A relative in the Knitting History Museum?

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My Great grandmother:


Knitter in the Museum of Cultural History:

Knitting in Knorway: A Walk through the Cultural History Museum

Knitting is a craft which really hasn't changes significantly over time.  A trip to Scandinavia really drives that point home, as one can see the same craft utilized for survival by the earliest humans inhabiting the cold northern regions as is used to lure shoppers today.  In Bergen, we visited the Cultural History Museum where we found an entire exhibit devoted to the history and regionalism of knitting in Norway.

On the first floor, visitors view the university's Viking artifacts...including early weaponry from the bronze and iron ages, as well as early cloth-making tools.  Inside the recreated turf-roofed Viking home, visitors see life-sized models of family cloth makers hard at work.

Upstairs, the more modern traditions of hand knitting are on display.  The first room is devoted to spinning wheels and looms, discussing the early mechanics of making yarns.  Entering the  hand knitting section one encounters a carefully preserved cloth fragment...the very earliest example of knit fabric.  This section of knitting was excavated in Bergen, Norway, and dates to 1500.  Here is an incredible knit silk tunic which dates to 1600. A regional display shows examples from the 18th and 19th century of designs and techniques particular to each area of Norway.


Walls in this room are decorated with historic photographs documenting village knitting in situ.

Finally, the interactive layout of the final room was designed for children, though was spare, elegant, and inviting for all ages...with areas for carding the dyed wool, and desks for learning the basic steps to knitting and purling stitches.

Norwegian Lace

I have recently returned from a trip to Iceland and Scandinavia.  Ostensibly to attend a family reunion in Tonstad, Norway (the birthplace of my father), I had an enviable two weeks to spend in the world's knitting hotbeds.  As I was traveling with my husband and 3 growing boys through countries in which every sandwich (however humble) costs $10.00,  a large slice of our trip for the budget went to food.  With every meal, I saw my yarn budget diminish...and so I rapidly became resourceful about finding cheap eats across Norway.  In Bergen (home of the $9.00 cup of coffee), I discovered a church mission serving up a most delicious and nutritious portion of homemade soup and waffles with strawberry jam for a pittance.  To further my delight, across the street was the mission store (locals donating family heirlooms ...most of which are traditional manufactures...for sale by the church mission to the public.)  in which I discovered this little delight.  While not knitting, I felt I wanted to add it to my blog for the purpose of sharing it with fiberholics as I have found no comparable designs on the web.

Photo Source:  http://lace.lacefairy.com/Lace/ID/FiletID.html

This 7" square was made using a technique called Lacis...also variably called Filet Brode, Filet Lace,  Darned Net, or "nun's work" ( because it was often made in convents).  What is curious about this example is the typically Scandinavian motif of the dragon heads, commonly seen adorning Viking ships to scare off mythical sea creatures.  Lacis has been referenced as early as 1295, and there are multiple examples in the 14th century from Great Britain.  In a book published in London in 1908 entitled, "Lacis (Filet Brode)", by Carita, it was said that even at that time it was difficult to find anyone in London who could give lessons in this ancient technique.

For 28NOK ($4.00 US), I snapped it up and am happy to share it with you here.  It was, without question, the only bargain of the trip!

Incidentally, as a money-saving trip for knitters traveling in Scandinavia...church stores and second-hand sweater stores often sell bags of half-finished knitting projects (owners deceased?).  You'll be able to purchase yarn at a fraction of the cost of buying it new, and if you're lucky, you'll have a head-start on a project!