Behind every yarn and every sweater at The Knitwit Stable is a team of passionate makers. In this newsletter, we would like to take you behind the scenes and introduce you to Amber; knitting machine specialist. Read her story below!
From Bas Kosters to tufting and mohair
My love for textiles actually started even before my studies. Fashion always attracted me; in high school, I already dressed more eccentrically than the rest. However, making clothes came later.
During my Product Design studies at HKU, I eventually specialized in textiles. Funnily enough, I initially wanted to get away from it. After an internship in 2016 with Bas Kosters, where my fascination for textiles truly ignited, I decided to experiment with other directions at HKU. I wanted to be sure if textiles really suited me. But every time, I returned to material, structure, thread. Not so much the fashion product, but the textile itself. The craft, the tactility, the possibilities.
Tufting became one of my favorite hobbies. Perhaps it's also in my family; they used to have a factory that made, among other things, washcloths and tea towels for HEMA. Textiles have never been far away.
How I got here
In 2023, I sent an open application to The Knitwit Stable. The combination of the location, the vision, and working with natural materials immediately appealed to me. Since then, I have been working here one to two days a week with great pleasure.
What I appreciate here is the environment. In previous jobs, I mainly worked in actual knitting factories, practical, but with little atmosphere. Here, you work with a view of meadows and sheep, and that simply makes the work pleasant.
The team also makes it enjoyable. We are small and work closely together, which keeps the work varied and personal.
Favorite from the collection
My favorite item is the Babs, which I adapted myself with a higher neckline. Warm and comfortable, yet simple. The Donna is another favorite: the new jacket.
And in terms of color? Taupe in mohair remains the most beautiful combination for me.
What always strikes me here is that you know exactly where the material comes from and how much work goes into each item, from wool to the finished product. That makes the work concrete and valuable.
