Inspiration from Norway

Last weekend I happened to come across a Norweigan craft magazine  called "Bunad" (which means folk costume I think). An article about embroidery caught my eye. 

The Norwegian folk costumes are simply spectacular and have inspired the Norwegian knitwear designer Solveig Hisdal (Poetry in Stitches), for instance.

I believe that it has also inspired the embroidery on the folk costume in the villages  of Dala-Floda, in the Swedish county of Dalarna. Perhaps there was a trail leading to Norway through that part in the 19th century?

 

Or maybe the Norwegian bunad was inspired by the Floda costume?

This particular type of embroidery is called påsöm. The people in Dala Floda wear their beautiful costumes  on special occasions. You can still learn how to do påsöm – and it´s very popular, too. 

You could wear this jacket back to front if you wanted to.

Another page from the Norwegian magazine:

I must start subscribing to "Bunad". It contained lots of interesting reading.

I hope that I haven´t upset any Norwegians or anyone from Dala Floda now. To me it doesn´t matter who was first. But then I´m neither Norwegian nor from Dala Floda. (I wish!)

Though, I have to confess that I have borrowed a part from a Dala Floda knitting pattern for my new Elise mittens. And the inspiration for the rest of the pattern comes from the Norwegian Selbu mittens. 

I think that´s quite a funny coincidence.

Swedish Selbu mittens.

The pattern is already available in Swedish from Nysta.

And it will be available in English at the Loopy Ewe  as soon as the Spring Fling is over.

Elise is my daughter´s name and it also happens to be a quite common name in Norway. Sometimes it´s just amazing – verging on spooky – how everything seems to connect!

 

Comments

[EvaL8]

Vackert norskt och fantastiska vantar!

[Beverly]

The embroidery is beautiful! And so are the mittens...I found your blog through another blog and I'm glad I stumbled on to you! Fabulous pictures.

[Rududu-carolina.blogspot.com]

Your blog is really lovely and interesting! I particularly like the photos of the embroidery and your Bohus hat.
Carolina

[Johanne]

Thank you, Carolina! I remember that you were one of the first people that I friended on Ravelry, because of your beautiful nether garments. Johanne

[jackie]

HiJohanne,I love the patterns and the colors. How have you been? I was wondering if you've been affected by the volcanic ashe from Iceland? I hope all is well.I'm in Upstate NY,3+hrs from Canada.

[Grete]

Klart det har vært kontakt mellom Norge og Sverige når det gjelder mønster. De tingene du viser, er kanskje fra lenger sør i Europa opprinnelig? Min ene oldefar og hans slekt kom fra Dals-Ed og min oldemor var fra Halden. Veien mellom de to stedene er ikke lang, vet du. Det er sikkert mange langs vår lange felles grense som har både norsk og svensk blod i årene.
Du har en fantastisk blog og et lekkert design på dine ting. Fint at vi har sånne som deg så vi andre kan få noe fint å strikke på. Lykke til videre, vi følger med!

[cyndy]

I've just come across your blog and love your mitts! Great job.