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 us ...

and provide support to all those working with

embroidery Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen on c ...

. 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 in a tiled, raster-like pattern are used to form a picture. The stitcher counts the threads on a piece of evenweave fabric (such as line ...

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 Gerda Johanne Bengtsson (6 February 1900– 13 December 1995) was a Danish textile artist who specialized in embroidery. Initially inspired by the stylized animals and plants used in medieval needlework, she became an outstanding designer who could ...

Ida Winckler Ida Anna Winkler (1907–1995) was a Danish painter and textile artist. In 1930, she joined the newly established ''Haandarbejdets Fremme'' (Danish Handcraft Guild), where over the next 65 years she created hundreds of mainly cross-stitch pattern ...

and Mads Stage.

History

Thanks mainly to initiatives taken by

Gertie Wandel Gertie Wandel née Møller (1894–1988) was a Danish textile artist and politician who is remembered for the role she played in establishing Håndarbejdets Fremme (the Danish Handcraft Guild) in 1928 and consolidating its activities in support of ...

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 Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (24 December 1879 – 28 December 1952) was List of Danish consorts, Queen of Denmark from 1912 to 1947, as well Monarchy of Iceland, Queen of Iceland from 1918 to 1944 as the spouse of Christian X of Denmark, K ...

and

Queen Ingrid Ingrid of Sweden (born: Princess Ingrid Victoria Sofia Louise Margareta of Sweden; 28 March 1910 – 7 November 2000) was Queen of Denmark from 1947 until 1972 as the wife of King Frederick IX. Born into the House of Bernadotte, she was the daug ...

. Queen Alexandrine attended a Haandarbejdets Fremme exhibition in 1939 while

Queen Margrethe Margrethe II (; Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, born 16 April 1940) is Queen of Denmark. Having reigned as Denmark's monarch for over 50 years, she is Europe's longest-serving current head of state and the world's only incumbent femal ...

, who has contributed many embroidery designs to the organization, together with

Crown Princess Mary Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, (born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson; 5 February 1972) is the wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark. Frederik is the heir apparent to the throne, which means that should he succeed, Mary w ...

, 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 di ...

Dagmar Starcke Dagmar Margrethe Kristine Starcke née Kaae (1899–1975) was a Danish painter and textile artist who is remembered for her pictorial collages and woven textile works. Several of her creations are in the permanent collection at the Worker's Museum ...

, Ann-Mari Kornerup,

Naja Salto Naja Salto (1945–2016) 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 Copenhagen on 22 November 1945, ...

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 paint ...

Vibeke Klint Karen Vibeke Klint (née Nielsen; 13 December 1927 - 30 December 2019) was a Danish Textile arts, textile artist who created a wide variety of tapestries, carpets, silks and home textiles, initially inspired by Functionalism (architecture), Func ...

Lis Ahlmann Mathilde Elisabeth "Lis" Ahlmann (April 13, 1894 – January 15, 1979) was a Danish weaver and textile designer who was one of the founders of modern Danish textile art and influential in the development of the style known as Danish modern. Biogra ...

and

Kim Naver Karen-Margrethe (Kim) Naver (born 1940) is a Danish designer and textile artist, specializing in weaving and tapestry. Inspired by both coarse Polish techniques and patterns and materials from the Orient, she has been successful in creating textile ...

, the textile printers

Gudrun Stig Aagaard Gudrun Stig Aagaard (1895–1986) was a Danish textile artist who specialized in printed fabrics. She opened her own workshop in 1928, pioneering printed textile designs in Denmark. She initially produced classical patterns but later adopted a mor ...

and

Marie Gudme Leth Marie Christine Mathea Gudme Leth (5 October 1895 – 17 December 1997) was a Danish textile printer who pioneered screen printing for industrial production. In 1941, she opened her own workshop where she first concentrated on prints of flowers and ...

, as well as the painter and ceramist

Bjørn Wiinblad Bjørn Wiinblad (20 September 1919 – 8 June 2006), was a Danish painter, designer and artist in ceramics, silver, bronze, textiles, and graphics. His work has been shown widely in Europe, in the United States of America first in 1954 and in J ...

References

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