Classes in Decorah
Fiber Arts
Register early with your $50 deposit. A minimum number of registered students is required for a class to be held.
Click here to download a 2009 class registration form.
Conference on Norwegian Woven Textiles
Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum and Luther College are pleased to announce
plans for the fourth Conference on Norwegian Woven Textiles from September
25-27, 2009.
The
conference will include Norwegian and American speakers, special exhibitions,
study
group displays, pre- and post-conference classes, and more! Check out
class dates below to see what's offered in conjuction with the conference.
Scandinvian Instructors
Basic Viking Knits
Elsebeth Lavold
The focus in this class will be on basic techniques needed to knit wonderful
Viking patterns. Learn how to cable without a cable needle, analyze Viking
interlace ornamentation, and start designing your own cable patterns.
There will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: beginners and intermediate, must know how to do
basic cabling.
July 13 (from 9:00 a.m. to noon) | $64 members / $74 non-members
Runes
Elsebeth Lavold
In Viking times, runes were associated with magic and special
powers. Get started on knitting your own power emblem—your name, or a short
word. There
will be instruction on choosing runes with the correct sound value,
spacing, and placement within the project. Students will need to do
some homework
ahead of class. There will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: intermediate to advanced, must know how to do
basic cabling.
July 13 (from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.) | $64 members / $74 non-members
Viking Knits—Focus on Cabling
Elsebeth Lavold
Discover the wonderful world of Viking cables—a 1000-year-old treasure
of patterns revived with a new technique. The class begins with Basic
Viking Knits (see description above) and then continues with a focus
on the technical aspects of knitting Viking patterns. Create your own
cables, change traditional cable patterns, and have time to experiment.
If time and interest allow, Elsebeth will touch on knitted runes and
dragon appliqué. Some finishing will be discussed. There will be an
additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: intermediate, must know how to do basic
cabling.
July 14 (from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) | $130 members / $150 non-members
Viking Knits—Focus on Design
Elsebeth Lavold
The class begins with Basic Viking Knits (see description above) and then
continues with a focus on designing with cables and using patterns in
personal projects. Elsebeth will discuss internal shaping, design tips,
and finishing techniques to produce magnificent knitted garments. There
will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: intermediate to advanced, must know
how to do basic cabling.
July 15 (from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) | $130 members / $150
non-members
Elsebeth Lavold, from Spånga, Sweden, has been designing knitwear for magazines and yarn companies since 1977. Viking Patterns for Knitting, published in Swedish in 1998 and translated into four other languages, showcases a new knitting technique and her creative designs inspired by Viking and Iron-Age interlaced patterns. A traveling exhibition of her work, Knitting Along the Viking Trail, will be on view at Vesterheim from July 12 to October 11, 2009. Since 2003, Elsebeth has been creating yarns and patterns for her Designer’s Choice line.
Skinnfell
Britt Solheim
A skinnfell is a coverlet made of sheepskins sewn together. The smooth
side of the coverlet might be printed with solar motifs, plants, animals,
hearts,
and flowing borders, or it might be covered with a handwoven textile.
The coverlet is placed over the sleeper with the warm, hair side down.
Students
will make a small cradle-sized or throw-sized skinnfell from one or
two sheepskins. They will learn about selecting the skins, hand-sewing
techniques,
and printing with handmade wooden blocks and ink traditionally made
from bark. The class will also include information on how to add
a woven
textile, as was the custom in parts of Norway. There will be an additional
materials fee.
Level of instruction: all levels.
September 21-24 | $336 members / $386 non-members
September 28-October 1 | $336 members / $386 non-members*
* NEW information! Due to the popularity of the first class, the second
scheduled class will now also include instruction in adding a woven textile
to
the skinnfell. Sign up today.
Britt Solheim of Gjøvik, Norway, has a background in health care and education. In recent years she has been teaching classes in skinnfell sewing and printing in Norway, Finland, and Sweden. She also produces both traditional and modern skinnfell. Her book, Skinnfeller du kan lage selv (Skinnfells you can make yourself), was published by N. W. Damm & Son in 2006.
The Basics of Felting
Judy Shuros
Learn the basics of felting, the ancient process of reducing and matting
wool fibers. Felting is such a fun way to create wearable items for yourself
or as gifts. There will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: all levels
February 21 (from 9:00 a.m. to noon) | $35 members / $50 non-members
Judy Shuros is a spinner, weaver, felter, and knitter. Tapestry and rug weaving are her specialties. She is a member of the Oneota Weavers Guild in Decorah, Iowa.
Hedebosøm
Roger Buhr
Hedebosøm is a Scandinavian needle lace technique that uses thread rings
and pyramids in its construction. Students will make a charming pansy,
which can be used as a pin or a sun catcher. All materials will be
provided and
there will be an additional $4 kit fee.
Level of instruction: all levels.
March 14 (from 9:00 a.m. to noon) | $35 members / $50 non-members
Roger Buhr has done hedebosøm for 17 years and has taught courses at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Basstown, North Carolina and at Vesterheim.
West Coast Banded Coverlets
Syvilla Tweed Bolson
Level of instruction: all levels.
July 18-22 | $318 members / $338 non-members
Syvilla Tweed Bolson owns and operates a Norwegian yarn business in Decorah and has taught classes in various Norwegian weaving techniques throughout the Midwest. She regularly demonstrates weaving at Vesterheim and has been commissioned to create wall hangings for private homes and public spaces. Syvilla is a ribbon winner at Vesterheim’s National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition.
Rutevev
Syvilla Tweed Bolson
Rutevev is a traditional Norwegian technique featuring geometric
motifs, such as eight-petal flowers, diamonds, knots,
and crosses. It was
most often used for coverlets and cushion covers in
western Norway. The weaving
is
done across the entire width of the fabric on the
loom. Students will use the single interlocking tapestry technique and
borders of lynild (lightning) and little crosses. The project will be
suitable for a wall hanging or
table
runner. Students are encouraged to preplan the design,
color, and size with the instructor, but there will be options
for
those who
prefer
to weave
an assigned project. Returning students will have
several
possible choices of pattern and embellishment techniques.
Instruction
will cover warping,
color choices, placement of the colors, method of
interlocking, and finishing techniques. Vesterheim floor looms will
be
used with cotton
or linen warp
and Norwegian wool weft in traditional or contemporary
colors. Warping the loom will be done the previous day if possible.
There will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: advanced beginner.
August 10-14 | $318 members / $338 non-members
Syvilla Tweed Bolson owns and operates a Norwegian yarn business in Decorah and has taught classes in various Norwegian weaving techniques throughout the Midwest. She regularly demonstrates weaving at Vesterheim and has been commissioned to create wall hangings for private homes and public spaces. Syvilla is a ribbon winner at Vesterheim’s National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition.
Transparent Weave
Norma Smayda
Transparent weavings are most often displayed in windows, but
are also suitable for wall hangings, room dividers,
and lamp shades. They
are woven
in fine
linen ground and tow-linen pattern in natural
colors. Students will dress a loom, weave a sampler of appropriate
inlay techniques,
and
design and
weave a wall hanging about 16 x 30 inches. Vesterheim
floor looms will be used. There will be an additional
materials fee.
Level of instruction: ability to dress a loom and have
basic weaving skills.
September 22-24 | $190 members / $210 non-members
Norma Smayda learned to weave in Norway in 1967 and returned there to lead handweaving tours for five years as an exchange teacher in 1981. In 1974 she established and continues to run the Saunderstown Weaving School in Rhode Island. She received an MFA in Visual Design from the University of Massachusets in 1978. She offers lectures and workshops in Scandinavian weaves other traditional weaves, and weaving theory, especially Weaver Rose and his patterns from the nineteenth century. From 1988-1992, Norma served as president of the Handweavers Guild of America. In 1992 she received the Boston Weavers Guild’s Distinguished Achievement Award.
Weave a Wise or Foolish Virgin
Grete Bodøgaard
Learn this basic tapestry technique from the style
of fourteenth-century Norway. Students will
warp the looms,
learn tapestry techniques,
and complete a tapestry. The design will be
based on The Wise and Foolish
Virgins tapestry
in the Vesterheim collection, with a free
choice of colors. There will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: basic knowledge of weaving.
September 22-24 | $190 members / $210 non-members
Grete Bodøgaard was born in Bodø, Norway, and now lives in Volin, South Dakota. She has studied textiles in Bodø, Oslo, and Copenhagen, and has a B.A. in art education from Black Hills State University in South Dakota. She has apprenticed in textile research, focusing on the Bronze Age bog people at the Historic Archeological Research Center in Lejre, Denmark, and studied textile conservation in London. She has exhibited and been given commissions in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Norway. She has enjoyed traveling across South Dakota as part of the Artists in the Schools program for close to 30 years and has conducted numerous adult workshops in spinning, plant dyeing, and tapestry weaving for museums, universities, and textile conferences. Her tapestries are made with Norwegian tapestry techniques dating back to 1200 A.D., but the subjects in her work are contemporary.
Weaving Basketweave Pick-Up Bands
Jane Murphy
This three-day class will begin with an introduction
to the basketweave pick-up band, used
in rural Norway for
hair ribbons,
apron ties,
and belts. After learning about weave
structure and methods of weaving,
students
will design their own color scheme and
warp a spaltegrind (a special Norwegian rigid heddle
with long pattern
eyes). By the end of
the first day, students
will be weaving pick-up bands using the
spaltegrind. A Scandinavian band loom will be warped and
available for
students to try
during class. There
may be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: all levels, an understanding
of weaving vocabulary is helpful.
September 22-24 | $190 members / $210
non-members
Jane Murphy has been studying and teaching weaving for many years. After moving to Wisconsin in 1996 and becoming involved with Vesterheim, she has focused mostly on the Scandinavian weaving traditions. Jane is also a spinner, knitter and silversmith. She lives with her husband and three dogs in the log home that the couple built in rural Westby, Wisconsin.
Incorporating Tablet Weaving into Garments
Inge Dam
Through studies of ancient textiles, Inge
became fascinated with garments made
of tablet borders
woven jointly
with a piece of
fabric on the
loom, and she will give a brief introduction
to this weaving history. Students
will set up a loom with a simple weave
structure, learn how to make a tablet warp, and arrange
the warps so the
border
and the
fabric
can be
woven together
using only one shuttle. Learn to avoid
tension problems and accommodate for the differences
in the take-up
of the two
weaves. Using simple
tablet weaving, students will learn
how to add embellishments, such as tassels,
twining, beads (at edges and on surface),
braiding overlay, wrapped warp ends,
loops, Ghiordes knots,
and brocading.
There will be
an additional
materials fee.
Level of instruction: know how to dress
a loom and weave plain weave and twill.
September 28-30 | $190 members / $210
non-members
Inge Dam is a master weaver from the Ontario Handweavers and Spinners and has completed a study on Iron Age textiles from Denmark. She has taught many workshops in the U.S. and Canada and has taught for Convergence. She has won many awards for her work, which has appeared in Weaver’s; Handwoven; Shuttle; Spindle & Dyepot; Fibre Focus; and GCW Bulletin. She weaves on a 32-shaft Louet, Megado dobby loom and specializes in weaving unique garments. In some of her garments she incorporates tablet weaving and other embellishments.
Finn Weave
Norma Smayda
Learn Finn weave and its variations. Students
will dress a loom and weave a sampler
in these double weave
pick-up
techniques—single,
double,
reversible,
and non-reversible or Meråkervev. Then
students will complete a wall hanging in one of these
techniques. Vesterheim
floor looms
will be
used. There
will be an additional materials fee.
Level of instruction: intermediate.
Sepember 28-October 1 | $254 members /
$274 non-members
Norma Smayda learned to weave in Norway in 1967 and returned there to lead handweaving tours for five years as an exchange teacher in 1981. In 1974 she established and continues to run the Saunderstown Weaving School in Rhode Island. She received an MFA in Visual Design from the University of Massachusets in 1978. She offers lectures and workshops in Scandinavian weaves other traditional weaves, and weaving theory, especially Weaver Rose and his patterns from the nineteenth century. From 1988-1992, Norma served as president of the Handweavers Guild of America. In 1992 she received the Boston Weavers Guild’s Distinguished Achievement Award.
Cradle Loom Weaving
Nancy Ellison
Over 30 years ago, Lila Nelson, previous Vesterheim
textile curator, reconstructed a “cradle
loom” from one dated
1849 in the museum
collection. Ever since
then, woodcarvers, rosemalers, and
others have purchased and decorated them. This
class will
explore a variety
of traditional
and contemporary
weaving
ideas that can be done on cradle looms.
Beginners will start with simple techniques and experienced
weavers will
find projects
to
challenge them.
It is timely to renew interest in
these handy little looms. There will be an additional
materials fee.
Level of instruction: all levels.
October 10-11 | $127 members / $147
non-members
Nancy Ellison took her first weaving class in Norway in 1968 and has since taken numerous workshops at Vesterheim and elsewhere. This former home economics teacher does spinning, weaving, and felting with wool from her sheep at Ellison Sheep Farm near Zumbrota, Minnesota. She is a dealer of several brands of new spinning wheels and looms and also has accumulated a large collection of antique Scandinavian spinning wheels and looms.
Birch Bark Weaving
Phyllis Knutson
Students will learn about harvesting birch
bark. They will work on smaller
items—like a ring, bead,
or knife
sheath—to
get the
feel of
the bark,
learn how to thin it down and
to do the double diagonal weave. Students will prepare
bark for the second day, when
they will complete
a bread basket, jewelry box, or
eyeglasses holder as
their project.
There
will be an additional
materials fee.
Level of instruction: all levels.
October 10-11 | $127 members /
$147 non-members
Phyllis Knutson found her passion for weaving with rattan reed in 1992 and has been teaching since 1995. In 1998, she was introduced to birch bark. She has been privileged to teach at the annual Heikinpaiva Mid-Winter Festival in Hancock, Michigan, the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina, and North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minnesota. She also teaches for basket weaving guilds and community education classes. She sells her baskets at art shows and galleries in the area.
Basketmaking
Jean Schutte
This Norwegian basket is useful and
simple to weave. The two-handled
single purpose
basket was
originally
used
for potatoes or
coal. Jean has changed
the rim and handles to make
it more functional for everyday use. It makes
a good hagekurv
or garden basket.
The basket
measures
approximately
15
inches tall and approximately
11 inches in diameter. There will be an additional
materials fee.
Level of instruction: all
levels.
October 17 (morning and afternoon)
| $64 members / $74 non-membersBeginning
Jean Schutte has been teaching basket weaving since 1986. She is mostly self-taught, but has studied with teachers in the Amana Colonies, Iowa; Winona, Minnesota; and Faribault, Minnesota. Jean has worked in many different media, including pine needles, red cedar bark, oak, birch, ash, and willow. In most of her basketmaking classes she uses reed. For the past 18 years, Jean has been teaching classes at various places, including Vesterheim, Northeast Iowa Community College, public schools, 4-H groups, and her studio.
Tapestry Weaving
Susan Gangsei
Learn basic tapestry techniques,
including loom and warp attributes,
yarn handling
techniques, and the
characteristics
of fabric
quality. Students
will also explore the history
of how tapestry evolved in
different regions
of the world,
including
Norway.
Students will produce
a sampler while
learning various weaving techniques,
including plain weave, hatching,
hatchures, weaving a curve,
and multiple Nordic
dovetail
joins. Students can use Vesterheim’s
rigid heddle looms,
or bring their
own loom. There
will be
an additional
materials fee for two
types of
yarn (Paternayan and Rauma Spaelsaugarn) provided
by the instructor.
Level of instruction: beginner.
November 6-8 | $190 members / $210 non-members
Susan Gangsei has been weaving since 2002. Her tapestry journey began in 2004 with a Vesterheim tapestry class taught by master weaver Nancy Jackson. Since that time, Susan has had regular one-on-one instruction from Nancy to advance her skills in tapestry techniques, fabric quality, cartooning, and design. She has also studied rutevev, krokbragd, boundweave, and Nordic joins techniques, as well as design composition. In 2007, Susan’s tapestry Slaying Your Dragon earned a blue ribbon and People’s Choice award at Vesterheim’s National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition. Susan’s work is currently being sold in Minneapolis at the Nina Bliese Gallery.
Norwegian Food Traditions Classes