What is sløyd?
Origin and use. Sløyd - home crafted items; educational sløyd.
The word "sloyd" (Norway and Denmark: sløyd; Sweden: sløjd;) and the English word sleight have the same etymology - both originates from Old Norse "slúgð" meaning skilful, cunning, cleverness or adroitness in using hands. In the English language however, the word sleight is used in conjunction with magicians - as in sleight of hand - cleverness in deception.
Sløyd is used to describe the non-commercial, home production of utilitarian items and crafts. When the word sløyd is used, one usually thinks about woodworking - probably due to the educational sløyd movement. However, sløyd is not limited to woodworking - it encompasses metal work (metal sløyd), leather (leather sløyd), textile (textile sløyd), bone and other natural materials.
Carved water cup (8th grade sloyd class). Made of alder.
The carved alder cup pictured on the right is a typical sløyd item. A popular item for Norwegians liking to hike. In Norway many streams, lakes, wells and rivers contain potable water, so you just bring a cup and get water from the stream when you are thirsty. This item certainly serves a practical purpose.
In the northern areas of Norway, Sweden and Finland one sometimes meet another form of the word - "same-sløyd" - or "samii duodjii". These are items made by the nomadic Samii people - and are often based on their traditional patterns. Same-sløyd includes items made of bone, metal, leather (from reindeer skin), wool/textile, wood and other natural materials - often several materials combined together.
When Scandinaves are talking about "sløyd", they are often referring to the Scandinavian handicraft teaching involving woodworking. Here students would learn basic woodworking skills for making crafts. They would start with smaller and simpler projects and as they mature in their skills, they can take upon them larger or more complex projects.
In Norway, sløyd is taught from 3rd thru 8th grade, and is also an elective in 8th and 9th grade. Sløyd education sometimes involves metal sløyd, textile sløyd - depending upon the school and its resources.