Bohus Stickning

Bohuslan is an area of Sweden I have visited twice over the last 5 years. Having a Swedish sister-in-law helps!

 

Since Scandinavia has such a long tradition in Colour Knitting, it is to be expected that different regions have different designs. So I will focus on Bohus Knitting since I have a connection here.

Bohus Stickning (knitting in Swedish) started in the 1930s and 1940s by one woman’s attempt to provide relief work for local woman during the depression. Her name was Emma Jacobsson.

 

Their designs vary greatly, however my observation over all is that they have rather intricate patterns, yet are generally only 2 colours per row and a max of 3 colours at times. Patterns are often small and repetitious so easy to keep up with.

These Swatches are typical colour work produced during this time, and show very different yet unique styles. Their unique styles are a combination of various designers from the region. After the war, the industry changed as with other countries and the small cottage industries developed and become the produces of fine knitwear and marketed internationally.

 

 

More examples have been digitized on this link:

http://digitaltmuseum.se/things/mnsterritning/S-BM/UM031533/gallery?js=1&query=bohus+stickning&search_context=1&page=2&count=121&pos=42

There is also now a book(in English) to help preserve and spread the word about these unique designs. (Also Pictured). The book is half history with pictures of the garments showing their style and then the later half is garment patterns.

 

What I also love about their designs is that the pattern work is not just on the yoke neck line or all over. Some patterns run vertically along the band of a cardigan, and my favourite on the cowl collar of a jumper!

 

Lastly on my trip last year I visited the Uddavella Museum, and was lucky enough to see some of the garments on display, I took a sneaking photo on my phone of one style I really loved (turned out blurred so karma I guess) … but it is pictured in the book, no pattern, but with the information provided I am sure I can adapt…. you guessed it, one with a cowl collar). This I will not start until next year, but I will post it eventually!

 

 

 

My Completed Icelandic Jumper

So I couldn't wait, I tried out the Icelandic Jumper Pattern Generator.. and I am impressed!. My only criticism is the sleeves, as mature women(when did I get so old?) my arms are not as slender as in my youth so a little snug. I thought to... alter it at the time, but decided against it and wanted to fully review the pattern 'as is' for the largest size. Still fits, and I plan to get loads of use of my new jumper, next Winter..... or should I just plan a trip to Iceland now? (I wish).

I must say after working on the Yarn Art project, using acrylic yarn, it was wonderful to get back to pure wool!

Here is the link to the Pattern Generator again!http://prjonamunstur.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/hello-world/

Knitting through the Ages

It is my hope that traditional hand knitting will be a skill passed down from generation to generation for years to come. However it certainly is not as wide spread a skill these days. Of course, if hand knitting becomes a rarity, commercial knits will continue in the form of jersey, lycra and many other types of fabrics of a knitted construction.

Fortunately, the dying of the art of hand knitting, is far beyond my time on earth, just as knitting has been long before many of my ancestor’s time on earth.

One of the earliest known examples of true knitting was cotton socks with stranded knit color patterns found in Egypt from the end of the first millennium AD. Since the pattern is rather intricate, and they are made from cotton (prone to degrade over time), one would expect that knitting was around much earlier, especially in its most simple one colour form.

 

Cotton socks found in Egypt are some of the earliest knitted pieces. From L to R: Textile Museum, ca. 1000 – 1200 AD; Victorian & Albert Museum, ca. 1100 – 1300 AD; Textile Museum, ca. 1300 AD

Earlier finds, that have the appearance of knitting date back to 300 AD, and are made using a Scandinavian technique call Nålebinding (Needle Binding), this is a great topic for another day!

Yes, knitting has been around for a long time and has been featured in many ways through the ages.

Through Painting and Drawings – Pictured is a painting by Meister Bertram, said to be the oldest depiction of knitting in art (late 14th century), and is in the collection of the Hamburg Kunsthalle Museum.

In Movies and TV – Here are some famous actresses getting to work on their knitting. Audrey Hepburn in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’. Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) knitting on ‘All In The Family’…. the later may be showing my age, but it was a funny show.

 

Actresses have been known to pass the time on the set behind the scenes knitting too, and recently too! Pictured here is Sarah Jessica Parker.

In print… on Stamps! I love these, not just as the wife of a stamp collector, but as it shows how a country has recognized a past time that has become unique to its own nation.

On a final note, knitting is not just women. Men have had a history with knitting too. Shepherds and fishermen feature in the fully history of knitting, and there are still some men (and known to me) that knit!

So as long as we keep loving knitwear it will prevail, and hopefully the youth of today will be keen to continue to learn the craft!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Much of my time of late has been creating Storybook characters for a 'Yarn Art' Event in our local Community!

Our group including our local community centres, local primary schools, our earth carer's garden and our local aged care residents, have been working towards this goal.
 
I have been working with the primary school my boy's attended and we chose 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. Along with out main characters, we have also created, the food the caterpillar eats his way through, and the cocoon. All of these will form a trail from the school past our elderly friends and then onto our local park.

Other school and organisations are recreating, in yarn and other bits, characters from the books; The Rainbow Fish', 'Alice in Wonderland' & 'The Lorax'.

Our event is running through October to Celebrate Seniors Month. Also during October is Children's week, which is when our food trail will be installed. The Children from the primary school will then follow the trail with a special program designed by the teachers, for a bit of fun and learning!

Faroe Islands

It is not easy getting boys these days to wear hand knits, but the boys pictured of the 1950s on Faroe Islands don’t seem to mind!

The Faroese Fisherman have been wearing these jumpers out to sea since the 1900s, and in Faroes, with each design one could recognise the fisherman by his jumper. I guess with harsh island conditions, there is no better way to rug up with wool! The sheep manage the harsh conditions, so it is easy to imagine their ancestors following suit (no pun intended).

Since Forbrydelsen(The Killing), Faroes was put on the map for me and I am sure many others, as the main Character, Sarah Lund, sported the now very famous jumper from Faroe Islands. The jumper was made in and from wool from Faroe Islands, and has the typical Scandinavian Snowflake design.

 

As I have a Swedish sister in-law, I have long been inspired by the stranded colour knitting of Scandinavia, and over the years I have knitted many jumpers and even dresses knitted with the patterns inspired by their counties.

After a couple of knitted garments I dived straight in the deep end with a few Fair-isle and Scandinavian knits, and have not been afraid to tackle these types of patterns, and am surprise by some knitters fears.

So for new knitters, and seasoned ones that have not been game to try it out, here are a few tips; choose a garment with smallish and repetitious designs, only 2 colourways on a given set of patterns or over a few rows, and something knitted in the round, this way you always see the right side of the pattern and it is much easier to follow. If you have not yet worked in the round, stick with the first 2 tips and the purling rows are not too difficult. When knitting loosely carry the yarn across the back, and remember to iron (under a cloth on woollen setting) to set the pattern, and this will also remove any lumps and bumps.

Lastly, here is a great reference book for Scandinavian designs and the book that inspired my knitted tablet cover!

 

 

Natural Dyes!

Yesterday I attended a 'Natural Dyes Workshop' held by the wonderful Samm of Art'n Around!

Now I am super excited to get some pots set up of my own. Will be fun playing with the endless possibilities of colours and textures from my own Garden, and local Green Grocer!

The first 4 photos are the pots simmering, the next 2 are the results, and the last a surprise. The surprise pot will be kept for a month, and then I can see what it holds!

Meanwhile I will have a play with the samples and see what I can create!

Lopapeysa

I decided to move from Scotland further North to another country well known for great knitwear.... Iceland! Even the name wants you to put on your warmest Winter Woollies!

So in my quest to look into meanings and types of designs, stumbled... onto the best web site I have ever seen.... an Icelandic knitting pattern maker!

Here is the address... and it is free!http://prjonamunstur.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/hello-world/

So you can enter your size, enter your needle size, enter your tension, enter a pattern repeat combination, and with the wonder of technology you have your pattern, and a graph to become your own designer!

Here are the results... you want more I hear you ask..... click on 'File' and 'Make PDF', and you have ready-made instructions, and thankfully, for me, in English! Here is the link... it even estimates how many metres for each colour.. Brilliant!https://www.dropbox.com/s/28wj7lmaiw2sjcn/Icelandic%20Design%2011.pdf?dl=0

Now I just have to find some time to test it and actually knit it.... and now we are in Spring.... it is best a job for next Autumn.

Now for your Icelandic word of the day 'Lopapeysa' - meaning Icelandic Sweater!