The design shown comes from a doily that has been in my family many years. My Grandmother stitched the original (in the foreground), with a density of stitching that is typical of the coverage seen on historical items. In the background is a contemporary reproduction. Despite using very similar materials, the reproduction is slightly larger than the original.

Hardanger is a technique that originated in the Hardanger area of Norway over 400 years ago. It was originally known as Norwegian Drawn Work, and is characterized by a traditional tone on tone appearance. Linen was the fabric of choice, but because linen was very costly, this form of "fancy work" was very rare. The nature of the design was also influenced by the cost of the linen. To work a design, certain fibers would be drawn out of the working cloth, and then used to stitch patterns in other areas. The process of completely covering a large article (such as a table cover) would take many years, with the cloth being used for special occasions in whatever condition it happened to be in at the time of the event.

In the 1890's, a cotton evenweave fabric was developed that now carries the name Hardanger. This was also about the time that European thread manufacturers first saw the designs, and as a way of increasing their markets, began to mass produce copies of patterns that had been handed down from generation to generation.

The popularity of Hardanger gradually spread to other parts of Europe and then to the United States with the immigration of the Scandinavian groups. It shares many similarities with the needlework of other ethnic groups, with the same stitch often being called by dissimilar names in many different cultures. For example, the classic eight-pointed star is often seen in Hardanger as well as the needlework of many other ethnic groups.

Hardanger is one of the few ethnic techniques widely known today, largely as a result of manufacturers providing an ever-increasing number of threads and fabrics that can be used to stitch these traditional designs. Contemporary Hardanger designs are divided into two major categories: European Hardanger, with white-on-white or ecru-on-ecru designs; and American Hardanger, which features colored cloth. Other characteristics seen in American Hardanger is for a variety of different threads to be used in the design, as well as the use of large unstitched areas that are further embellished with cross-stitch or other decorative designs.

Purchase design instructions for projects using this technique:
Grandmas Doily,Inspired by Norwegian Hardanger