Norwegian embroidery

Background

Much surviving medieval embroidery from Norway were in fact imported into the country from other parts of Europe and Asia Minor. This was not an unusal occurance as many countries had international reputations for certain types of work.

Materials

• linen ground fabric (most common)
• wool ground

Threads were usually homepsun woollen yarn (natural or dyed) with only occasionaly use of silks, linen or metal threads.

Stitches

The stitches used in surviving pieces include:

• stem stitch
• pattern darning
• Laid and Couched Work

Techniques

Some pieces used a mixture of stitches and materials, others used only a limited number of techniques. Below are some of the cominations in surviving pieces:

• wool ground fabric, white linen thread outlines using stem stitch filled with pattern darning
• linen ground fabric with pattern darning using wool yarn.
• Laid and Couched Work in polychrome wool on linen or wool tabby ground

Design

While there are not enough surviving works to talk about specific design influences, the surviving works tend to be done using a common palette of blue, yellow, green and red wool yarn and white linen thread to make the pattern darned designs.

Links

• The Oseburg Ship Textiles - http://www.medsca.org/oseberg/frameset.html

Sources for Further Information

• Bridgeman, H and Drury, E. "Needlework: An Illustrated History", (London: Paddington Press, 1977)