Schwalm Whitework (Schwälmer Weiß­stic­kerei) owes its name to the geograp­hical area known as “the Schwalm” which is situated in the middle of Hesse (a state in west-central Germany). It is here that this very special variant of whitework developed. Later it was also called “Hessen­stic­kerei”.

The river Schwalm

der Fluß SchwalmThe Schwalm is a small area in Hesse through which the river Schwalm flows. And it is from the river that the surrounding count­ryside takes its name.

The land of the Schwalm

Die Landschaft der SchwalmThe fertile plain of the Schwalm is surrounded by wooded hills – “Kellerwald” in the northwest, “Knüll” in the northeast and “Voge­lsberg” in the south.

Region

Karte der Region der SchwalmThe region, situated between Kassel in the north, Marburg in the southwest and Bad Hersfeld in the east, covers an approximate area of only 155 square km.

Traditional costumes

Puppe in TrachtOver the centuries, distinctive Schwälmer struc­tures and traditional costumes developed.

Whitework

StickereiOver the course of time, a singularly beautiful embroidery developed – die Schwälmer Weiß­stic­kerei.

A small trip through the Schwalm

View from the lookout tower of the “Knüllköpfchen” – the highest point in the “Knüll” mountains.

View from the lookout tower of the “Knüllköpfchen” – the highest point in the “Knüll” mountains.

One can enjoy wide open panoramas in the Schwalm region.

One can enjoy wide open panoramas in the Schwalm region.

View from Obergrenzebach to the fertile plain of the Schwalm.

View from Obergrenzebach to the fertile plain of the Schwalm.

Birth place of the painter Prof. Dr. Karl Bantzer in Willingshausen ...

Birth place of the painter Prof. Dr. Karl Bantzer in Willingshausen …

… and the nearby buildings.

… and the nearby buildings.

Nicely decorated cantilever.

Nicely decorated cantilever.

Old gun – vestige of the water fortress of Ziegenhain.

Old gun – vestige of the water fortress of Ziegenhain.

Section of the moat around Ziegenhain.

Section of the moat around Ziegenhain.

View of the parade route including the museum in Ziegenhain.

View of the parade route including the museum in Ziegenhain.

Typical Schwalm flower box at the museum in Ziegenhain.

Typical Schwalm flower box at the museum in Ziegenhain.

Museum Schwalmstadt mit Joey

Museum Schwalmstadt mit Joey

Due to its large collection of Schwalm Whitework and its different special exhibitions, the museum in Schwalmstadt-Ziegenhain is well known by embroiderers across Germany and internationally. In one place, one can find the best examples of this special technique. The museums in Kassel and in Marburg do not have their collections fully documented or on display. http://www.museumderschwalm.de/
Half-timbered house with wall painting in Ziegenhain.

Half-timbered house with wall painting in Ziegenhain.

Typical Schwalm flower box.

Typical Schwalm flower box.

Schwalm countryside near Ransbach.

Schwalm countryside near Ransbach.

Schwalm countryside near Ransbach.

Schwalm countryside near Ransbach.

Typical Schwalm door in Gungelshausen.

Typical Schwalm door in Gungelshausen.

View to the painter-village Willingshausen.

View to the painter-village Willingshausen.

The Antreff near Willingshausen

The Antreff near Willingshausen

The Gerh.-von-Reutern-Haus in Willingshausen is hosting the Malerstübchen

The Gerh.-von-Reutern-Haus in Willingshausen is hosting the Malerstübchen

House with scraped plaster in Willingshausen.

House with scraped plaster in Willingshausen.

House with scraped plaster in Willingshausen.

House with scraped plaster in Willingshausen.

Wall painting in Willingshausen.

Wall painting in Willingshausen.

Rustic idyll with an old plough ...

Rustic idyll with an old plough …

… in Willingshausen.

… in Willingshausen.

Weathercock on old barn roof in Willingshausen.

Weathercock on old barn roof in Willingshausen.

Well kept house garden in Willingshausen.

Well kept house garden in Willingshausen.

Typical Schwalm cantilever of a shoemaker in Willingshausen.

Typical Schwalm cantilever of a shoemaker in Willingshausen.

Typical decorated foundation stone of a house in the Schwalm. The inscription reads: ICH ALINES KUHEST UND DESEN EHEFRAU M. K. STEINBERG DIE HABEN MIT GOTTES HILF GEBAUT 1872

Typical decorated foundation stone of a house in the Schwalm. The inscription reads: ICH ALINES KUHEST UND DESEN EHEFRAU M. K. STEINBERG DIE HABEN MIT …

Wall painting in Willingshausen.

Wall painting in Willingshausen.

View from the road to Holzburg to Wasenberg.

View from the road to Holzburg to Wasenberg.

View from the road to Holzburg to Wasenberg.

View from the road to Holzburg to Wasenberg.

At the museum in Holzburg.

At the museum in Holzburg.

The museum in Holzburg.

The museum in Holzburg.

The museum in Holzburg.

The Dorf-Museum Holzburg

The Dorf-Museum Holzburg houses, not only many interesting artifacts, but also some extravagant pieces of Schwalm Whitework. An essential part of the collection are the Schwalm costume dolls. The famous costume tailor Erika Decker has faithfully recreated, over many years of exacting work, all the Schwalm costumes which were worn for all the various special occasions. http://www.dorfmuseum-holzburg.de/
Old Schwalm wife in working costume

Old Schwalm wife in working costume.

Village view in Holzburg. 1

Village view in Holzburg. 1

Village view in Holzburg. 2

Village view in Holzburg. 2

Village view in Holzburg. 3

Village view in Holzburg. 3

Typical Schwalm flower box with “white stork” holder.

Typical Schwalm flower box with “white stork” holder.

Between Holzburg and Schrecksbach. 1

Between Holzburg and Schrecksbach. 1

Between Holzburg and Schrecksbach. 2

Between Holzburg and Schrecksbach. 2

Between Holzburg and Schrecksbach. 3

Between Holzburg and Schrecksbach. 3

Cornflowers on the edge of a wheat field.

Cornflowers on the edge of a wheat field.

Field of turnips.

Field of turnips.

View to Asterode.

View to Asterode.

Typical Schwalm countryside near Asterode.

Typical Schwalm countryside near Asterode.

6 Comments
  1. Die Schwälmer Stickerei und alles was damit zusammenhängt ist eine großartige Sache

  2. Very interesting

    • Reading through my website step-by-step you can learn a lot about the Schwalm – the region, the customs, and of course of the beautiful richly diverse whitework

  3. I apologize as I have never heard of you, Luzine Happel. But as we progress in this world of stitching, there is so much to learn and do. My family is from Breslau Germany and I try to keep this German ancestry alive. We live in the United States. Your work is amazing and I will follow your website. Thank you, thank you for continuing this amazingly beautiful work. It has been in my later life that I have desired to advance in my stitching. I look forward to reading more.

  4. Guten Tag,
    von meiner Großmutter Minna Schmidt , geb. Fenner bekam ich vor Jahrzehnten einen Läufer in Schwälmer Weißstickerei , der dringend restauriert werden müsste . An wen kann ich mich wenden ?
    Mit freundlichen Grüßen
    Magdalene Schmidt

  5. Super interessant auch mal was über die Schwälmer zu erfahren, mein Vater stammt aus dem Hinterland und da wurden die Schwälmer im Gespräch manchmal punktuell gestreift.

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