or how to love freerunning children
I have to warn you, this is a sales post. But I do not really know how to make one without delving into a story. So I hope this will be interesting for all of you, even if you are not into babywraps or shawls.
My little winterbaby is a wildrunning two-yearold by now. Of my three wildlings, the last one is the one I have carried the least. Unfortunately, for I love that close calm feeling of a warm toddler breathing into my neck asleep. I made him the winterking wrap Valemon. It was woven of the softest peruvian silk warp, that I dyed just before leaving to the hospital to give birth in between the winter storms. At the end of that warp, I made another wrap. Not really knowing if I had enough warp to make it to a full baby wrap while weaving. But it came out at just a bit above 3 m in the end – so it is a perfect shortie for catching a tired toddler.
The ends are woven in a sleek plainweave, for easy tie-off and small knots, but the main part of the wrap is patterned with these sweet little snowflakes. Or maybe, since the year is already turning into april, these are soft spring flowers. Maybe even water-lilies floating softly in a green-blue pond. In norwegian, these are called Nøkkerose. Named after Nøkken, the beautiful mythical villain said to lure children out into ponds to drown them. Across the wrap, light and colours spill in a playfull, soft beauty of blues and golds and greens. Not so different from the glittering light on the lake water in a crisp spring day.
I call this the forgotten wrap, as I put it away in a box after weaving it, completely forgetting it in the avalange of breastfeeding and sleep deprivation and baby smells and eternal “not being enough” that are motherhood with a new baby and two small children. I rediscovered it this spring, and I do really love the muted, but bright colourway and the oh so soft feel of it. It was Linda Strom Kaald who came up with the name Nøkken in the Villvev-group on facebok, and I think it is just right. It looks like it may have secrets. And lately I have been contemplating all the ways I lie to my children to make them be safe.
As my children grow bigger and bolder, I cannot forever just keep them closely wrapped up an protected (preferably with their helmet on). And as the world keeps turning still bleaker, I find myself thinking on how mothers have always faced this troublesome truth. I want to wrap them in love and in confidence, I want to raise resilient children who knows how to navigate the world safely. But sometimes there is no safe. Yet I cannot tell them this. The world is on fire, and I cannot watch the news without crying. But we keep the evil of the world a secret. Everything will be fine. Just beware of the slippery edge by the water.
Nøkken was the name of an old water spirit in the folk tales of old Scandinavia. The tradition can be traced at least back to the 1100s. He was beautiful, and dangerous, as he would lure people into the water to drown them. Nøkken could take the form of a beautiful man, a white horse or just look like a reliable and safe piece of wood to climb over the water on. He was especially dangerous to children. Mothers would warn children away from dangerous waters, such as lakes, bogs and rivers, by telling tales of Nøkken. However, if you said his name out loud, he would loose his power.
When I retell the story of Nøkken I think it is really about protection. Of reshaping the obscure dangers of this world into something managable and understandable. “Stay away from harm, my child”. And by giving the danger a face and a name, it can be repelled. The villain looses his power when he is named. Perhaps this is an even more important lesson to remember – a danger is less scary if we speak about it plainly. There is protection in knowing and naming the dangers of this world. Though we must find ways to tell our children the truths in a softer way. We must give them both the the skills and the hearts to grow into their own. And when they return to be held and comforted, we may still wrap them up in soft blankets and tell them everything will be allright.
If you feel like this is the perfect wrap to keep your little one safe and close, or maybe a good shawl to sometimes catch a freerunning toddler in, it will be up for draw this upcoming week. Oh, and the lucky buyer may choose to purchase a complementary cowl at a redused price as well!
Here is the google form with all the info on how to sign up for buying: draw for the right to purchase Nøkken
I think it will be a good shawl or scarf as well. It is possible to enter to only buy the cowl as well, if the winner of the draw do not want it.. Or you may purchase one of the cowls I also have for sale.
Did you read all of this, just really hoping to find out who won the Villvev easter giveaway? The lucky winner is Sara Kluge! Congratulations!
Thank you for reading! Please reach out if you have any questions or comments.
I wish you all a wonderfull springtime.
Sunniva
Sunniva Wilberg Halvorsen 
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