An exhibition of folk art textiles

I’ve long been fascinated by Swedish folk art textiles and when I heard that Ystad museum had a temporary exhibition on woven cushions and wall hangings from the local area I just had to go there. The textiles dated from the 18th to the early 20th century, but they also had a few pieces showing the long tradition of these weaving types from very early on (Coptic, Viking Age, High Medieval etc). The exhibition really made me want to learn weaving! Not that I have time, nor space for a loom, but I guess you have to save some things for when you retire :-) . There is no catalogue for the exhibition – most of the items are privately owned – but the museum’s yearly publication Ystadiana deals exclusively with the exhibition. Lots of pictures, many close-ups, articles on pattern types, the weavers, how the items were used, and also a brief guide on how to weave the different types of weave that the cushions and wall hangings were made in: dukagång, halvkrabba, opphämta, krabbasnår and rölakan (“Himmelskt vackert. Vävnader från Österlen.” Ystadiana 2014).

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The exhibition consisted of five large cases, packed solid with textiles.



Since I couldn't use the flash, you have to imagine everything just that little bit more colourful. The textiles were normally kept in chests, so they haven't been exposed to much sunlight.


The patterns are geometric, but also include animals and people.


Pretty star pattern.


Deer, cockerels and people. And some geese in the background.


All is not colour. Some of the wall hangings are white linen with parts of the weft in blue, red and grey wool.