URBAN scandinavian SEWING 18 Seasonal Projects for Modern Living Kirstyn Cogan Includes Nordic Recipes & Traditions URBAN scandinavian SEWING 18 Seasonal Projects for Modern Living Includes Nordic Recipes & Traditions Kirstyn Cogan Text copyright © 2015 by Kirstyn Cogan Photography and artwork copyright © 2015 by C&T Publishing, Inc. PUBLISHER: Amy Marson CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Gailen Runge ART DIRECTOR / BOOK DESIGNER: Kristy Zacharias EDITORS: S. Michele Fry and Joanna Burgarino TECHNICAL EDITORS: Susan Hendrickson and Debbie Rodgers PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Jenny Davis PRODUCTION EDITOR: Katie Van Amburg ILLUSTRATOR: Jessica Jenkins PHOTO ASSISTANT: Mary Peyton Peppo STYLE PHOTOGRAPHY by Nissa Brehmer; INSTRUCTIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY by Diane Pedersen, unless otherwise noted ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY by Shutterstock (snowy lane, page 9; hand heart, page 9; daffodil bike basket, page 55), iStock (Swedish Midsummer celebration, page 55; potato bowl, page 55), and Can Stock (snowy bikes, page 9). Published by Stash Books, an imprint of C&T Publishing, any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549 or damage caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book. For your convenience, we post an All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copy- up-to-date listing of corrections on our website (ctpub.com). right hereon may be used in any form or reproduced by any If a correction is not already noted, please contact our customer means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photo- service department at [email protected] or at P.O. Box 1456, copying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval Lafayette, CA 94549. systems—without written permission from the publisher. The copyrights on individual artworks are retained by the artists Trademark (™) and registered trademark (®) names are used as noted in Urban Scandinavian Sewing. These designs may throughout this book. Rather than use the symbols with every be used to make items only for personal use. Donations to occurrence of a trademark or registered trademark name, we nonprofit groups, items for sale, or items for display only at are using the names only in the editorial fashion and to the events require the following credit on a conspicuous label: benefit of the owner, with no intention of infringement. Designs copyright © 2015 by Kirstyn Cogan from the book Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Urban Scandinavian Sewing from C&T Publishing, Inc. Permission for all other purposes must be requested in writing Cogan, Kirstyn, 1963- from C&T Publishing, Inc. Urban Scandinavian sewing : 18 seasonal projects for modern Attention Copy Shops: Please note the following exception— living / Kirstyn Cogan. publisher and author give permission to photocopy pages 79, 80, 86, 92, 93, and 98, and pattern pullout pages P1 and P2 pages cm for personal use only. ISBN 978-1-61745-015-0 (soft cover) Attention Teachers: C&T Publishing, Inc., encourages 1. House furnishings--Scandinavia. 2. Sewing. I. Title. you to use this book as a text for teaching. Contact us at 800-284-1114 or ctpub.com for lesson plans and information TT387.C64 2015 about the C&T Creative Troupe. 646’.11--dc23 We take great care to ensure that the information included in our products is accurate and presented in good faith, but 2014029603 no warranty is provided nor are results guaranteed. Having 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 no control over the choices of materials or procedures used, neither the author nor C&T Publishing, Inc., shall have Dedication I dedicate this book to my mom, Elaine Johnson. I would not be here writing this if it were not for your unwavering support of my creative path. Thank you for teaching me (by example) the fine art of perseverance and for making sure I know where I come from. I love you more than words could ever say. Acknowledgments This book would not have seen the light of day My heartfelt thanks to the Stash Books staff if it weren’t for the following people. for believing in my work and providing me with the opportunity to do this. Thank you, First, my husband, Wes Cogan—thank Roxane Cerda and Gailen Runge, for your you from the bottom of my heart for all the fun, persistent encouragement to make a hours of proofing (I’m sure my editors thank submission, and a special thank-you to my you, too) and for your constant support and editors Michele Fry, Joanna Burgarino, and patience through it all. It means the world to Susan Hendrickson for keeping me on track me. I love you always. through the process. Thank you also to Kristy Second, I’ve been blessed to live in the same Zacharias and Nissa Brehmer for bringing the city as my amazing cousin Charlene Forslund, creative direction to life. who shares my love of fabric crafting. I will With deep gratitude, thank you to my dad, never be able to thank you enough for the Jerome Johnson, who without question time, talent, and smiles you’ve contributed to supported my creative path from day one making this book happen. I love you to the and whose dedication for living a creative moon and back, Cuz! Thank you also to my life is in my heart always. dear uncle, Bruce Johnson; my sister, Marnie Johnson; and to Tim Forslund (as well as Finally, I want to say thank you to my the extended Forslund tribe) for being my “Finnish sisters,” Pia and Ulla, for opening sounding board for recipes and keeping me their hearts and making us feel so much tapped into my Scandinavian heritage. Skol! at home in Helsinki. This book is better because of our time together. I can’t wait to A huge thank-you to Michelle Wagner, an do it again. amazing artist and friend, who stepped in so generously with her time and talent to take a few projects over the finish line. Contents Introduction 6 WINTER  9 MIDSUMMER  55 Pieced Wool Scarf 10 Skirt Apron 56 Felt Medallion Necklace 14 Lingonberry Sorbet 61 Holiday Tree Wall Art 18 Sail Away Tote 62 Uncle Bruce’s Glögg 23 Herbed New Potato Salad 67 Swedish Tomte Softie 24 Seaside Picnic Quilt 68 Swedish Christmas Porridge 29 Dad’s Beer-Poached Salmon 73 Bread Warmer Tea Towel 30 Pocket Pals 74 Grandma Ragnhild’s Limpa Strawberries and Cream 81 (Rye Bread) 34 Go Fish Mobile 82 Linen Table Runner 36 Fabric Flower Swag 88 Grandma Vera’s Swedish Sheer Pillow Wraps 94 Meatballs 40 Quilted Bed Scarf 100 Lingonberry Sauce 41 Breezy Appliquéd Curtains 104 Felt Cup Warmer 42 Appliquéd Winter Quilt 46 Stitches 109 Drafty Door Decor 52 About the Author 109 Resources 110 Introduction I grew up in the sunny suburbs of San Urban Scandinavian design and craft is Francisco—a long way from my great- founded on the belief that good design should grandparents’ homelands of Sweden and not be considered a luxury or associated Finland. Finding a good tortilla was easy. with financial status, but should be avail- Finding good lefse was hard. In spite of being able to everyone. Also, good design should separated from the “homeland” by geography be beautiful, functional, and made from and generations, we were (and still are) a sustainable, easily available resources. Urban typical Scandinavian family, especially during Scandinavian design, however, is much more the holidays. than a look or a style—it’s also a philosophy, a simpler way of living. Simple living (whether My folks had a thing for all things mod— by necessity or choice) has always been a especially modern Scandinavian furniture (and hallmark of Scandinavian life. Scandinavian design in general). I suppose I couldn’t help design ultimately reflects the cultural attitudes taking after them. It is with great pleasure of the Scandinavian people—keep things that I share some of that love of Scandinavian uncomplicated, beautiful, and functional design, sprinkled with a bit of family tradition, while being connected to what matters most. with you in Urban Scandinavian Sewing. It probably goes without saying that Throughout this book, the word modern has Scandinavian design (in all its genres) is often been replaced with urban for a couple naturally influenced by extreme seasonal of reasons. First, what we identify as modern changes. Winter and summer are the Scandinavian design is actually a direct result two most celebrated seasons throughout of the Industrial Revolution. During the late Scandinavia. In celebration of these extreme nineteenth century and the first half of the seasons, the book is divided into two sections: twentieth century, large numbers of people winter and summer—actually, Midsummer. moved from the countryside to the cities and began producing everyday products en masse. It is my sincere hope that the following proj- Second, most of us actually live in urban ects bring some light to your darkest winter areas today. nights and some lighthearted happiness to your long summer days. Enjoy! 6 Urban Scandinavian Sewing WELCOME TO SCANDINAVIA NIGHT AND DAY Sometimes we consider our  Iceland seasons to be not winter and  summer but night and day.  During the winter solstice,  areas close to the Arctic Circle  Sweden are, for a few days of the year,  almost totally dark, with the sun  Finland never rising above the horizon.  Of course, in the summer the  Norway n oga opposite is true. There are a few  C Kirstyn ddoayess no’ft  tqhuei tyee saer ewmh eton  stheet. sun  by n atio Denmark ustr Ill To many, Scandinavia is a monoethnic region up north somewhere. Some folks even think it’s a country. Several countries actually make up the region. And if you ask different people, they might list dif- ferent countries! Denmark, Norway, and Sweden definitely. Finland and Iceland usually. Greenland, not so much. Sure, the people and the countries share some characteristics, a common heritage, and related—but not identical—languages, but they each have special features. When I think of them, here’s what comes to mind. Introduction 7 ICELAND The beloved puffin: It is one of SWEDEN Food! Fika is a coffee/tea/pastry the most popular birds in the world and break taken (as often as possible) by Swedes comes from Iceland. • Many Icelanders and is a good opportunity to bond with believe in elves. • Hand-knit woolens are friends. • Waffle Day is March 25 and the most common gifts brought back from Cinnamon Bun Day is October 4. On Fat visits to Iceland. • This is the location of Tuesday or (Fettisdagen), the semla (a cream the world-famous Blue Lagoon, a huge puff) is the pastry of choice. Yes, national geothermal spa where ocean water is days dedicated to consuming favored treats heated by Mother Nature. guilt free—gotta love the Swedes! • Trick- or-treating on Easter? Yep, that’s what it NORWAY The cheese slicer was invented looks like. Kids dress up like witches—also here! • Seagull eggs are a delicacy. Two known as Easter hags—and present you with to three times larger than a chicken egg, a handmade Easter card in exchange for sweet they are served boiled on flatbread with treats! • Two things to keep in mind when butter, salt, and pepper—and an ice- you’re invited to a Swede’s home: Be on time cold beer. • Two decorative crafts that and take your shoes off. come from Norway are rosemaling and Hardanger embroidery. • Norwegians are FINLAND Ice swimming and wife-carrying said to be born with skis attached to their races are popular pastimes. Finland is also one feet. Although people have been using of the least corrupt and most peaceful states skis for more than 4,000 years, skiing first on earth, and has one of the best education became a sport in Norway. • The word systems in the world and the most heavy metal ski actually stems from an Old Norse word bands per capita. (I think the juxtaposition meaning wood. may be significant.) • Finns drink more coffee than any other people around the globe DENMARK The Danes are well known (which is hard for me to imagine, being from for their design of furniture, glass, and Seattle). • Nokia (the original cell phone ceramics, but did you know that Denmark company) and Angry Birds (the game) were is also the home of Legos? • The beloved both born here. • Finnish architect/designer fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen Alvar Aalto is considered one of the most was a Dane; he wrote “The Ugly Duckling,” influential contributors to the Scandinavian “The Little Mermaid,” and “The Emperor’s modernist movement, and his furniture and New Clothes.” • You’re more likely to glassware are still being produced today. • In meet up with a Dane in a public café than 1951, Marimekko, a company known for its be invited to his or her home (or personal timeless, bold, and oh-so-incredibly-Finnish space) unless you are a family member or textiles, was started in Helsinki by Viljo and very close friend. Personal space is personal. Armi Ratia when their oilcloth factory failed and was converted to a garment plant. 8 Urban Scandinavian Sewing Winter All over Scandinavia, the winter holidays are celebrated with lighthearted exuberance and warmth during this darkest part of the year. Frosty white snow, warm wool hats, and pink cheeks, along with hearty feasts of food and drink, are all sure signs of winter. It’s also the best time of year to view the northern lights, or aurora borealis, which means “dawn of the north.” The northern lights appear in the sky like an ethereal flowing river of ever-changing multicolored light (ranging from shades of red and yellow to green, blue, and violet). As you might expect, ice skating, skiing, ice fishing, and even ice swimming are all popular outdoor activities in the winter throughout Scandinavia. But really there’s no better time of the year to cozy up indoors for some serious stitch craft! It’s no coincidence that crafting is such an integral part of Scandinavian living. So invite some friends over, light the candles, bake some bread, perch a tomte near all the action, and brew up some glögg. It’s time to enjoy the winter sewing season!  9