The lusekofte (, ''
lice
Louse (: lice) is the common name for any member of the infraorder Phthiraptera, which contains nearly 5,000 species of wingless parasitic insects. Phthiraptera was previously recognized as an order, until a 2021 genetic study determined th ...
jacket
A jacket is a garment for the upper body, usually extending below the hips. A jacket typically has sleeves and fastens in the front or slightly on the side. Jackets without sleeves are vests. A jacket is generally lighter, tighter-fitting, and ...
''), also called the Setesdalsgenser (''
Setesdal
Setesdal (; older name: Sætersdal) is a valley and a traditional district in Agder County in southern Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland, and Evje og Hornnes.
The Otra river flows through the val ...
sweater'') is a traditional
Norwegian sweater
A sweater (North American English) or pullover, also called a jersey or jumper (British English, Hiberno-English and Australian English), , dating from the 19th century.
The original sweater features a black and white design, the name referring to the isolated black stitches.
[Anne Kjellberg]
lusekofte
Store Norske Leksikon, retrieved 30 March, 2013 They may also feature
selburose
In Norwegian knitting, a ''selburose'' () is a knitted rose pattern in the shape of a regular octagram. It is traditionally used for winter clothing such as the Selbu mitten (''selbuvott'') and sweaters ('' lusekofte, lopapeysa'' and '' mari ...
designs. In recent times additional color is sometimes given to this black and white sweater by woven ribbons or bands of black woolen fabric
embroidered
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 ...
in the type of colorful designs also found in the
bunad
''Bunad'' (, plural: ''bunader''/''bunadar'') is a Norwegian umbrella term. In a broader sense, the term encompasses household, householding equipment, and livestock as well as both traditional rural clothes (mostly dating to the 18th and 19th ...
s and in
rosemaling around the neck and along the front opening. These front opening are usually closed by a row of
pewter or
silver
Silver is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag () and atomic number 47. A soft, whitish-gray, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. ...
clasps.
After the lusekofte was discovered by tourists in the 1920s, it became very popular and today they are made in many different patterns and colours
[ in addition to the traditional Setesdal sweater.
The lusekofte is casual attire, traditionally mostly worn by men.
]
See also
* Mariusgenser
* Lopapeysa
* Intarsia
Intarsia is a form of wood inlaying that is similar to marquetry. The practice dates from before the seventh century AD. The technique inserts sections of wood (at times with contrasting ivory or bone, or mother-of-pearl) within the solid wood ...
References
External links
{{Commonscat-inline, Lusekofte
* Lusekofte pictures
* Setesdalsgenser pictures and instructions
Norwegian clothing
Knitted garments
Sweaters