Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love this book for the photographs of the museum-quality knitted items in the Vesterheim Museum's collection. (I would love it even more if the photographs of the historical items were larger than thumbnails--they average about 2" x 2.5".) I also love the historical photographs of Norwegians in traditional dress, and the photos of some of the people who actually wore the original knitted items.
The patterns that interest me least are the ones that are "inspired" by motifs lifted from items in the collection. For example, there is a "Reindeer Headband" pattern that uses a standard reindeer motif found on an embroidered pillow cover that was made in 1937; and there is a "Rose or Bridal Whimple" pattern that seems to be a modern design with only a row of stylized roses (or a row of stylized man and woman clasping hands) taken from a motif found on Selbu mittens.
However, there is a pattern for a "Dancing Hat", charted for 35s/37r to 4" that allows you to make a hat that is fairly close to a museum replica of the original. There is also a pattern for "Cross Country Ski Socks" in blue and white, charted at 34s/40r to 4", that produces an absolutely stunning pair of socks sporting an eight-point star motif, with patterned calf gusset and alternating blue and white stitches on the sock sole, that is virtually indistinguishable from the original. The "Ruth's Cap" pattern, for a baby hat, is, unfortunately, written for a much larger gauge than the original, but the information about the original knitter's concept would enable an experienced knitter to reproduce the orignal in a fine-gauge yarn.
In addition, there are instructions for making (1) "Nisse Hats", the pointed stocking hats worn by Norwegian folklore elves, (2) Kumihimo braids, (3) needle-felted Rosemaling motifs to attach for decoration, (4) "shag" that creates a sort of furry embroidered decoration, and (5) "Decorative Felt Balls" that can be attached to drawstrings or scarves or anything that needs bobbles to look finished. There are patterns for traditional Norwegian patterned mittens, an adult "Sami Sweater", two intricately patterned adult "Voss Sweaters", a fringed "Voss Shawl", and a delightful "Work Day Shawl" with a garter stitch center and a swirly sawtooth edging. There is even a recipe for Norwegian "Krumkake".
The whole book is beautifully presented, with lovely photos of the finished items. The text is informative, well-written, and places everything in historical context. This is a book for knitting history buffs to treasure. Because knitted items wear out, and are hard to preserve, there are all too few photographs available of historical knitted items.


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Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa, is one of the premiere centers for Norwegian-American heritage in the United States. As such, it houses one of the country's most extensive collections of the textiles and handknits that have woven ties between Norwegian communities in America and the Old World, between today's culture and a rich past. This book collects thirty patterns for handknits from Vesterheim—folk mittens, socks, scarves, hats, wristers, handbags, knapsacks, and sweaters—all inspired by traditional knits housed in the museum. With an introduction reflecting on the history of Norwegian-style knitting and the stories behind the handknits that inspired the patterns, the book is at once a practical guide, a repository of cultural history, and a lovely look at one of the rich traditions knit into the American fabric.

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