beware the hulder

I have been shoddy.  No surprise there right?  Aaaaaages ago the lovely Laura from Dropstitch sent me this gocco print in thanks for uploading her some English instructions.

“These mountain trolls I have been telling you about sometimes marry, but very seldom because there are only a few troll women.  They are the most horrible, ugly old women, like witches, but they know a great deal of magic and are, therefore, very powerful.  However, as they very rarely appear, it is not at all likely that you will ever meet one of these old troll witches.  But it is quite likely that you may one day come across one of their daughters, who are called hulders.  Walking through a clearing in the woods where some cattle are grazing on a summer’s evening, you may see a very beautiful young girl; so beautiful that you will stop to gaze at her.  She may be a hulder.  If she is, beware, for you must not talk to her, for anyone who says a single word to a hulder immediately becomes her captive.  Young shepherds were often so entranced by the beauty of one of these young girls that they would long to walk through the woods with her and talk to her and hold her hand; but if you wish to remain free you must remain absolutely silent.  This was often very difficult for the poor shepherd boys because the hulders appeared to be so really sweet and lovely and promised the shepherds mountains of silver and gold.  If, under this temptation, the shepherd broke his silence, he was forced to follow his enchantress into her mountain home, and the moment she got there she changed into her real self – and oh, how hideous she really was!  Now I’ll tell you a secret, there is one way by which you can always discover a hulder: if you walk behind her you will find that she has a tail – a cow’s tail – and this she simply cannot get rid of or hide!”

From ‘Norwegian Fairy Tales’ by Gert Strindberg

Laura works wonders with a gocco, much more than I’m able to and she’s one of the most generous and enthusiastic bloggers out there.  She hasn’t even mentioned how long it’s taken me (and it is a stupidly long time) to publicly thank her for this print that is now hanging happily on my living room wall next to a picture of a mournful dog.  Thank you very much Miss Donald x