Hardanger embroidery - Definition

Hardanger embroidery is a form of embroidery worked in white yarn on a coloured Hardanger cloth, using drawn thread work.

It is a form of counted-thread embroidery

It originates from the Hardanger district in Western Norway.

Amongst the special techniques used are:

• cording: overcasting over several threads to make a cord
• woven bars: weaving the needle over and under three threads until they are completely covered.
• picot: twisting the thread once round the needle before inserting the needle.
• four sided stitch: forming adjoining squares.