The story behind the # Dalecarlia pattern |
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The oldest mention of Dalecarlia is from Sverris saga of the late 1100s, in which the landscape was called “iron carrier country” and was described as being a pagan country. The landscape very quickly became industrialised in the southern parts and the associated Bergslagen. The landscape, otherwise, remained a new construction area, especially in the areas outside Siljan and Dalälven. Falun Mine in Falun is one of Sweden's oldest mines. The work at the mine was dangerous and tiresome, but miners already received a reasonable pay and regulated working hours in the 1600s. Knowledge of technical matters was in abundance and the best engineers in Europe worked to streamline production. During the 1600s Falun Mine was Sweden's largest and most modern workplace and accounted for more than 70 percent of Europe's copper production. Falun Mine was called Sweden's Treasure Trove and its development affected the economic, social and political situation in Sweden and Europe. Designer Åse Öjbro, founder of Öjbro Mitten Factory, has created portable art, with mittens as a starting point. (Åse also worked as an artist and painted paintings for many years before she decided to express herself with wool.) Åse has created a Dalecarlian pattern on the top of the mitten, which illustrates the Dalecarlian horse in its form, surrounded by kurbits-inspired decorations. Åse has placed Dalesmen and Daleswomen, as the inhabitants of Dalecarlia are called, at the top. The mitten has a bi-coloured collar. I visited Dalecarlia many times as a child. I’ll never forget the impressive Falun mine. It was great to hear the stories about Falun's important significance for Sweden's prosperity. Nowadays, the mine has been shut down and is a world heritage site. Dalecarlia is of great importance through its rich Swedish cultural heritage. To me, the Swedish soul lies in the red cabins, all the folklore games and the Swedish crispbread. In addition, Dalecarlia has a fantastic scenery around Siljan. Dalecarlia is quite simply a relief for the soul. “Through my interpretation of our Dalecarlian horse, I wanted to honour the most Swedish symbol we have and in my interpretation I placed our beloved Dalecarlian horse in the middle of the mitten.” |
 For how long mittens have been knit in the Nordic region is unknown, but fragments of mittens which have been conserved since the 1200s are to be found. * This mitten is inspired by our beautiful Dalecarlian horse, a symbol of Sweden, which we have patterned and dyed in the colours of nature. It is Öjbro Mitten Factory's deepest desire to preserve our various knitting traditions. |