Touching Yarns
February 12, 2013 4:25 AM   Subscribe

Loes Veenstra knitted more than 500 sweaters since 1955 & kept them in her house in the 2nd Carnissestraat. The sweaters were never worn. Until today.

In the world of Dutch Design Superstars, Christien Meindertsma, known for the book PIG 05049 (previously, previously) likes to keep it down to earth. While being involved in an exhibition about the Carnisse neighborhood in Rotterdam, she found Loes Veenstra and her collection of randomly knit sweaters. While she was preparing a book about this labour of love, she also organized a tribute involving the whole neighborhood.
posted by ouke (28 comments total) 29 users marked this as a favorite
 
Aww, sweet.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:30 AM on February 12, 2013 [3 favorites]


Obligatory.

But, yeah, super sweet.
I want to share this with everyone I know.

Also, +1 for the title.
posted by Mezentian at 4:31 AM on February 12, 2013


Why didn't she give the sweaters away? How much room did she have in her house for 500 sweaters? Why does every event require a flashmob?

So many questions!
posted by xingcat at 4:39 AM on February 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


That's adorable. Some real variety in those sweaters, no?
posted by BibiRose at 4:51 AM on February 12, 2013 [2 favorites]


Kool.
posted by MartinWisse at 4:57 AM on February 12, 2013


Video also includes an observant cat and a dancing dog.
This is so happy making!
posted by bobobox at 4:58 AM on February 12, 2013 [6 favorites]


Why didn't she give the sweaters away? How much room did she have in her house for 500 sweaters? Why does every event require a flashmob?

"Obsessive compulsive hoarder honored for selfishness"

Seriously, though, this is great. She probably never expected so many people to be interested in what she's been doing all this time. It's very sweet.
posted by monkeymadness at 5:00 AM on February 12, 2013 [2 favorites]


That was quite nice.

Excuse, me I seem to have something in my eye.
posted by oddman at 5:08 AM on February 12, 2013


This is wonderful in so many ways... The Turtles, color coordinated band, happy people.

Please note, however, it was ruined by the fact that the dancer at 2:35 did NOT have a sweater on.
posted by HuronBob at 5:25 AM on February 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


There were some awesome sweaters in there.
posted by unSane at 5:31 AM on February 12, 2013 [2 favorites]


Her hands look like they want to hold knitting. I've seen them before, those knitters' hands.

So, what became of the sweaters? Did anyone get to keep one?

I had to imagine everyone present going forth dressed as they are here, taking color and fun out into the dim, dark, workaday world that knows nothing of garments made with love.

This was 100% great fun, even the onlookers are beautiful. Thank you.
posted by kinnakeet at 5:43 AM on February 12, 2013 [2 favorites]


All of those gorgeous sweaters, and there she is in a slanket.

This is wonderful, and I'll probably watch it dozens of times - it'll be bookmarked under my "Happy Places."
posted by peagood at 6:01 AM on February 12, 2013 [2 favorites]


Not just knitted sweaters, a lot of them were made by crochet. Best example of Stash Busting I have seen in quite a while: so very few solid color sweaters in the lot.
posted by francesca too at 6:42 AM on February 12, 2013


From what I understood from various Dutch media: Loes simply knitted faster than she could give sweaters away. All the sweaters apparently will be auctioned off.
posted by ouke at 6:49 AM on February 12, 2013


Is the little girl who shows up first at 1:18 wearing a pink Mork from Ork sweater?
posted by artychoke at 6:54 AM on February 12, 2013


Some nice sweaters, and a favorite song of mine too.

But the funny part is my not realizing 'straat' wasn't German, but Dutch. I don't know much Dutch, I kind of avoid it (partner's family all speak Dutch, but most know English) since I live in Germany-speaking territory.
posted by Goofyy at 7:14 AM on February 12, 2013


I'm a knitter (though not a sweater knitter). I got weirdly weepy over this.
posted by dlugoczaj at 7:17 AM on February 12, 2013 [4 favorites]


That's adorable. And you've just given me a post topic for my knitting blog.
posted by orange swan at 8:00 AM on February 12, 2013


I am disappointed that the cat is not wearing a sweater.

Just kidding! This is extremely lovely and she seemed to be very tickled; I hope that's the case.
posted by Fui Non Sum at 8:21 AM on February 12, 2013


Proving once again that "If it ain't Dutch, it ain't much."
posted by humboldt32 at 9:32 AM on February 12, 2013


People are the best.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:23 AM on February 12, 2013 [2 favorites]


in the 2nd Carnissestraat

Isn't this the street address, and should be "at #2 Carnissestraat"?
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 10:27 AM on February 12, 2013


There are actually 3 Carnissestreets, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd. It is a weird Dutch habit to give streets the same name (often close together) and then number them. Anecdote about one of our greatest writers, Gerard Reve: "You write a book and nothing happens. If you're lucky, they name a street after you, but who the hell remembers Second Helmers?
posted by ouke at 10:41 AM on February 12, 2013 [2 favorites]


Thanks for the explanation. I had no idea.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 10:46 AM on February 12, 2013


It is a weird Dutch habit to give streets the same name (often close together) and then number them.

They do the same thing in America. In New York there are a whole bunch of streets named after some guy called "Avenue."

(That was a joyous video, thank you).
posted by yoink at 11:17 AM on February 12, 2013 [1 favorite]


That cat on the roof looks just like my Cornflake. So of course, that made it much better. But this was rather cute.
posted by Kokopuff at 12:38 PM on February 12, 2013


dlugoczaj: I'm a knitter (though not a sweater knitter). I got weirdly weepy over this.

I know, me too. It's like whoever made this video was purposely pushing all my emotional buttons: awesome knitting, cute cat, people dancing joyously, cute little old lady.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:51 PM on February 12, 2013 [3 favorites]


dlugoczaj: I'm a knitter (though not a sweater knitter). I got weirdly weepy over this.

I'm not a knitter but my mom has knit and crocheted a huge variety of wearables and non-wearables. There's a particular sweater she has knit that I never fail to wear when I'm sick. It's so hilariously, adorably oversized that I've been wearing it since I was in elementary school. She's sleeping now or I'd be tearfully telling her how much I love her. Instead, I'm just weeping alone. *sniffles*
posted by mayurasana at 10:33 PM on February 12, 2013 [3 favorites]


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