Regional Wool Project

Daantje, a 22-year-old maker from Eindhoven, began knitting during the Covid lockdowns and hasn’t looked back since. With a lifelong love of creativity and a rebellious start in yarncraft, she now inspires even her mother to pick up the needles again. For her regional wool project, Daantje explored natural dyeing using red cabbage and carrot tops to create a colorful cardigan with floral sleeves. Her work blends vibrant plant-based colors with intricate knitting techniques like intarsia and stranded colorwork.

Audrey Meijs (59) from Veghel has been expanding her creative hobbies for over 20 years, from scrapbooking and journaling to rediscovering her passion for knitting. Although she first learned to knit at 16, she only recently mastered circular knitting — just four months ago. For the regional wool project, she created a refined lace-patterned Peacock sweater using top-down construction and German short rows. Knitting with regional wool for the first time, Audrey enjoyed the calm and focus the process brought her.

Emily Cocu (33) from Eindhoven dove into the world of woolcraft three years ago, but her passion took off when she started working at the Prehistorisch Dorp museum in 2023. Driven by a mix of curiosity and ADHD-fueled determination, she quickly taught herself the ancient technique of cardweaving. For her regional wool project, Emily went from raw fleece to finished band, creating a handwoven belt featuring the “Vibes” logo of Eindhoven. Along the way, she discovered both the beauty and the challenges of processing local wool by hand—and the deep satisfaction of reviving historical crafts.

Karin Waag (62) from Sterksel has a background in textile arts and has been working with fabric and wool her whole life. In recent years, she rediscovered her passion for plant-based dyeing, along with crochet and knitting. For her regional wool project, Karin combined joyful hours of dyeing with flowers and experimenting with knitting and crochet stitches to create playful woolen pieces. Her work celebrates the beauty of natural color and the simple joy of making.

Peter van Elburg Boddendijk (35) from Helmond has been creative since childhood, from drawing to decorating cakes, and in recent years has added crochet and sock knitting to his skillset. For the regional wool project, he hand-dyed wool with coffee and tea for the first time and used it to knit a pair of fingerless gloves—with a matching hat still in progress. The natural color variations of the regional wool suit his love for detail, like contrasting edges. For Peter, knitting is not only a relaxing activity but also a way to stay connected to the memory of his grandmother.

Pauline (37) from Geldrop has been crocheting for eight years and took up knitting three years ago as a creative way to relax and express herself. For the regional wool project, she experimented with felting handspun wool—an idea that didn’t work out as planned, but led to a new direction: knitting mittens and starting a matching scarf. Along the way, she discovered that regional wool behaves differently than she’s used to—sturdier, less soft, and surprisingly resistant to shrinking. Pauline embraces the trial-and-error process, always open to adapting her plans and exploring new ideas through craft.

Marian Diepenbroek (65) from Nijkerk has been working with wool in many forms, from knitting as a child to spinning and weaving in recent years. Introduced to raw fleece by her daughter, she fell in love with wool’s natural textures, smells, and sustainable possibilities. For her regional wool project, Marian spun locally sourced wool into yarn and wove it into patterned cloth, which she transformed into naturally styled pillows backed with unbleached cotton. Her process—from shearing day to finished pieces—reflects her deep appreciation for wool as a meditative and meaningful craft.

Fleur van Lieshout (28) from Eindhoven is a dedicated maker with a deep appreciation for natural materials and slow fashion. After rediscovering her creative spark through sewing, she began knitting two years ago and has been hooked ever since. For the regional wool project, Fleur designed and hand-knitted a sweater using traditional techniques, inspired by the Strabrechtse Heide and her local roots. Her thoughtful approach reflects a strong connection to the origin of materials and a growing resistance to fast fashion culture.

Yolande Hezemans (63) from Eindhoven has been knitting since childhood, a passion passed down from her mother that has grown into a cherished creative outlet. With a background in the arts and a career at a design school, she finds deep joy in working with her hands. For her regional wool project, Yolande created two slip-overs—one for a child, one for an adult—embellished with embroidered children’s drawings. Combining knitting, natural dyeing, and embroidery, her work reflects both personal connection and playful creativity.

Jana (35) from Eindhoven has been knitting and crocheting for ten years, a passion sparked by a friend's workshop and inspired by her mother’s beautiful hand-knit sweaters. She combines her love of historical fashion with hands-on craftsmanship, creating garments based on patterns from the 1890s and 1930s. For her regional wool project, she made a structured crochet bag and belt, along with a dramatic Victorian-inspired cycling sweater—using swatching, blocking, and historical techniques to bring the designs to life. Jana values the meditative rhythm of knitting and enjoys exploring how different yarns shape both the form and feel of a garment.

Nicole des Bouvrie (39), based in Nuenen, is an art teacher and visual therapist who enjoys exploring new creative techniques. She has been knitting for five years and recently experimented with dyeing wool using coffee and creating pleats with smocking techniques. For the regional wool project, Nicole crafted a long knitted piece that she transformed into a floral textured fabric. She values knitting as a mindful, hands-on practice that brings both creativity and calm into her life.

Tineke Uit den Boogaard (66) is an experienced textile artist from Eindhoven with over 60 years of experience in knitting, crocheting, and spinning. She combines traditional techniques with creative experimentation, often exploring the properties of regional wool. For the regional wool project, Tineke created a wool sculpture that balances form and texture while highlighting the unique qualities of local sheep’s wool. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and inspiring others through her work and storytelling.

Hanneke Kreuwels (59) from Geldrop has rekindled her passion for fibre arts over the past decade, with a special love for spinning regional wool. Drawing on skills learned from her grandmother, she transforms raw fleece into hand-spun yarn, incorporating natural dyeing techniques like madder root. For the regional wool project, Hanneke crafted a unique shawl inspired by the Brabant flag using the Tunisian entrelac stitch. She enjoys the hands-on creativity of working with wool and encourages others to start small and embrace the rewarding process.

Hanne Clemens (31) from Veldhoven is a passionate fiber artist who discovered the depth of wool craft after developing Long Covid. Originally taught to knit and crochet as a child, she deepened her skills in recent years, learning to spin her own yarn and dye it with plants. For the regional wool project, she created a handspun, naturally dyed, and embroidered sleeveless vest — a fully handmade piece from fleece to finish. Hanne finds deep satisfaction in the slow, meditative process of working with wool and loves being part of the broader handcraft community.

Margo van Gent from Helmond learned to knit and crochet as a child from her grandmother, and has been seriously engaged with both crafts for over a decade. She enjoys exploring traditional techniques and recently taught herself how to knit cables. For the regional wool project, Margo is creating a bottom-up sweater inspired by historic fishermen’s sweaters, using symbolic motifs like hearts, coffee beans, and nets. For her, knitting is a calming, almost meditative practice that brings both creativity and peace.

Rolijn van Vught (35) from Eindhoven discovered her love for crochet during her maternity leave just a few years ago. With a lifelong passion for creativity — from origami and jewelry making to drawing and embroidery — she finds crafting to be a grounding escape from daily routines. For the regional wool project, she crocheted her first shawl using locally sourced wool, embracing its natural feel and imperfections. To Rolijn, working with her hands offers a peaceful counterbalance to her office life and a deeper connection to her materials.