Journal
From women’s hands to women’s homes: the Nordic bond of our foremothers
Swedish embroidered bonader were made, given and kept by women. Each one carries a woman’s words, handwork and home — and can now hang in yours.
Made by women, for the home
Embroidered wall hangings were part of the textile work of Swedish homes, and needlework was taught to girls at home and at school. The sayings, flowers and monograms on a bonad were stitched by a woman’s hands, often in the hours left after the day’s work.
Through these textiles women put words on the walls of the home — about love, hospitality, faith, coffee and contentment.
Given, kept and passed on
Bonader were hung in kitchens and parlours, brought out for Christmas and kept for years. Many survived because someone cared enough to fold them away and keep them.
When you choose an original bonad, you continue that line: from the woman who stitched it, through the homes where it hung, to your own.
Find your bonad
Every BONAD in our collection is an individual original found in Sweden. We translate the Swedish words and document measurements, condition and what we know of its age — nothing more. Browse the pieces with sayings about home, love and happiness.