Behind every thread and every sweater at The Knitwit Stable is a team of enthusiastic makers. In this newsletter, we'd like to take you behind the scenes and introduce you to Fransje, our linker. Read her story below!
I'm Fransje, and at The Knitwit Stable, I'm involved in linking panels. This means I connect the separate parts that come out of the knitting machine, such as front and back panels and sleeves, using the linker to create a single piece. It's precise work, but that's exactly what makes it so enjoyable.
How I ended up here
I studied Industrial Design in Eindhoven. After my studies, I needed an orientation year: to see what I wanted, a master's degree or to work. During Dutch Design Week, I saw a presentation by The Knitwit Stable about the Aabe blanket. That immediately appealed to me, and I thought: I want to visit that place. I started here first with volunteer work, mainly finishing socks and hats.
Gradually, I learned more and more. I also started with repairs and adjustments, such as shortening sweaters for customers. I hadn't done that before; I learned it here in practice, by watching and just doing it. The linking happened in the same room as the finishing, and I found that immediately intriguing. I wanted to learn that too. By working with other linkers, I learned how to thread the machine, how the knitwear should come out, and what to look out for. In the beginning, it was slow, but over time I became faster and faster.
I had seen linked stitches before, but I had never really considered how a knitted item is technically constructed. I occasionally knitted a hat, but not much else. I knew how knitting basically works, with loops hooking into each other, but here I really started to understand the structure of a knitted garment. I have never knitted an entire sweater myself.
Favorites to wear and to make
At home, I now also have a number of Knitwit items. I had to have the Aabe blanket, because that's where it all started for me. I sleep under it every night. In addition, I bought a hat kit and knitted a hat myself. My favorite garment is the Vera slipover; I wear it with everything. My other favorites are the Dory cardigan, because it's so soft, and the Ditjes, the fingerless mittens made from Dutch wool.
The Vera is also my favorite to link. The sides are short, the shoulders are clear, and it's done quickly. Moreover, I often wear it myself, so I don't even have to take an example out of the closet. I prefer to work with light colors, such as white mohair or light blue, because you can see the stitches well. Dark colors are more difficult for me. A white Nina would really be a dream for me to link.
What makes working here so enjoyable
What I love about working at The Knitwit Stable is that you're surrounded by people who enjoy what they do and create beautiful things together. You work with beautiful materials and assemble items that you actually want to keep, which sometimes makes it difficult to restrain yourself.
