The Swedish Art of Wood and Textile Handicrafts

Slöjd is the Swedish word for handicrafts, and in Sweden it is a compulsory school subject — taught to all children as a way to develop creativity, fine motor skills, and practical problem-solving through working with wood and textiles. This is the first English-language book to cover the subject directly.

Kerstin Neumüller, a crafter, tailor, woodworker, and author based in Sörland, Sweden, has compiled 18 projects drawn from the slöjd tradition. They span both disciplines: sewing a cap, dyeing yarn with birch leaves, carving a peg rail, sewing a patchwork quilt, mending jeans, and more. Projects are designed to work with materials and tools most people already have, and the instructions are supported by step-by-step photography and illustrations throughout.

The approach is deliberately open — Neumüller’s guiding principle is “if you think it’s good, it’s good,” leaving room for individual interpretation rather than prescribing a single correct outcome. Suitable for beginners and experienced crafters.

Also by Kerstin Neumüller: Mending with Sashiko.