Meet the team at The Knitwit Stable
Behind every thread and every sweater at The Knitwit Stable is a team full of passionate makers. In the upcoming newsletters, we'd like to take you behind the scenes and introduce you to the people who work with heart and soul on our mission: honest, local wool and clothing with character.
We kick off this series with Mirte; textile designer, knitting machine programmer, and all-round engaged colleague. From linking sweaters to managing collaborations: Mirte does it all, with enthusiasm and an eye for detail. Read her story below!
From Kunstbende to knitting machine: my journey to The Knitwit Stable
My love for fashion started early, at fourteen I participated with a friend in Kunstbende, a competition for young creative talent. We decided to make clothes ourselves, without experience, just with an old sewing machine and a lot of imagination. One became a tulip, the other wore a peacock suit, it was cheerful, wild, and it worked! We taught ourselves, and that made it so much fun.
That early spark led me to the Fashion Design program at HKU, where I learned all the basic skills, from design to construction. There I also got acquainted with the knitting machine, and I immediately found that fascinating. Instead of working with existing fabrics, you make the fabric yourself, thread by thread. That felt like real craftsmanship.
After my bachelor's, I continued my studies in Sweden, in Borås, where I pursued a master's in Textile Design. They had a huge workspace full of knitting machines, and people who helped you technically realize your ideas. I could fully immerse myself in knitting and further develop my design vision.
During my studies, I saw a vacancy at The Knitwit Stable. I already knew it from the episode of Floortje Dessing and immediately knew: that's where I want to work. When I returned to the Netherlands, I actually started working there.
From learning to leading
I started here with linking: assembling the sweater after knitting, on the linking machines. That is still manual work, and you learn a lot from it; how a sweater is really constructed, how stitches work, and what different types of wool do.
Because we are a small team, I also helped with all sorts of things: photoshoots, sorting wool, packing packages, guiding workshops. At The Knitwit Stable, you really learn all facets.
Slowly, my focus shifted more towards the knitting machines. I learned to write programs that determine what each stitch should do, and every sweater is different because customers often want adjustments. So I now program and knit the garments we make myself.
In addition, I oversee production and collaborations. I ensure timely delivery, coordinate with designers and companies, and try to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Why I like working here
What I love about The Knitwit Stable is that we work transparently and locally, with animal- and environmentally friendly wool. Everything is done with care here: from the first thread to the last stitch. And I still learn something new every day.
