Haandarbejdets Fremme, known in English as the Danish Handcraft Guild, was established on 20 March 1928 to promote Danish

textile art Textile arts are arts and crafts that use plant, animal, or synthetic fibers to construct practical or decorative objects. Textiles have been a fundamental part of human life since the beginning of civilization. The methods and materials use ...

and provide support to all those working with

embroidery Embroidery is the art of decorating Textile, fabric or other materials using a Sewing needle, needle to stitch Yarn, thread or yarn. It is one of the oldest forms of Textile arts, textile art, with origins dating back thousands of years across ...

. This was achieved by arranging exhibitions, lectures and courses, by coordinating purchasing and marketing opportunities, and by publishing design guides including ''Årets Korssting'', the annual

cross-stitch Cross-stitch is a form of sewing and a popular form of counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches (called cross stitches) in a tiled, raster graphics, raster-like pattern are used to form a picture. The stitcher counts the threads on a ...

calendar. For over 70 years, the guild has provided access to cross-stitch kits and designs, many of which were created by the artists Gerda Bengtsson, Ida Winckler and Mads Stage.

History

Thanks mainly to initiatives taken by Gertie Wandel who was active until she retired as president in 1978, the society developed into an effective organization with its own workshop, and a network of retail outlets and training facilities across Denmark. From the beginning, it enjoyed the support of the royal family, including Queen Alexandrine and Queen Ingrid. Queen Alexandrine attended a Haandarbejdets Fremme exhibition in 1939 while Queen Margrethe, who has contributed many embroidery designs to the organization, together with Crown Princess Mary, attended the 90th-anniversary celebrations on 20 March 2018 in Greve Museum. A considerable number of artists have contributed to the organization over the years. The major contributors have been Gerda Bengtsson, Ida Wincklet and Edith Hansen who have all worked on the premises and presented training courses. Others include

Mogens Koch Mogens Koch (2 March 1898 – 16 September 1992) was a Danish architect and furniture designer and, from 1950 to 1968, a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Early life and education Mogens Koch was Koch in the Frederiksberg d ...

, Dagmar Starcke, Ann-Mari Kornerup,

Naja Salto Naja Salto (22 November 1945 – 3 March 2016) was a Danish painter and textile artist who is remembered for her rich, brightly coloured tapestries, many depicting scenes of the sea and the sky. Early life, education and family Born in Copenhage ...

and Mads Stage, the weavers

Gerda Henning Gerda Henning née Heydorn (March 2, 1891 – June 26, 1951) was a Danish weaver, textile designer and educator. Biography Born Gerda Heydorn in Fredriksberg, Denmark, she was the daughter of a grocer. From 1910 to 1917 she worked as a china pain ...

, Vibeke Klint, Lis Ahlmann and Kim Naver, the textile printers Gudrun Stig Aagaard and Marie Gudme Leth, as well as the painter and ceramist Bjørn Wiinblad.

References

{{Reflist 1928 establishments in Denmark Textile arts of Denmark Embroidery in Denmark Art societies