Lecture by Annemor Sundbø
Dalen, Norway Sep 2027
Join us for a rare opportunity to learn from Annemor Sundbø, internationally renowned as the “Norwegian Sweater Detective”. Annemor is bringing a selection of her historic Norwegian knitwear along for a day of exciting lectures on Norwegian knitting traditions!
Unearthing the History of Norwegian Textiles
Annemor Sundbø has dedicated her life to unearthing the hidden stories, myths, and meanings woven into centuries of Norwegian textiles. Her extraordinary contributions to cultural history have earned her high honors, including the King’s Medal of Merit and the status of a government grant holder in Norway.
Annemor’s life work was catalyzed by a “stroke of fate” in 1983 when she became the owner of Torridal Tweed, Norway’s last “shoddy mill”. Along with the machines, she acquired 16 tons of knitted rags destined for the shredder. But Annemor quickly realized these knitted garments were precious, representing the history of knitting in Norway.
She painstakingly salvaged over 1,500 kilograms of these “treasures from a ragpile,” including 700 sweaters and over 1,200 mittens and stockings. She calls this salvaged collection the “spirit in the ragpile,” believing these garments carry the feelings, skills, and even the spiritual destiny of their makers.
During our lectures, Annemor Sundbø will dive into the symbolism of Norway’s most iconic designs. She is the foremost expert on the Setesdal “lice-pattern” sweater (lusekofte), characterized by its distinctive white dots on a black background and colorful embroidery. She also explores the ancient history of the Selbu rose, the iconic eight-pointed star found on traditional Selbu mittens that historically served as a “leading star” for protection and blessing.
Beyond history, Sundbø is a passionate advocate for heritage craft. She will share her work re-engineering lost patterns from 19th-century paintings and her mission to preserve the Old Norwegian spelsau sheep, whose durable, two-layered wool has sustained Norwegian life since the Viking age.
Whether she is discussing the pagan roots of textile symbols or the technical brilliance of ordinary knitters, Annemor offers a fascinating window into the history of Norwegian knitting.
To see more of Annemor Sundbø’s work, visit: annemor.com/english/books