Skånskt yllebroderi
Maria Jacobsson introduces us to the conviviality in the warm heart of this long-standing Swedish craft federation.
A couple of weeks ago I attended a course arranged by one of our associations. The course was in an embroidery technique called Skånskt yllebroderi; a special kind of wool embroidery that is common in the south part of Sweden. During the week I and the other participants of course learnt how to do different stiches, but it also included the history of this type of embroidery and similar techniques: how motives from all over the world came to Sweden and ended up on cushions and how to transfer patterns from paper to the cloth.
We also had the opportunity to look at archive material, since this particular association has a large local collection of old textiles. At the end of the week, we also learnt how to do a proper mounting, including making a so-called “kavelfrans”, which is a fringe in different colours made of leftover yarn.
But the most important and fun part of the week was the conversations. Exchanging knowledge in different craft techniques and asking questions about how to move forward was our main focus. But we also shared information about books that we have read and movies we have seen, talked about our family members (both alive and dead), work and other things that pop up in your mind after sitting with a piece of cloth and trying to make good looking stitches for a couple of hours together with other people.
This is what happens in almost every course that Hemslöjden arrange. And is also one of the reasons why people join as members. I Hemslöjden: to learn new things and to do it together with other people.
National Association of Swedish Handicrafts Associations board; from left: Helena Åberg, Håkan Liby, Joanna Stridh, Elisabeth Bjar, Maria Eklind, Emma Andersson, Elise Tullnär Nilsson, Anny Liivamäe, Anne-Marie Lindén and Lena Lundkvist. Not in picture: AnnaSara Perslow and Lotta Ahlvar.
The National Association of Swedish Handicraft Societies (Svenska Hemslöjdsföreningarnas Riksförbund) is a non-profit organization. With 90 regional and local handicraft associations across Sweden and more than 13,000 members, we constitute Hemslöjden, a movement that continuously has worked with intangible cultural heritage since 1912, when our organization was founded. The whole board is elected by representatives from our associations every two years, during the General Assembly. The board has nine members and three substitutes.
Besides courses, our associations arrange handicraft gatherings, exhibitions, seminars and different projects that pass on knowledge and invoke interest, in the younger generations as well. Around 2,000 people take part in these activities—every week! Not all of them are members, but they are interested in what we do and want to be part of it. A recent survey shows that almost 50 % of the Swedish adult population does different crafts, so the interest in our subject is high. The handicraft movement is therefore an important part of the Swedish civil society, and our vision is that handicrafts should be a natural part of everyone’s daily life.
I hope – and think – that people will continue to meet to learn and meanwhile talk about important things.
A gathering of the National Association of Swedish Handicrafts
Maria Jacobsson is operation manager for the National Association of Swedish Handicraft Societies
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