In conjunction with our  current Hardanger stitchery exhibit, Livsreise is excited to host this gallery talk about the fine art of counted-thread stitchery with Stoughton’s own Hardanger teacher, Donna M. Olson. She relocated to Stoughton in 1971 when her husband took a job here.  As she got to know people in the community, she soon embraced this Norwegian stitchery that was brought to Stoughton by Norwegian immigrants and passed down to the women in the family from generation to generation. With a degree in Education from Hamline University, and teaching experience at the Iowa State University, she was the ideal person to teach this detailed and precise fine art.

As time passed, she researched more stitches and designs by examining old photos and old embroidered pieces, discovering many flowers stitched with openwork stitches-spokes, crossed spikes, dove’s eyes, picots and split bar weaving. From there she started designing her own pieces and shared these designs with her students. She has taught some of her designs at many of the Embroiders Guild of America’s seminars. Donna still teaches a weekly class in Stoughton. Her Hardanger designs are available under the “Satin Stitches” label at embroidery stores across the country.