Scandinavian Weavers Study Group

Category: Swedish weaving

  • “Vibrant Tradition” Extended!

    Photo by Lisa-Anne Bauch

    Great news! The Scandinavian Weavers exhibit “Vibrant Tradition: Scandinavian Weaving in the Midwest” has been extended at Norway House through Saturday, April 19.

    So many visitors have enjoyed our latest exhibit, featuring 49 contemporary and traditional weavings in the Scandinavian tradition, and we are thrilled to be invited to stay a little longer.

    Norway House is located at 913 E Franklin Ave in Minneapolis and features ample parking. While you’re there, stop by the Kaffebar for refreshments and be sure to visit ALSO Ingebretsen’s Gavebutikk, offering Norwegian-themed handcrafts, books, clothing, cookware, children’s items, jewelry, and more.

    The exhibit is free for members of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota and Norway House; all others $5. See the Norway House website for the building hours of operation:

    https://www.norwayhouse.org/

    Photo by Beth Detlie

    Norway House hosts continual programming for all ages, including language and craft classes, family activities, music, performances, and Hygge Happy Hours. On February 22 and March 22, volunteers from the Scandinavian Weavers presented Family Fiber Fun Days. The March event began with a group from a local retirement center, Becketwood. Residents were eager to try their hand at Peg Hansen’s handmade warp-weighted loom.

    Photo by Beth Detlie

    In all, more than 60 visitors sampled a variety of weaving activities. It turns out even tiny fingers can work an inkle loom!

    Photo by Peg Hansen

    The Family Fiber Day demonstrators (Beth Detlie, Nancy Ebner, Melba Granlund, Holly Hildebrandt, and Peg Hansen) gave away at least 10 frame looms with shuttles so visitors could finish weaving at home.

    Photo by Peg Hansen

    The Family Fiber Day demonstrators (Beth Detlie, Nancy Ebner, Melba Granlund, Holly Hildebrandt, and Peg Hansen) gave away at least 10 frame looms with shuttles so visitors could finish weaving at home.

  • Phyllis Waggoner: Self Portrait with Squares and Lucky

    Phyllis Waggoner

    Self Portrait with Squares and Lucky

    NFS

    Bio: Phyllis Waggoner has a BA in Art Education and a Masters degree in Design, from the University of Minnesota. She traveled to the Southwest with faculty and students of the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, studying the culture and weaving of the Hopi and Navajo people. Additional weaving classes include: The Marshfield School of Weaving in Vermont, taught by master weaver, Norman Kennedy, The Gotland Hemslöjd, in Visby, Sweden and The Weavers School, with weaver and author Madelyn van der Hoogt. Phyllis was awarded the American Swedish Institute Lily Lorenzen scholarship for study in Sweden and in March, 1999, she attended the weaving course offered at the Comvux school for adult education in Upplands Väsby, where she focused on draw loom weaving with weaver, teacher and author Kerstin Lovallius. Phyllis has taught classes in Color and Design and Weaving for the Extension Division of the University of Minnesota; The Art Center of Minnesota; The Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa; The American Swedish Institute (ASI); and The Weavers Guild of Minnesota. She has volunteered for over 30 years at the American Swedish Institute, working with their textile collection. She was a guest curator for three exhibitions: Dreams of Home, Swedish Woven Coverlets; Hilma Berglund, Swedish Immigrants’ Daughter; and The Fabric of Life, Textiles from the ASI Collection. Articles featuring her work have appeared in The Weavers Journal, Handwoven and New Sweden Minnesota. She is a longtime member of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota.

    Description: Many years ago, Clotilde Barrett, author of Boundweave and original publisher of The Weavers Journal, taught a boundweave workshop for our Weavers Guild. Among the many things she covered were weave structure, drafting, and practical weaving techniques; we learned to design and weave squares, figures, and tricky patterns. Later, I set up my loom with a four shaft overshot threading and 2/2 twill tie-up and began weaving ‘figures’ – Santa Claus, angels, my husband, me, and… my cat, Lucky. Eventually Clotilde sold The Weavers Journal to Karen Searle and Sue Baizerman of St. Paul, and it was my good fortune to be a part of that staff. (Sure miss staff meetings which were fueled by milk and Oreos from Herbst grocery store downstairs.) I wrote an article about my boundweave pillows which was published in the magazine’s issue # 38.

    Phyllis with Lucky, obviously at Christmastime.
    More recently, Phyllis displayed the boundweave pillow at a meeting of our Scandinavian Weavers Study Group. (Nancy Ebner is to her left.)

    rpwaggoner2@gmail.com

  • Patty Kuebker Johnson: Shades of Red

    Patty Kuebker Johnson

    Shades of Red

    21″ x 12″

    Cotton warp and weft

    NFS

    colorcrossing.com

    Bio: Patty began her weaving journey in 1990 when she purchased a used Glimåkra loom and set up her own weaving studio. Her early projects were inspired by Mary Black’s book The Key to Weaving, and she later expanded her knowledge by attending various classes and conventions, such as those at The Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota, Vävstuga, Midwest Weavers , and Convergence®. Patty credits her progress and joy in weaving to the support and friendships of fellow weavers. Over the years, Patty has explored both simple and complex weaving structures, creating practical and decorative pieces for the home and personal attire. She finds constant inspiration in learning new techniques. Patty was a key figure in the creation of the Textile Center of Minnesota and continues to support the local fiber arts community through her involvement with the Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota, Phipps Center for the Arts, and as the owner of Color Crossing Artist Studios in Roberts, Wisconsin.

    Description: My first draw loom class was with Joanne Hall at Color Crossing, followed by a class at Vävstuga. “Shades of Red” is a study on color and changing the designs along the way. My goal was to expand my ability to design on the draw loom.

    Regarding the Scandinavian Weavers Study Group: The Scandinavian Weavers have enriched my weaving and personal life. Everyone is supportive in all ways. The members of the group help me explore various techniques I might otherwise not think about. I’m so blessed to be part of this fantastic group of weavers!

    pakj52@gmail.com

    Patty Johnson’s draw loom in her studio at Color Crossing in Roberts, Wisconsin

  • Lisa-Anne Bauch: Aegean Norwegian

    Lisa-Anne Bauch

    Aegean Norwegian

    24″ x 36″

    Linen warp, wool weft

    NFS

    Bio: Lisa-Anne Bauch is a Minnesota-based weaver whose work explores traditional Scandinavian techniques in contemporary color palettes. Her work has been exhibited throughout the Midwest and in Finland. She is an active member of the Scandinavian Weavers Group of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota and maintains the group’s blog at scandinavianweaversmn.com. As a freelance writer, Lisa has written for the Norwegian Textile Letter, PieceWork magazine, and Väv magazine (coming in 2025).

    Description: I wove this rug in Wynne Mattila’s class in krokbragd technique at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota. The colors remind me of ancient pottery.

    Regarding the Scandinavian Weavers Group: It has been wonderful to find a group of weavers who share my passion for Scandinavian weaving traditions. Along with my excellent instructors at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota, the Scandinavian Weavers have expanded my knowledge, improved my technical skills, and cheered me on me when I got discouraged. Best of all, it’s fun!

    labauch@outlook.com

  • Patty Kuebker Johnson: Traditional Flowers

    Patty Kuebker Johnson

    Traditional Flowers

    29″ x 12″

    Cotton warp and weft

    NFS

    colorcrossing.com

    Bio: Patty began her weaving journey in 1990 when she purchased a used Glimåkra loom and set up her own weaving studio. Her early projects were inspired by Mary Black’s book The Key to Weaving, and she later expanded her knowledge by attending various classes and conventions, such as those at The Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota, Vävstuga, Midwest Weavers , and Convergence®. Patty credits her progress and joy in weaving to the support and friendships of fellow weavers. Over the years, Patty has explored both simple and complex weaving structures, creating practical and decorative pieces for the home and personal attire. She finds constant inspiration in learning new techniques. Patty was a key figure in the creation of the Textile Center of Minnesota and continues to support the local fiber arts community through her involvement with the Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota, Phipps Center for the Arts, and as the owner of Color Crossing Artist Studios in Roberts, Wisconsin.

    Description: “Traditional Flowers” is a beginning draw loom project.

    Regarding the Scandinavian Weavers Study Group: The Scandinavian Weavers have enriched my weaving and personal life. Everyone is supportive in all ways. The members of the group help me explore various techniques I might otherwise not think about. I’m so blessed to be part of this fantastic group of weavers!

    colorcrossing@sbcglobal.net

    Patty’s draw loom in her studio at Color Crossing in Roberts, Wisconsin

  • Lisa-Anne Bauch: Northern Lights

    Lisa-Anne Bauch

    Northern Lights

    19″ x 19″

    Linen warp, wool weft

    NFS

    Bio: Lisa-Anne Bauch is a Minnesota-based weaver whose work explores traditional Scandinavian techniques in contemporary color palettes. Her work has been exhibited throughout the Midwest and in Finland. She is an active member of the Scandinavian Weavers Group of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota and maintains the group’s blog at scandinavianweaversmn.com. As a freelance writer, Lisa has written for the Norwegian Textile Letter, PieceWork magazine, and Väv magazine (coming in 2025).

    Description: I wove this piece in Rosepath technique during a Scandinavian Weavers group project. The abstract design is meant to suggest a snowy pine forest and a night sky with the Northern Lights overhead.

    About the Scandinavian Weavers Study Group: It has been wonderful to find a group of weavers who share my passion for Scandinavian weaving traditions. Along with my excellent instructors at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota, they have expanded my knowledge, improved my technical skills, and cheered me on me when I get discouraged. Best of all, it’s fun!

    labauch@outlook.com

  • Brenda Gauvin-Chadwick: Joy Exploding

    Brenda Gauvin-Chadwick

    Joy Exploding

    23″ x 23″

    Linen warp, Swedish Fåro wool weft

    NFS

    Bio: Brenda Gauvin-Chadwick has loved textiles since she was a young child, sewing her own clothes, knitting, embroidering, and of course making pot holders on a pot holder loom. She learned to weave in her late 20s from a very talented Swedish weaver in upstate New York, and with the exception of taking a hiatus when her children were young has continued to weave. She belongs to the Minnesota Weavers Guild and studies Scandinavian techniques with Scandinavian Weavers Group.

    Description: This piece in bound rosepath technique was woven as part of a group project by the Scandinavian Weavers. I was inspired by the beauty of Scandinavia in the winter. The pillow was woven with Fåro yarn that I purchased in Sweden many years ago. I carried it all over Scandinavia for weeks in my suitcase. I bought it after skiing the Swedish Vasaloppet. Two weeks later in Norway I skied the Birkebeiner race. The colors represent the forests, the beautiful sunshine and my heart exploding with joy as I skied along! The colors represent the forests, the beautiful sunshine and my heart exploding with joy as I skied along the breathtaking terrain.

    brenchadwick@gmail.com

  • Marilyn Moore: Maiden, Mother and Crone

    Marilyn Moore

    Maiden, Mother and Crone

    43″ x 25″

    Cotton seine twine warp; Borgs wool weft

    NFS

    Bio: Marilyn met a girl years ago who was a weaver , and thought that would be something she would like to do. She retired and met a weaver in a knitting shop who had a loom for sale—a four-harness Kessenich—so she bought it. Two books came with the loom: The Rag Rug Handbook, written by Janet Meany and Paula Pfaff, and A Handweaver’s Pattern Book, by Marguerite P. Davidson, printed in 1947. So she began! She also met Winnie Johnson, a weaver who helped her set up the loom and get started. By winter that year she joined the Weavers Guild of Minnesota and took a class. Marilyn is a self-taught weaver in many ways and always trying something new.

    Description: I learned this technique in a class at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota. It is called rya.

    About the Scandinavian Weavers Group: I love to see all the work that is shared each month and learn so much from that!

    Marilyn_moore@comcast.net

  • Jan Mostrom: Summer

    Jan Mostrom

    Summer

    26″ x 48″
    Linen warp, natural dyed wool weft
    NFS


    https://www.janmostrom.com/

    Bio: Jan Mostrom grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Before Jan started school, her grandmother taught her how to embroider. While she may have harassed her grandmother to teach her and her preschool stitches are unique, this was the beginning of a lifelong love of textiles. While attending Luther College in Decorah Iowa, Jan took a January term class in weaving from Lila Nelson. After graduation, Jan used her savings to buy a used car and a loom. She has been weaving on that loom ever since. The car is long gone. Graduation was also followed by a wedding to her high school and college sweetheart Mike, and their two children and two grandchildren remain the center of her life and heart. Jan has taught Scandinavian weaving classes at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum for over 20 years and also has taught at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota, Minnetonka Center for the Arts and others including the first Norwegian Textile Conference. She has contributed articles to the Norwegian Textile Letter and organized an international weaving study group. She received her gold medal in weaving from Vesterheim Folk Art School in 1999. She has traveled to Scandinavia many times with Vesterheim textile tours and independently and has studied with Scandinavian weaving instructors in the United States, Norway and Sweden. Jan, along with weaving friend Janis Aune, has taught a small group of impoverished women in Tanzania how to weave rag rugs allowing them to support themselves and their children to attend school.

    Description: Summer is inspired by the bright dance of light in summer gardens and by the basket of natural dyed yarns I had amassed over the years. I love the science and seeming magic of natural dyes. The red background was dyed with madder root and the rest of the yarns came from the basket of previous dyed yarns from flowers, leaves, cochineal, goldenrod and indigo. I wove the flowers in dukagång technique which creates columns and the rest of the patterns are woven in inlay technique similar to Vestfoldsmett creating a checked effect.

    Regarding the Scandinavian Weavers Group: I have been a part of Scan Weavers for about 25 years. It has provided a wealth of inspiration, support and friendship. It is a safe place to ask questions and share. The depth of interest, research, knowledge is amazing as is the support and generousness of its members.

    janmostrom@yahoo.com

  • Kevin L. Olsen: The Wedding Anniversary

    Kevin L. Olsen

    The Wedding Anniversary

    14″ x 13″
    Cotton warp, wool weft
    NFS

    Bio: Kevin Olsen dabbled in weaving for many years but started in earnest about 15 years ago. He has taken a wide variety of classes from Peruvian scaffold weaving to Finnish raanu rugs, but his main interest is tapestry, especially the Scandinavian tradition. Kevin took his first billedvev class half-way through weaving The Wedding Anniversary. He is drawn to the graphic nature billedvev with its blocs of color often outlined in intricate joins. Tapestry appeals to him because one must think about each yarn as it is laid in and the excitement of seeing the picture appear as the weaving goes on.

    Description: This piece is based on a traditional Scandinavian tapestry motif called The Betrothal. Since my husband and I were already married, I adapted the motif to celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary. It is woven in the traditional Norwegian billedvev technique. The wreath, hearts and tulips are traditional elements while the irises and peonies in the corners were flowers from our wedding. The six roses represent the six years we had been married. The symbol below the date is a Scandinavian rune which my husband gave me at our engagement. It symbolizes man, and according to some sources, means male friendship. The rectangle between us represents our wedding certificate. We were legally married in Iowa (Minnesota did not recognize same sex marriage at that time) a month before our church wedding on June 4, 2011 at Christ Church Lutheran in Minneapolis, MN.

    klolsen2@gmail.com