Hardanger Embroidery

The Hardanger embroidery method combining whitework with the pulled thread technique takes its name from a fjord on the west coast of Norway. In Norwegian, it's called Hardangersom and appears in traditional bunad costumes.

However, it did not originate in Scandinavia. It was imported from Italy, where it was also very popular in Italy during the late Renaissance and into the 17th and early 18th centuries. It became popular in the US at the end of the 19th century.

This heart ornament was the first piece I ever made using this technique. Isn't it pretty? Two of the dove's eyes are with wrapped bars and one dove's eye is with woven bars. I like the little eyelets, too. It looks like lace!

This embroidery method is effective in monochromatic shades, as it was originally worked, or you can take it as an opportunity to play with colors of fabric and thread!