Knitting Circle at Bourbaki

One Monday per month café Bourbaki guests might witness a small group of women indulging in an old tradition: knitting. Yet, the three women aren’t old, in fact they are in their late twenties: Cristina, Mirjam and Petra take up a handcraft that was almost forgotten when fleece jackets and high tech textiles were established. The generation of our grandparents may observe with astonishment: knitting, crocheting and alike have become a clear trend again. Young people on the train unpack their handmade hoods and pullovers and start working on them like a duck takes to water. Or, as the three women in Bourbaki: they get together for the purpose of knitting and exchanging tricks and thoughts on it.

Cristina, Mirjam and Petra have told us about serveral knitting groups and friends in town. It’s not only a way to be creative, but also to network and to spend time with peers. The fact that they think of themselves as knitting laymen doesn’t keep them from doing it in public and showing their work to curious guests – as Josefina and me. The feeling of finishing something with your own hands is very satisfying, they all agree; even more if you’re using sustainable materials such as European sheep wool. None of the girls would buy synthetic wool anymore. Mirjam did once and was very disappointed by the result: it felt cheap and was full of hooches. Eversince she chooses more carefully. The yarn has to be natural, as local as possible and machine-washable, Cristina says. Mirjam and Petra have other criteria, even though they care about sustainability and the background of their wool they are mostly looking out for beautiful colours.

To Cristina, Mirjam and Petra knitting is a very creative and relaxing work and mainly fun. We are happy to have shared thoughts with them and witnessed their meeting.