SKIRA SPETSAR En undersökning av spetsar från Föreningen Bohusläns Virkning

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the Bohusläns crochet associations aesthetics preferences. The subjects of this study were three binders with samples of crochet lace; four texts that can be related to the founder of the association and five newspaper articles about Bohusläns crochet association. The texts, the news articles and a number of samples, samples that were randomly selected, were examined in terms of colour, material, technique and subject. The lace patterns were also compered with laces in books about historic crocheting. The examination of the laces shows that the colours of the laces are mainly white and the techniques varies in difficulty. In the earlier binders were both objects that were crochet back and forth and in the round. In the newest binder all of the objects were crochet in the round. The debate about the aesthetics was mainly focused on the right material, craftsmen’s skills and patterns. Swedish flax was to be preferred and the leaders of the association reviewed the craftsmen’s work to improve it. Inspiration to new patterns was looked for in old samples at museums and in private collections. In those cases where colour were mentioned they talked about shiny white. On the basis of the result of this research, it can be concluded that laces from Bohusläns Crochet association were a part of the crochet tradition. The patterns of the laces were created in techniques that were popular at the time but also could be related to historic crocheting. The tradition of Bohusläns crochet lived on in the regional sloyd shop Bohusslöjd-konstfliten but in a more homogenized form with a few popular patterns. The debate about the aesthetics concentrated at how the associations had worked to improve the crochet tradition in Bohuslän. The debate was also about how they developed products that should attract the customers and be possible to sell. The craftsmen played a very important part in the success of Bohusläns crocheting association.