When I was a young student almost 30 years ago, I had the idea of having my own weaving workshop. I rented an old servant’s room and spent hours and hours weaving. I made everything from soft woollen scarves to large tapestries. The products were mostly traded among friends and acquaintances, but I also attended an occasional trade fair.
It is long since I ended my time as a weaver. But I have always enjoyed making things, whether it’s with yarn or fabric. Some items have been useful and practical, while other stuff has been mostly for decoration. I have experimented with knitting, crochet, patchwork and embroidery – among other crafts – and have made for friends, family and for myself. And although there are some half-finished works in a drawer here and a locker there, most of my projects are complete. The joy is just as significant during the making of the project as it is after its completion.
In the past, less scholarly students could be the kings of P.E. or of woodwork class. Today it is difficult to excel in arts and crafts, even if one is both creative and dexterous one still needs to have an overview of important artists and designers. And in P.E. one must do well on theoretical tests of physics of the body and biology to achieve the As and Bs. If you have trouble studying, one can have difficulty and the grades can turn out to be mediocre.
Some theory can be good but it is too highly emphasized in today’s schools. One cannot learn how to swim by reading a book. If you want to learn how to ride a bike, you have to practice. There is actually a great amount of knowledge that can’t be transferred through theory. We have, for example, a great boat-building tradition in Norway. For more than 1000 years we have built world-class sea vessels. The craftsmen know what makes one subject better than others, even if it’s hard to explain. It may be the way the tree grew, the direction of the fibres, the weight of the wood, or a combination of many things. This is learned knowledge and cannot be taught through books. It is acquired through experience.
Many might say I am reactionary to think that embroidery and knitting are valuable subjects. But needlework techniques strengthen coping skills and the well-being of both children and adolescents, and creativity is a prerequisite for change and progress. Also fine motor skills are learned when striving with needle and thread or sticky knitting needles. Fine motor skills are essential if we want skilled dentists and surgeons in the future. With our desire for a perfect look, it is even more important that the doctors master both tailoring, embroidery and fine darning.