Entrelac

Entrelac

Entrelac is a knitting technique that is strongly reminicent of woven/braided birch back, which is traditionally made and used in the area. See RV_CP_01(01)

695

iain

Swedish

Intangible

412

Näverstickning / Kontsrikk on the Norweigian side of the Finn forest

19/06/2025

Marias vantar. En bok om näverstickning - vantar, mössor, småslöjd. Inez Assk ISBN9789186699659 Kontstrikk. Ruth Gullbekk Bolstad. ISBN9788291195353

x x

current,59.8376399,13.1230106;

TEXT

https://culturality.museum/wiki/index.php/Entrelac

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There’s the tradition from the same cultural area, apart from other places in Sweden associated with the forested regions, of braiding in birch bark. The braiding of birch also gives the pattern of woven squares which give shape and form to e.g. bowls, baskets, boxes. This expression of form is like that of the clothing with entrelac/näverstickning.

Ulrika Jäger, Sara Olsson

The practice requre knowledge how to knit, handle yarn and to read and understand pattern. It's a difficult technique to master and is not easily learnt online (forexample Youtube) or other easily accessable places. Inez has written a book with patterns, but it's easiest learnt with a mentor.

Inez have had a couple of workshops in Värmland and currently is mentoring crafter and knitter Ulrika Jäger. She's most recently held a workhop in Finnskogen, Lekvattnet, in July of 2024. Inez has been a textile crafts teacher and taught her pupils to knit. Entrelac has been her focus when teaching since she retired.

Inez have inhereted the knowledge from her grand, grandmother. The tradition seems reserved for the female sphere.

There are people that wants to learn the practise but there are few bearers of culture and practiotioners. Entrelac is a cultural heritage that communicates it's roots with the culture of forest finns which immigrated to the area during the 17th century.

The practice seems so have come to Värmland with the forest finns from Finland during the 17th century. Many used for decorating everyday used objects, such as clothes).

Nordiska museet in Stockholm has one artefact with entrelac in their possession.

The finn forest of Sweden and Norway

Water pollution,Loss of biodiversity,Invasive species,Deforestation,Deterioration of material

Use of modern materials

Aged practitioners,Diminishing participation,Diminishing youth interest,Halted transmission between generations,Reduced practice

Insufficient renumeration,Arduous training

Lack of conservation policy,Threatening regional planning policies,Educational standardisation

New pastimes,Rapid sociocultural change

Loss of cultural spaces,Loss of knowledge,Loss of cultural significance

Entrelac/näverstickning has associations to the Finn Forest where Inez grew up. This technique was brought over with the forest finns who emigrated to Sweden and current day Norway in the 17th century. The expression of the braided birch bark which shows the culture, also shown in the knitted garments.

Mostly garments such as knitted mittens and socks

Knitting is a popular activity to meet and partake in socially, for example to meet in knitting cafés, which is inspiering and is a way reduce isolation and lonliness for all ages.

Inez only uses wool, and uses wool which is produced in Norway. She buys her yarn locally in Sunne. She produced no waste. .

Responsible Consumption and Production

Sunne, Värmland, Sweden

declining

RV_CP_01