & CARLOS, established in 2001. Today, the duo designs for and works closely with Rowan and Regia yarns. They have also written ten books.”
Upcoming Webinar on Norwegian Knitting History
“The History of Norwegian Sweaters.” Presentation by Laurann Gilbertson, Chief Curator, Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum. Thursday, January 4, 2024, 6:30 pm CST. Sponsored by the Sons of Norway, Nidaros Lodge #1-001, Minneapolis, MN. Click here to register. (Trouble registering, or accessing the Zoom event? Email Carolyn at cjtownsen@comcast.net.)
Learn about the history of different types and styles of Norwegian sweaters, including Setesdal, Fana, Marius, and Olympic. Laurann Gilbertson will also talk about the symbolism behind some of the patterns and colors on sweaters made today. Those attending are invited to wear their sweaters! If you do, make sure to have your camera on!!
Upcoming Webinar on Norse Textiles
“Norse Textiles and Women in the North Atlantic: Iceland and Greenland from the 8th Century to the 15th Century. Sunday, December 10, 1 pm EST. Free. Register here.
The International Hajji Baba Society (Washington DC) will host a Zoom webinar by Dr. Michèle Hayeur Smith. The webinar is free of charge, but preregistration is required.
Dr. Hayeur Smith is an experienced anthropological archaeologist who has done extensive field work, primarily in Iceland and Greenland, to examine a large number of textile fragments from the Viking era up to the 15th century. She has also examined trade records from the period, which show that the textiles were not only critical to survival in a cold climate, but also key to the economy of these North Atlantic cultures. She looks at the evolution of the weaving structures to corroborate hypotheses regarding developments of the woven products to different clothing requirements between the two islands, to their use in local and international trade, and in response to the advent of increasing cold during the Little Ice Age.
Sihren Dahle: Tapestry and Concrete are a Winning Combination
Norske Kunsthåndverkeres Årsutstilling 2023 [The Annual Craft Exhibition 2023], sponsored by the Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts, is the largest display of contemporary crafts in Norway. 63 works by 56 artists are on display at the new Nasjonalmuseet through the end of December. Many textile works are included each year; this year, 17. The full catalog is linked here.
This year the winner of the Artisan Prize for the most significant work in the exhibit went to Sihren Dahle for Concrete Life (Gladengveien 14), 2022.
The jury wrote about her work: “The contrast between the soft tapestry and the hard concrete tapestry frame evokes a sense of unease that corresponds to changes in the urban space. The uneasiness is heightened by the unclear state of the building; it may be in the process of being built up or torn down. The motif gave the jury immediate associations with a tendency in today’s Oslo, where existing buildings are demolished and new ones are built without thinking about the importance of architecture in telling the city’s history. Among other things, the dismantling of the Y block comes to mind. While parts of the city’s heritage are quickly disappearing, it takes a lot of time to hand-weave jacquard.”
See more of Sihren Dahle’s work at her website.
Take an Online Fiber Arts Class: Vesterheim Folk School
Cozy up at home this winter and learn traditional fiber arts from Vesterheim Folk Arts School. Each instructor is an expert in their craft and skilled at instructing people of all levels online from anywhere in the world. Find out more and register today.
Knit a Norwegian-Inspired Hat with Kate Running, January 6, 2024.
Knitting Selbu Mittens with Jane Addams, January 7, 2024.
Exploring Hardanger Embroidery with Shan Rayray, February 6, 2024.
Introduction to Tapestry Weaving: Level 2 with Laura Berlage, February 8, 2024.
Take an Online Fiber Arts Class: American-Swedish Institute
The American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, offers in-person and virtual Nordic handcraft classes. These virtual fiber arts classes are coming up.
Wet Felted Soaps with Kayla Ann. December 10, 2023.
Felted Folk Ornaments with Kayla Ann, December 13, 2023.
Needle Felted Gnome with Laura Berlage, December 15, 2023.
Stamped Tea Towels with Kayla Ann, January 18, 2024.
Reproducing a Patterned Silk Fabric takes Strength
Åse Eriksen is known for her research into Viking-era textiles. She described a new project from a different time period in a Facebook post on September 16. Be sure to watch the video she made – it take muscles to weave the silk fabric! She wrote, “Project: Making a pull loom to replicate a patterned silk fabric woven in Italy in the 13th century. In Norway, a few fragments of this material are preserved in churches, and now in museum magazines. A “pull-loom” in the Middle Ages was handled by several people. A project to study the weavers of the past, how they worked and produced the most incredible fabrics with completely different tools than we have. It has taken time to collect equipment and materials for the project, and a lot of trial and error to find good solutions. The most important equipment is a harness board (inherited by Sissel C.) and metal heddles with 10 gr weights, which enables me to pull/pull the pattern which is around 8 kg (thanks for help Julie H.). If I manage to attach a small film, you will see that I both push the harness warp for the pattern weft and pull the same warp for the bottom weft, [in the past] this work was shared by a “draw-boy” and a weaver. It was fun to weave as I found the rhythm of the work and became friends with the thin silk threads.”
Happy holidays, and thank you to everyone who helps support the Norwegian Textile Letter with donations to cover expenses. Your financial support is crucial and very much appreciated. Thank you for being a subscriber!
Robbie LaFleur
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