Pattern # Ekshärad |
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| Ekshärad is a small village in Sweden, especially famous for its wooden church since the 1700th century and the graveyard with 500 iron-crosses, the iron-crosses are shaped like ”Trees of life” and have loose hanging “playful leaves” aswell as upwards facing spikes where painted wooden-eggs would be placed at certain special occasions. The crosses have a long tradition that stretches to our days. Originally, they where made by local blacksmiths, now they are mainly manufactured in the Stjärnfossmedjan. A big part of Ekshärads identity is still in these iron-crosses. The oldest cross is dated as early as the 1700th from Nössemark   |
 Exactly how long mittens have been knitted in Scandinavia is unclear, but there are preserved mitten fragments dating back to as early as the 13th century. * This pattern is inspired by the trees of life and we have coloured it in traditional colours Öjbro Vantfabrik is passionate about passing on our different knitting traditions to other people. |
Ekshärad’s church was mentioned in an old “Västgötalagen” law script as early as the year 1300th century. The original church was unfortunately flooded by the nearby “Klarälven”. A new church was built in the 1500th century, but history has a tendency of repeated itself and it flooded once again. 1686 the church council then decided to build the new church at a safe distance away from Dalälven. Designer Åse Öjbro, founder of Öjbro Vantfabrik, have created wearable art with mitten as her starting point. Åse worked as a painter in many years before she decided to express herself in wool instead. She has created these decorated patterns on the mittens with their #Trees of Life” and “playful leafs” A pattern with clear symbols on the front of the mitten that is being framed with small cabins beneath the wrist. The cuff was given a two-colored rib to connect with the spikes found on the crosses. “I wanted to capture the spirit that exists in Ekshärad, the spirit that emits from these iron-crosses that tells a story of so much Swedish cultural history and destiny’s, everything kept in this small village. |
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