Marie Aaen Bunad Material Kit

A bunad with a known origin

Most traditional garments come without a name or a story. This one doesn't.

The Marie Aaen bunad was designed by Maria Aaen from Tynset — she led the embroidery department at Silkehuset in Oslo and entered an open competition in 1946 to create a new festive bunad for Østerdalen. She shared first place in 1948. The embroidery pattern was drawn directly from the rosemaling of Olenstua, a historic farmhouse from Alvdal now preserved at Glomdalsmuseet.

What you're sewing has a paper trail. That's rare.

Exactly what's in the kit

American buyers often tell us they've been burned by "complete" craft kits that turned out to be anything but. So here's the full contents, no fine print:

Included in this kit:

• Wool twill (toskaft) in black or green — cut to your measurements, embroidery pattern already traced on the fabric
• Embroidery yarn in every color required for the design
• Contrast trim fabric (green trim on black, or black trim on green)
• Bodice lining and black cotton edge binding
• Printed sewing and assembly instructions

What you'll need to order separately:

• Bunad silver — the traditional brooches, buttons, and belt buckle that complete the bunad. Available in our shop.
• Embroidered hanging pocket (løslomme) — the small hanging pocket worn with the bunad. Also in our shop.
• Bunad blouse — a white linen blouse with embroidery, worn underneath. Available in our shop.

Everything else is in the kit.

Two colors, two distinct looks

The Marie Aaen comes in two versions — and they're not just different colors. The embroidery patterns differ slightly, and the aprons are completely different garments:

• Black bunad — green trim, worn with a checked apron in red and green
• Green bunad — black trim, worn with a black silk apron with an embroidered border

Select your color in the dropdown above. If you're unsure which to choose, the black version is the more traditional of the two.

How the order works — step by step

We know ordering from a small Norwegian shop for the first time takes some trust. Here's exactly what happens:

1. Add to cart and check out — standard and secure
2. We email you a measuring form — simple body measurements, no sewing experience needed to fill it out
3. You return the form — by email, at your own pace
4. We cut the fabric to your measurements and prepare your kit
5. Your kit ships from Oslo — delivery to the US typically takes 1–2 weeks after the kit is ready

Total time from order to kit in hand: approximately 3–4 weeks.

Is this kit right for you?

This kit is designed for someone who has sewn a garment before — you don't need to be an expert, but comfort with a sewing machine and basic seam work will help. The embroidery is the most demanding part of the process, and also the most rewarding. It takes time. Many makers work on it over several months.

If you've never done embroidery before, consider starting with our Marie Aaen hairband kit — same stitch style, small investment, good practice.