The Art of Weaving: from Norwegian Folk Traditions to Handmade Upcycling

Both books speak with great love and respect about weaving and the women who spent countless hours behind a loom. Some wove because it was their profession. Others did it for their family or simply because they loved the craft.

Reading these books reminded me that weaving is much more than making fabric. It is a way of telling stories, preserving memories, and creating beauty from simple materials.

In Norway, weaving has a very long history. For centuries, almost every farm had a loom. During the long winters, women would weave warm blankets, clothing, table runners and beautiful rugs for their homes. Nothing was wasted. Old clothes that were no longer wearable were carefully torn into long strips of fabric. These strips were woven into strong and colourful rag rugs that could last for many years.

Many of these woven textiles became true examples of Norwegian folk art. Families passed their weaving patterns from one generation to the next. Colours and designs often belonged to a certain region or village. Every rug carried the hands and the story of the woman who made it.

One part of The Sister Bell Quilt touched me deeply. In my review I wrote:

"Before the main story begins, the novel opens with the beautiful tale of Siamese twin sisters who weave a remarkable tapestry together. Many years later, this tapestry becomes of great importance to the village. Hidden inside the woven patterns is a prophecy, and only Pastor Schweigaard discovers its meaning."

What a wonderful idea—that threads can carry stories through time.

Then something funny happened!

Completely by coincidence, I was cutting up a pile of old jeans. Normally, I cut old denim into small squares for patchwork projects. That was my original plan this time as well.

But while I was reading My Time in the Woods, I suddenly looked at those jeans differently.

Instead of cutting them into squares, I started cutting long strips of fabric.

Without really planning it, I found myself following the same idea that people used hundreds of years ago when they made rag rugs from worn-out clothing.

I sewed all the strips together into one long piece and used them to make a quilted patchwork dog bed for the BERNINA Blog. The cushion is filled with tiny pieces of old clothing that would otherwise have been thrown away.

And by the way: this was completely free to make: the fabric was gifted to me by friends. 

If you already have a stack of old jeans and some worn-out clothes for filling, you already have everything you need. No expensive fabric, no special materials—just patience, creativity and a sewing machine.

And, most importantly, our dog absolutely loves it. Seeing my handmade cushion being used every day makes me very proud.

Working on this project made me appreciate traditional textile crafts even more. Our grandmothers understood something that we sometimes forget today: old textiles still have value. They can become something useful, beautiful and full of character.

Perhaps that is exactly why I enjoy writing for HandmadeLuxuryHome. Handmade objects are never just objects. They carry stories. They show the time, care and love that someone invested in making them.

I do not own an old weaving loom—at least not yet. But these two Norwegian novels have certainly made me curious. Maybe one day I will not only sew strips of old denim together, but weave them into something completely new.

Sometimes a good book does much more than tell a story.

Sometimes it inspires us to create new textile crafts.

— Marga van der Vet