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Introduction
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Hardanger is a Scandinavian counted thread technique, stitched on linen or a special evenweave cloth called Hardanger. It is traditionally done with a matching color cotton thread such as Perle. Hardanger emphasizes box shapes with areas of cutwork. It's most outstanding feature is the kloster block, a block of 5 satin stitches over four threads.

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From: Tara Dewdney
Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998

Hardanger is both a fabric type and a Stitch type.

Hardanger fabric is woven as a 2 over 2, and 100% cotton. It is designed so that after cutting your Hardanger stitches, and wash the piece (as traditional Hardanger was used on curtains, table cloths, napkins, etc), the fabric would shrink slightly, locking in your stitches.

Hardanger stitching can be done effectively on ANY even weave (linen, cotton, blend) of any size (just match your fabric thread width to your stitching thread width).

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From: Sharon
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 1997

I just learned to do Hardanger this year, and it's really not hard. Check out Nordic Needle

They have a section called Tips and Tutorials where you can get some basic Hardanger lessons. Plus they have the most beautiful stuff for sale (you'll have to send for their free catalog). Have fun (& don't panic when you have to cut threads).

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From: Nancy Kraus
Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998

I picked up a kit put out by Coats and Clark called Hardanger Made Easy. This kit is a starter kit for Hardanger. It has complete instructions and extra fabric and pearl cotton to practice before stitching on the project. I have never tried Hardanger, but thought it would be fun and this kit looked like the perfect way to give it a shot.

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From: Pam Pemberton
Date: 98-06-08 02:17:42 EDT
[in Darwin, Australia.]

I suggest that you go to the Nordic Needle website. It's an excellent needlework store in the USA which is probably the best place for resources for Hardanger in the US. They have two lessons for beginners - Hardanger 101 and Hardanger 201 - which you can print off.

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Books
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From: CameoRoze

If you'd like to learn Hardanger, the best books are by Janice Love.

Basics and Beyond Designed and written by Janice Love Softcover, 8-1/2" x 12", 51 pages Copyright 1990 - 1997 Not available from Amazon. Order through your local needlework shop.

Fundamentals Made Fancy Designed and written by Janice Love Softcover, 8-1/2" x 12" Not available through Amazon.com. Order this from your local needlework shop.

Hardanger Ribbons Designed and written by Janice Love 8-1/2" x 12", 59 pages. Copyright 1984 by Janice Love Not available from Amazon. Order through your local needlework shop.

A complete look at Hardanger embroidery with step-by-step instructions in 20 lessons. 5 sample squares. 6 ribbons patterns. 21 projects. Tips on fixing mistakes. Color photography of projects on cover only; photos, charts and instructions in black and white. Copyright 1984. 8-1/2" x 12" Paperbound.

Creative Hardanger A Milner Craft Series book By Gina Marion / Sally Milner Publishing Copyright 1994, reprinted 1995 ISBN 1863511369 Approx. $13.00 (US)

The Complete Book of Hardanger Jenny Geldens 1994 Little Hills Press. ISBN 1863150730

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Magazine Articles
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There is a nice article about Hardanger in Piecework magazine, November/December 1995, pages 60 - 66. The Article is entitled: "Norwegian Hardanger: Tradition and Transformation" by Nancy Nehring.

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