Norwegian Craft Traditions with ARNE & CARLOS – Airing Schedule

Welcome to September and our new 10-episode series on YouTube: Norwegian Craft Traditions – A Guide to Setesdal. In this series, we travel to stunning Setesdal, the traditional region in the south of Norway where the iconic “Lusekofte” sweater was born, to learn more about Arne’s grandmother through the craft traditions of this region. While searching for Arne’s roots, we meet a series of Master craftsmen and craftswomen who show us the wonderful and intricate traditions in weaving, embroidery, silverwork, natural plant dyeing, folk costumes, poetry, music and knitting.⁠

Check out our airing schedule and keep scrolling to see episode 1.

Airing Schedule September 2021

Wednesday, September 1^st. Episode 1. Searching for Arne’s Roots in Setesdal

We have driven to Bygland, located 420 km (260 miles) south of our home, to visit the place where Arne’s grandmother’s house once stood. With us, we bring a suitcase full of things related to her life in Setesdal and embark on a journey to find out more about her through the craft traditions of this region

Friday, September 3^rd. Sit and Knit for a Bit with ARNE & CARLOS. Ep. 29, Season 2.

As promised in this week’s episode, here is a link to the English webpage of digital archives: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/en/

Sunday, September 5^th. Episode 2. The Sweater Detective.

We meet up with a distant relative at the Setesdal Museum in Rysstad to talk about her work as the sweater detective. She has spent more than half her life studying the cultural history of Norway through Norwegian knitting patterns and knitwear, and she guides us through the exhibit of her work at the Museum.

Wednesday, September 8^th. Episode 3. Dyeing Yarns at Gomes House.

Welcome to Gomes Hus, grandma’s house, a cosy place where everyone is welcome! Liv Stormo shows us how she dyes yarns with local plants. We tour her lovely farm shop and enjoy some delicious baked goods.

Friday, September 10^th. Sit and Knit for a Bit with ARNE & CARLOS. Ep. 30, Season 2.

Sunday, September 12^th. Episode 4. Folk Costumes – Still Going Strong After 300 years!

In Setesdal, there is an unbroken tradition of wearing folk costumes for the past 300 years. We meet with textile and folk costume expert Randi Myrum at the stunning 16th-century Rygnestad farmhouse to learn more about the folk costumes of Setesdal and the traditions of wearing them in the past and present.

Wednesday, September 15^th. Episode 5. A visit to Valle Husflid Arts & Crafts Store.

In Norway, you can still get bespoke clothing made on-site at the Husfliden stores, which exist all over the country and usually have an atelier directly above the shop. Karin Bøe takes us on a tour of Valle Husfliden and explains the time-honoured process: from measuring customers to creating their unique and bespoke folk costumes.

Friday, September 17^th. Sit and Knit for a Bit with ARNE & CARLOS. Ep. 31, Season 2.

Sunday, September 19^th. Episode 6. The Story of the Iconic “Lusekofte”  (Lice Sweater).

We visit Government Grant Holder and Recipient of the King’s Medal of Merit, Annemor Sundbø in Ose, to learn more about the traditional Lusekofte (Lice Sweater) from Setesdal, the most iconic sweater in Norway – and perhaps the world!

Wednesday, September 22^nd: Episode 7. Learning Traditional Løyesaum Embroidery.

Randi Myrum is back to talk about the traditional Løyesaum embroidery found on the folk costumes and sweaters in Setesdal and to give us some quick lessons on how to make the embroideries ourselves.

Friday, September 24^th. Sit and Knit for a Bit with ARNE & CARLOS. Ep. 32, Season 2.

Sunday, September 26^th. Episode 8. Weaving Traditional Shawls at Valle Vev.

We meet up with Karin Bøe again to find out more about the weaving traditions of Setesdal. Karin has a master’s degree in weaving and shows us the stunning fabrics that she creates and which are used to make the traditional shawls and belts worn together with the folk costumes from Setesdal.

Wednesday, September 29^th. Episode 9. Meet the Family of Silversmiths – 12 generations.

We visit Sylvsmie Rysstad Sylv, which is run by Torfinn and his mother, to learn more about crafting traditional filigree brooches, cufflinks, and other jewellery worn with the traditional folk costumes. And to talk about an extended family that has kept the craftsmen’s and craftswomen’s traditions alive for over 300 years.

Sunday, October 3rd. Episode 10 Knitting, Poetry, Music and Storytelling.

Our journey in Setesdal has come to an end, and we have returned home. Today, we are honoured to receive a visit from our friend, the uber-talented Norwegian Grammy-nominated folk singer Kim Rysstad to talk about knitting, poetry, music and storytelling from Setesdal and to hear Kim sing a few beautiful traditional songs from the region.

Episode 1: Searching for Arne’s Roots in Setesdal.