Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum [Hardcover]

Janine Kosel (Author), Sue Flanders (Photographer), Laurann Gilbertson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 2009

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.  

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

This book collects thirty patterns for handknits from Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa—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.

From the Back Cover

Norwegian Handknits collects thirty patterns for colorful folk mittens, socks, scarves, hats, wristers, handbags, knapsacks, and sweaters—all inspired by traditional knits housed in Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa. As the premier center for Norwegian-American heritage in the United States, Vesterheim is home to the world’s most extensive collections of textiles and handknits made by Norwegian immigrants in America and their ancestors from the Old World, providing a link between today’s culture and a rich past. 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. Vintage photographs, Norwegian folklore, and recipes accompany the patterns.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Press; First edition (September 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760334285
• ISBN-13: 978-0760334287
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Knitting Historian's Delight, August 31, 2009

By 

Lynne E. (California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum (Hardcover)

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.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS IS WHY I LEARNED TO KNIT!!!!, August 19, 2009

By 

Bonnie Brody "Book Lover and Knitter" (Port St. Lucie, FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum (Hardcover)

I just got my copy of Norwegian Handknits and I love it. It's everything I hoped it would be. According to the introduction is has "30 patterns for colorful folk mittens, socks, scarves, hats, wristers, handbags, knapsacks and sweaters all inspired by traditional knits housed in . . . the premier center for Norwegian-American heritage" in Iowa.

The book contains a history of Norwegian knitting, stories about what inspired the handknits, 30 patterns, beautiful photographs, and lots of folklore and traditions.

The book is divided into four primary sections with patterns included in each: Knitting Techniques, Simple Knitting and Embellishments, Two Color Knitting, and Adventurous techniques.

I especially liked the Ruth Hat which is simple yet lovely and the 2-Thumbed Dancing Mittens. As a sweater knitter primarily, I went ga-ga for the Adult Voss Sweaters, the Sami Sweaters and Voss Family Sweaters. As with most Norwegian knitting, the patterns contain a lot of multi-colored knits.

My primary reason for learning to knit was to learn to knit Norwegian sweaters. Looking at this book, I am reminded of why I first picked up knitting needles and went to a class.

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing!, September 10, 2009

By 

J. Drennan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum (Hardcover)

The title states, "Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum." Well, what kind of knitted heirlooms would you expect from Vesterheim? Norwegian sweaters, perhaps? Apparently, this book could only cough up two adult sweater designs: a decent Voss pattern, which looks like something Meg Swansen designed ten years ago, and a Lapp-inspired Sami, which looks rather bulky in its design. Not terribly satisfying. Yes, there are enough socks, mittens, hats, a backpack and a clumsy whimple, but I don't consider these under the heading "Heirloom Designs." A better title might have been, "Norwegian Handknits: Quick Projects Inspired from the Vesterheim Museum."

The book is nicely written. The information and photos about Norwegian immigrants is appreciated but if you had any hopes of a solid meat and potatoes book about real Norwegian knitting, which would include substantially more sweater patterns, this is more like a stick of beef jerky and a bag of potato chips.