Maria Gullberg, a crochet innovator, and textile designer.

Maria Gullberg is a leading innovator of crochet in Sweden. She has developed the technology and experimented with new and exciting structures and patterns, often in her own graphic design language. She works as a designer and inspirer. [source]

Maria has written several books were she explains how you can crochet different pieces using old and new techniques and patterns so you can create your own master piece!

Are you an artist from Scandinavia? Share your story with us!

Where are you from, where did you grow up, where do you live?

I am from Sweden and was born/live in Stockholm. Has an education from Konstfack (University of Arts, Crafts, and Design) 1985-89, and is trained as a textile designer. I crochet for more than 30 years.

Photo: Maria Gullberg

What are you known for?

I am known for having developed crochet as a technology for more than 30 years and have workshops, courses, training for textile teachers, training/tutors for students who attend textile training. Has published a total of 5 books that have been translated into many languages. In the autumn of 2019, I was awarded Barbro Wingstrand’s scholarship of SEK 100,000 for having shown how a needlework technique that lacked status had the potential to be developed in an artistically and formally interesting way. Thus, she has increased the relevance of crochet in our time and promoted its continued development.

What is your most important artist tool?

The crochet hook in the first place – yarn of course!

Photo: Maria Gullberg

Is there an artwork you are most proud of and why?

From what I have crocheted over the years, it is probably my mosaic crocheted wall hanging with folk stars. It is 175 x 145. Each box contains 1284 stitches and it consists of 154 sts and also crocheted edging.

Where do you find inspiration? What inspires you?

I find inspiration partly from my graphic design language and partly from folk textiles from all over the world. Gets a lot of ideas for crocheted patterns in the Nordic textile tax – but also patterns from the Orient, Africa appeal to me.

What color would you be and why?

Red – the color of love ♥

Photo: Maria Gullberg

Anything else you’d like to mention?

During my more than 30 years, I have crocheted a lot in black & white and the grayscale. It has appealed to my graphic thinking/design language and it has been easy to keep the material together in connection with exhibitions. Red as an accent color! In recent years, I have started crocheting more with color than before.

Maria Gullberg

Crochet innovator and textile designer. Check her beautiful designs in Ravelry
here and follow Maria on Instagram and Pinterest.

Meet other artists from Scandinavia here!