Norwegian Handknits

By Sue Flanders and Janine Kosel.

Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum.

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 worlds 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 practicla 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.