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Slöjd: The Swedish art of wood and textile handicraft
A book for anyone who craves making something with their hands.
Slöjd is Swedish for handicrafts. But it's so much more than making things with your hands. In Sweden, slöjd is a compulsory subject taught to all schoolchildren. From a young age, they work with textiles and wood not only to develop their creativity, but also to learn fine motor skills and problem solving – often leading to a lifelong love and appreciation of crafts.
In her new book, Kerstin Neumüller introduces the concept of slöjd through 18 wood and textile projects. Here's everything from learning how to sew a cap, dye yarn with birch leaves, carve a peg rail, sew a patchwork quilt and mend your jeans.
The projects rarely require any big purchases or unusual tools, and you will be guided with clear step-by-step instructions, pictures and illustrations. With the attitude 'if you think it's good, it's good', Kerstin leaves a lot of room for your own creativity to flourish, while she also helps you avoid the worst pitfalls.
This book is suitable both for beginners itching to get started and for those who already know that handicrafts are the most enjoyable hobby you can have!
Slöjd is Swedish for handicrafts. But it's so much more than making things with your hands. In Sweden, slöjd is a compulsory subject taught to all schoolchildren. From a young age, they work with textiles and wood not only to develop their creativity, but also to learn fine motor skills and problem solving – often leading to a lifelong love and appreciation of crafts.
In her new book, Kerstin Neumüller introduces the concept of slöjd through 18 wood and textile projects. Here's everything from learning how to sew a cap, dye yarn with birch leaves, carve a peg rail, sew a patchwork quilt and mend your jeans.
The projects rarely require any big purchases or unusual tools, and you will be guided with clear step-by-step instructions, pictures and illustrations. With the attitude 'if you think it's good, it's good', Kerstin leaves a lot of room for your own creativity to flourish, while she also helps you avoid the worst pitfalls.
This book is suitable both for beginners itching to get started and for those who already know that handicrafts are the most enjoyable hobby you can have!
- GenresCraftsNonfiction
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 3, 2026
Such a cute cover and while the old adage is to not judge a book this way, in this case, the delightful picture shows us what we need to know.
Slöjd is a Swedish word that means handicraft, but also has a deeper connection to the value of things made by hand, the way this self-sufficiency is taught to students in the making of the wood and textile arts, the value of slow work is reinforced.
This book covers the basics of how to sew with a machine and directions for making both a pillow cover and a cute brimmed hat. Neumuller's approach is excellent in the reinforcing that the joy is in the practice and that the first efforts will show the efforts of the learning, but this is just fine. This message, opposite of what the fast-fashion, IG ready, capitalist society sells is refreshing and I personally hope that this is not just a trend, but truly a return to more sustainable living and solid values. The textile projects covered are already within my sewing repertoire or outside of my interest at present (can't see myself harvesting nettle-ouch) and carving wooden items is cute but impractical at present for me. I did enjoy the read and who knows, maybe a birch dyed clothing item will be in my future?
Slöjd is a Swedish word that means handicraft, but also has a deeper connection to the value of things made by hand, the way this self-sufficiency is taught to students in the making of the wood and textile arts, the value of slow work is reinforced.
This book covers the basics of how to sew with a machine and directions for making both a pillow cover and a cute brimmed hat. Neumuller's approach is excellent in the reinforcing that the joy is in the practice and that the first efforts will show the efforts of the learning, but this is just fine. This message, opposite of what the fast-fashion, IG ready, capitalist society sells is refreshing and I personally hope that this is not just a trend, but truly a return to more sustainable living and solid values. The textile projects covered are already within my sewing repertoire or outside of my interest at present (can't see myself harvesting nettle-ouch) and carving wooden items is cute but impractical at present for me. I did enjoy the read and who knows, maybe a birch dyed clothing item will be in my future?
September 19, 2025
I liked it a lot, but more for the vibe and the idea that we should all make things for ourselves (even if we do it badly, especially at first).
There are a range of projects in wood and textile as it says, and they are really diverse. But I'm not likely to do any of them. I've already taken to mending jeans based on instructions in Neumuller's previous book, and the other mending and sewing projects are pretty standard. I have no need of mobiles or festive crowns. Making thread from nettles - astonishing but I won't, and I'm not inclined to buy the tools to card and spin yarn from wool. The carving of wall hooks and peg rails - probably not that either.
But the idea - to have a go at making things for yourself from things to hand? This I am inspired by and I'm glad I read the book just the same.
There are a range of projects in wood and textile as it says, and they are really diverse. But I'm not likely to do any of them. I've already taken to mending jeans based on instructions in Neumuller's previous book, and the other mending and sewing projects are pretty standard. I have no need of mobiles or festive crowns. Making thread from nettles - astonishing but I won't, and I'm not inclined to buy the tools to card and spin yarn from wool. The carving of wall hooks and peg rails - probably not that either.
But the idea - to have a go at making things for yourself from things to hand? This I am inspired by and I'm glad I read the book just the same.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews