One of the life’s many small pleasures is to sit down and make something yourself. It could be a simple woollen neck scarf, a child’s first chair or even mending a pair of old but beloved trousers. There is something about using ones own hands and creativity that makes us feel proud.

Historically, handicrafts have also been an important way to preserve cultural skills and traditions, and in Sweden, knitting, embroidering, carving, painting and weaving all have long historical ties. Their popularity may have gone up and down, but the past few years have seen a big surge in interest – which most likely has to do with the general trend of appreciating quality, local materials and sustainable design.

This year, the National Association of Swedish Handicraft Societies, an organisation devoted to promoting handicrafts, celebrates its 100th anniversary, and throughout the year the occasion is being marked by exhibitions and events all over the country.

The pioneer of the Swedish handicraft movement was Lilli Zickerman, whose passionate work lead to the building of the Swedish Handicrafts Association in 1899; by 1912 a larger, nation-wide organisation came into being, which gathered all the small local associations under the same umbrella. Besides her personal interest in old traditions, Zickerman – who toured the country and documented local handicrafts from Norrland to Skåne – wanted to promote quality handicrafts, which even then were threatened by cheaper, mass-produced products.

It was also important to pass on old, valuable skills to new generations and help women living in the countryside find opportunities to earn their own money. To all those ends, a Svensk Hemslöjd store selling handicrafts from different parts of the country was opened in Stockholm, where it still operates today.

Throughout September, Nordiska Museet hosts an exhibition showcasing woven fabrics from the museum’s collections, as well as hundreds of new weaves from across Sweden. Visitors can also sit down at one of the looms and have a go at weaving themselves. The museum also has a collection of Zickerman’s photographs from her trips in Sweden.

And at Designgalleriet in October, ten weavers, artists and designers will interpret the concept of home, its building blocks, connections to our creativity and the rituals surrounding it.

Weave, Nordiska Museet, until 30th of September
Hemlikt, Designgalleriet, 4-27 October
Svensk Hemslöjd, Norrlandsgatan 20