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.

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.

Adrianna Brozynska (30) from Weert discovered knitting just a year ago, after being inspired by beautiful handmade pieces online. With a background in sewing and a love for creating from scratch, she embraced knitting with patience and quickly fell in love with the process. Her regional wool project—a simple yet elegant design using only knits and purls—highlights the natural beauty and texture of the yarn. For Adrianna, knitting is both calming and fulfilling, offering the joy of handmade garments she’s proud to wear and care for.

Maura Lodewijk (19) from Nuenen is a true collector of techniques, who has been creatively engaged with drawing, painting, and textiles since childhood. She started crocheting in primary school and later learned to knit, spin, and do lacework. For her Regional Wool Project, she carded and hand-spun local wool using a drop spindle—even while on vacation, at the Efteling, and at university—which her sister Gitte then used to crochet a vest. For Maura, working with wool is not only a source of calm and joy, but also a way to keep ancient techniques alive and bring her creative ideas to life.

Maartje (40) from Bakel has been knitting since 2011, building on a lifelong passion for making clothes that began at the sewing machine. Wanting to expand her handmade wardrobe, she taught herself to knit and now enjoys exploring creative stitch patterns and textures. Her regional wool project—a cardigan in progress—focuses on showcasing the natural stitch definition of the wool through basketweave-inspired techniques. For Maartje, working with wool is a journey of experimentation and patience, where even trial and error is part of the joy of making.

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.

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.

Nivedita (29) from Eindhoven began knitting and crocheting four years ago, drawn to the joy of learning and creating by hand. While she’s explored many crafts, this one stuck—and recently led her to design and knit her very first wearable piece. Her regional wool project, a whimsical cropped vest made with her own pattern, reflects both her creative spirit and her eye for detail. For Nivedita, crafting is a grounding practice that brings calm and focus, offering both mindfulness in the moment and satisfaction in the finished piece.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mirta (28) from Eindhoven began knitting and crocheting two years ago, inspired by her passion for fashion and her desire to design and make her own clothes. She now uses a single bed knitting machine to create structured, textured pieces that merge creativity with technique. For her regional wool project, she designed two unique tops—one vest with corset-inspired elements and a dreamy texture, and a second with asymmetric button details. Knitting is not just a craft for Mirta, but a calming, creative escape from her 9-to-5 routine.