The Swedish Art of Wood and Textile Handicrafts

Slöjd is Swedish for handicrafts. But it’s so much more than making things with your hands. In Sweden, slöjd is a compulsory subject taught to all schoolchildren. From a young age, they work with textiles and wood not only to develop their creativity, but also to learn fine motor skills and problem solving—often leading to a lifelong love and appreciation for crafts.

Taking inspiration from this school subject, Kerstin Neumüller has compiled 18 different wood and textile projects that include everything from learning how to sew a cap, dye yarn with birch leaves, carve a peg rail, sew a patchwork quilt, and mend your jeans.

The projects rarely require any big purchases or unusual tools, and readers will be guided with clear step-by-step instructions, pictures, and illustrations. With the attitude “if you think it’s good, it’s good,” Neumüller leaves a lot of room for creativity to flourish, and avoids the worst pitfalls.

This book is suitable both for beginners itching to get started and for those who already know that handicrafts are the most enjoyable hobby you can have!

This first book in English covering the Swedish subject of Slöjd contains a diverse range of projects suitable for beginners and more experienced crafters alike.