New: Strikking i billedkunsten – Knitting in Art

Translated by Carol Huebscher Rhoades. USA
Cover design: Bjørn Høydal, Norway
Artist: Jeannie Ozon Høydal, Nova Scotia /Norway

20 KNITTING PROJECTS !

This book
brings lead threads
and knitted garments from artworks.

The models are knitted in yarn spun by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Norway E-mail: hillesvaag@ull.no www.ull.no

Annemor Sundbø

Annemor Sundbø (born 1949) is a textile designer and teacher of weaving. She owns and operates a knitting workshop ”Ose Ullvare” in Setesdal, about 110 km from Kristiansand, Norway.

She ran the last remaining shoddy factory in Norway, Torridal Tweed og Ulldynefabrikk, from 1993 to 2006. The products were made of recycled wool. It all started in 1983 when Annemor wanted some experience in a small scale woollen mill. The owner agreed to train her on one condition … Annemor had to buy the factory first!

The storage bins were a treasure trove of knitting patterns and cultural history. Annemor unravelled the fascinating history of traditional knitting by investigating a pile of knitted rags. This rag pile reveals the close historical ties between everyday knitting in Norway and traditional knitting in Europe as described in her books:

• Everyday Knitting: Treasures from a Rag Pile.
  ISBN 82-994657-1-0 (Translated by Amy Lightfoot.)
• Setesdal Sweaters: The History of the Norwegian Lice Pattern.
  ISBN 82-994657-2-9 and (translated by Amy Lightfoot)
• Invisible Threads in Knitting.
  (Translated by Carol Huebscher Rhoades) ISBN 82-994657-3-7
• Strikking i billedkunsten – Knitting in Art (Torridal Tweed 2010) Norwegian / English

Annemor has collected old photographs, historic newspaper articles, and descriptions from many people. She has discovered exciting cultural history incorporating faith, superstition, politics, and technical inventions.

She was a mentor at Interweave’s Spin Off Autumn Retreat (SOAR) in the USA in 2000, 2001,and 2005.

She lectures internationally and teaches spinning, folk art embroidery, and knitting design and she publishes on topics related to Norwegian knitting.

Sundbø was the keynote speaker in a new Vesterheim program established in memory of Grace Rikansrud at the Norwegian /American Museum in Decorah, Iowa. The lecture was held in connection with the Conference on Norwegian Woven Textiles hosted by the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum and Luther College in 2005.

She has been honored for her contributions to culture: the Aust-Agder Culture Prize in 1999; Byland Province’s Culture Prize in 2004, and the Norwegian Home Art and Craft Association’s Medal of Merit in 2004 for preserving and spreading cultural values nationally and internationally. Her latest book Invisible Threads in Knitting was awarded Sørlandet’s (Southern Norway’s) Literature Prize in 2006.

Articles about Annemor’s activities:
Interweave “Knit” Winter 1998, Colorado USA
Interweave “PieceWork”, Sept/Oct 2002, Colorado USA
Keitodama “Nihon Vogue”, no 112, 2001, Japan

Read articles on craftsmanship.net:
https://craftsmanship.net/masters/annemor-sundbo-norwegian-sweater-detective