Library treasure VII

By: Jantiene van Elk

This image needs no further comments by me. May be the readers of this blog want to comment?

Nomotta kousen en handschoenen. - Salach, Wtbg : Schachenmayr, Mann & Cie, [s.a.]. (Nomotta serie ; 103.

Library treasure VI

By: Jantiene van Elk

'Een zeer gewichtig punt bij het vervaardigen van kunstbreiwerk, is het afwerken der kleedjes, en de rand kan in sommige gevallen een heel eenvoudig kleedje een veel sierlijker en fraaier aanzien geven.'

It´s important to make nice trimmings to your craft work, because it will give your work a finer and more elegant look!

Kunst-breien : 73 nieuwe patronen voor gebreide kanten en kleedjes benevens een technische bescrhijving/ door J. Weinbeck. -Alkmaar : Kluitman, [192?].

Knitted Worlds in the TextileShop

By: Suzan Russeler

Christien Meindertsma is one of the designers whose knitted products are sold in the TextileShop of our museum. Her well-known stool, called Urchin Pouf, is knitted from thick felted woolen yarn. This oversized, stuffed stool can be used as soft seating or object to play with. Meindertsma also developed a special do-it-yourself-knitting-set with naturally dyed yarns.

Another interior product is the KaLaKabellampe by young German designer Jana Walliser. Walliser combines craftsmanship and industrial production ´hiding´ the power cord in a plastic tube of jointed elements and a knitted cover. The flexible tube plays the main part in the design. You can bend it in every shape you want. A knitted tube Walliser also used for a set of necklaces, available in different measurements and colours.

From knitting designer Petra Vonk beautiful, light scarfs from cotton or mohair combined with lace are available.

Do you feel inspired to knit yourself? In the shop you´ll find selected yarns like bamboo yarn, glow-in-the-dark-yarn or knitted linen ribbon.

Photo: Urchin Pouf and craft product by Christien Meindertsma, KaLaKabelLampe by Jana Walliser

"GAME ON" deel 2

By: Anne Reijse

Last (museum)weekend there were many knitters at the project "GAME ON" in the Textielmuseum. All kinds of people were knitting like crazy, as if they never did anything else before. There was a very nice atmosphere among the knitters.

Talented women were knitting like a fast train. How they did it , I don’t know. They were very, very fast. All kinds of people who never knitted before were trying to knit.

One game is ready now. Three must yet be finished, but soon you can see the small pieces and parts that are knitted. These small pieces and parts must be joined. Then you can see the games coming together.

"GAME ON" is growing in the right direction. We still need knitters!

Finger knitting

Children visiting the Textielmuseum can now learn how to finger knit. In our brand new Textile Academy children can learn this easy technique. And you can practise at home: just watch the video, get some yarn and start knitting.

Stitch ’n Bitch

By: Carla Meijsen

Google ‘knitting’…… almost 30 million hits. Did you expect that? Via internet knitters communicate with each other on their passion for knitting. There are sites with information, videos, weblogs, web shops, forums, and communities. But: personal contact and knee to knee knitting is irreplaceable.

Stitch ‘n Bitch (in Dutch: Breien en Beppen) started in the Netherlands in 2004. Knitters of all ages and backgrounds gather in a cafe. With a latte, a glass of wine or a beer they knit, discuss and exchange patterns and inspire each other. Knitting in progress, knitting books, new yarns and completed knits are proudly showed and admired. There are now nearly 90 knitting groups in the Netherlands.


Knitting at a Stitch ’n Bitch group is without any obligations and free of charge. You only pay for your own drinks. There´s always a experienced knitter to help the novice knitter with technical difficulties. Learn about new materials and tools, such as bamboo needles, Japanese knitting books and soy, milk protein or stainless steel yarns!

Do you want to start knitting with Stitch ’n Bitch? You´re most welcome. Find all information on Dutch Stitch ´n Bitch groups on www.stitchnbitch.nl

Photo´s: logo Stitch ´n Bitch the Netherlands and First Knit by Carla Meijsen

Human identity, or how we see ourselves, forms a central theme in Chrystl Rijkeboer’s work.

By: Chrystl Rijkeboer

I am trained as an autonomous visual artist. Techniques are subordinate to the work. I try to learn skills, which I need to give my work the expressiveness it needs.
Ive been working with the material 'human hair' for many years. With this material I learned crafts like: felting, spinning, crocheting and knitting. Each time I try to find the limits in possibilities between the material and my ‘story’.

Striking is after years of incomprehension about my way of work, nowadays my work and craft-work in generally is very contemporary. I do believe that by our Western consumer society, products which are made with love, attention and craft skills, are highly appreciated.

The 3 dimensional works, which I spin, knit or crochet, are also processed into photographic- or video works and performances. I feel that works are "finished" after they are linked to the human again. For me it is of great importance to reunite the work on the human level again.

Foto’s: ‘She only wanted a boy’ & Twins_brown’

KNIT KNIT : profiles + projects from knitting´s new wave

By: Jantiene van Elk

All over North America and Europe, a brand-new generation has taken up knitting - and is transforming the venerable needlecraft by blurring the boundary between craft and art. (...)

Five years ago, Sabina Gschwandter founded a zine to tackle the blurry edge between craft and fine art to chroncile the trend. Now, her book KnitKnit brings together profiles of 27 of the most talented artist-crafters knitting today. But KnitKnit does more than just document their ingenious creations. Each of the profiled knitters has contributed a project - a kimono-style sweater, a pair of high-heeled boots, a hobo-style shoulder bag, geodesic-patterned cap, even a teddy bear knit from fiberglass insulation - meant to inspire you and follow your creative path (text from book jacket)

The weblog we-make-money-not-art wrote a review.

Knit knit : profiles + projects from knitting´s new wave / Sabina Gschwandtner. - New York : Craft / a Melanie Falick Book, 2007. 173 p. : ill.
ISBN: 978-1-58479-631-2

“GAME ON”

By Anne Reijse, artist



The knitting project “GAME ON” started!

Visitors are knitting the elements of a set, that finally will end up in a knitted computergame.

Do you remember the computer heroes from a while ago…..Pacman, Donkey Kong, Space invader an Mario? These heroes have to be knit before you can play the game.

There is a lot of work to be done…. Everyone is welcome to knit the game. The more is knitted the sooner you can play the GAME. We need all hands, even when you have never knitted in your live before…this project gives you an opportunity to be a great knitter!! If you are already a knitter, you are also very welcome to enjoy this knitting project! When all the pieces of the project are knitted you can start playing the GAME.

The hole set up of this project consists of four different games children (or adults) can play. Imagine playing with a knitted Maria hero in a computergame!!

Let the GAME start to grow!!