By Robbie LaFleur
Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa, has offered weaving classes since Lila Nelson, former Curator of Textiles, taught her first class in 1970. Appropriately, the weaving studio is named after Lila. That means that 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Norwegian weaving education at the Museum and Folk Art School.
In addition to American teachers steeped in Norwegian techniques, instructors from Norway are on the roster nearly every year. The first Norwegian instructor in 1978 was Elsa Eikås Bjerck, and the most recent instructor was Marta Kløve Juuhl in 2018. Marta’s 2013 classes in warp-weighted loom weaving were so popular that she returned in 2018 to teach another set of students. Marta is likely responsible for the building of many warp-weighted looms since her classes. In particular, Melba Granlund from Minneapolis, Minnesota, has become very proficient and is teaching warp-weighted loom classes at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota and the American Swedish Institute. Vesterheim Folk Art School has been deeply influential in building a strong base of Scandinavian weaving expertise and interest among American weavers.
Elsa Eikås Bjerck was the first Norwegian instructor to teach weaving at Vesterheim. This piece replicates an early bed pillow from Jølster in Sogn, Norway, in plant-dyed wool on linen. The mittens were done in nålbinding, an ancient looping technique. Photo: Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum
Vesterheim Folk Art School typically offers eight or nine weaving classes each year. Many students return for classes frequently. Besides excellent instructors, students appreciate the museum collection; it’s a special perk to view many historical artifacts woven in the technique you are studying.
This is one of my favorite tapestries from the Vesterheim collection that I show to my Billedvev students. Photo: Robbie LaFleur
Students are asked on their evaluation sheets, “What brought you to Vesterheim and what keeps you coming back?“ Many people write a variant of this comment: “the beauty of the museum collections, the buildings, and lovely Decorah.” Decorah is a friendly, walkable town with great restaurants, surrounded by beautiful walking and biking trails.
Weaving is core to the Folk Art School, but other fiber class offerings have been growing. One Norwegian instructor for 2020, Kristi Nilsen, will be teaching a knitting class.
The Nordic Knitting Weekend actually consists of two separate tracks of four classes each. Class offerings that weekend include Introduction to Sámi Knitting, Norwegian Hat, Singlade Balls, Faroese Footlets, Introduction to Norwegian Knitting, and Boat’s Bow—A Sámi Mitten.
Class enrollment for 2020 begins on December 9; visit vesterheim.org for class details, and sign up early!
Further reading on Vesterheim classes:
Granlund, Melba. “Warp-Weighted Loom Classes at Vesterheim, July 2013.” Norwegian Textile Letter, November 2013.
Granlund, Melba. “Warped (or Wrapped?) in Time.” Norwegian Textile Letter, August 2018.
LaFleur, Robbie. “Marta and the Potato Analogy,” robbielafleur.com, August 24, 2013.
LaFleur, Robbie. “Traditional Icelandic Rya Knots: A Contemporary Adaptation.” robbielafleur.com, August 20, 2013.