Nordic Hands: 25 Fiber Craft Projects to Discover Scandinavian Culture

by Anita Osterhaug

Overview

An abundance of step-by-step fiber art projects to bring Scandinavian style to life in your home.

"Osterhaug's close connection to her heritage is palpable, and her accomplishments as a journalist, writer, and fiber artist earn this book a spot in any crafter's library as the resource on all things Nordic." —Christine Jablonski, Handwoven

By exploring the cultures and traditions behind the charm of Nordic crafts, you can enjoy extra-meaningful making!

The 25 projects mix unusual and more-familiar patterns and techniques, ranging from danskbrogd pillows and monk’s belt guest towels to knitted bags, rosemaling with wool, and a rug inspired by Icelandic terrain.

• Peek into the values and beliefs core to Scandinavian life—nature, community, craftsmanship, and sustainability.

• For each value, create 4 to 7 beautiful and thoughtfully designed fiber art projects featuring knitting, felting, and weaving.

• Each project's difficulty level is marked (beginner, advanced beginner, and intermediate).

• Projects by respected designers including Becky Ashenden, Laura Berlage, Sara Bixler, Susan J. Foulkes, Lisa Hill, Tom Knisely, Jan Mostrom, and John Mullarkey, to name just a few.

• 12 projects are felting or knitting; 13 projects are weaving (rigid heddle, inkle, tapestry, tablet, and finger weaving).

The 25 projects include these and more:

Nature
• Nordic Summer and Winter Knitted Throw
• Felted Telemark Bouquet
Community
• Rustic Linen Placemats
• Monk’s Belt Towels of Welcome
Craftsmanship
• Knitted Sølje Curtains to Celebrate the Sun
• A Nordic Sweater for Your Laptop
Sustainability
• Rags-to-Riches Rug
• Cup Cozies to Go

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764366918
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
Publication date:	11/28/2023
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Anita Osterhaug is an editor emerita of Handwoven magazine. An author and journalist, she has taught and written on embroidery, knitting, weaving, spinning, felting, and dyeing and specializes in Scandinavian textiles. She lives in Selah, Washington.

Editorial Reviews

10/02/2023

Osterhaug debuts with a vibrant volume of knitting, felting, and weaving projects that reflect what the author contends are the “values and beliefs core to Scandinavian life”: community, craftsmanship, nature, and sustainability. Exploring how these principles “are reflected in the customs and folk arts of different Nordic regions,” she explains that a love for nature can be found in “Midsommar” festivities celebrating the return of warm weather with bonfires and maypole dancing, and that the longstanding practice of covering roofs with sod to provide insulation exemplifies Nordic tradition’s emphasis on sustainability. Osterhaug provides fiber-based projects that take inspiration from the four values, as when she details how to knit a teapot cozy and coasters as tribute to fikas, or customary coffee breaks for catching up with friends and loved ones. Other projects include felted oven mitts designed to resemble rosemaling (a traditional style of decorative floral painting) and throw pillows made using the geometric danskbrogd weave. The cultural history enlightens, but beginners might be intimidated by the elaborate color charts and omission of knitting, felting, and weaving basics. Still, more experienced crafters will be eager to give these varied projects a try. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"Osterhaug's close connection to her heritage is palpable, and her accomplishments as a journalist, writer, and fiber artist earn this book a spot in any crafter's library as the resource on all things Nordic."

Christine Jablonski

"Both an interesting read and a compilation of practical and well-conceived projects. . . Deftly incorporates history and culture from several Nordic countries . . . The projects featured in Nordic Hands are not only tempting because they are cool, but because they are accessible to many . . . there are projects for everyone from beginning fiber enthusiasts to deeply experienced handcrafters . . . The instructions for each project are thorough and clear . . . Should definitely be on the bookshelf of Scandinavian textile lovers."

Robbie LaFleur in Norwegian Textile Letter