LOOP!
The knitting festival at the textile hub in the Esche-Museum in Limbach-Oberfrohna
It was the Esche family who started producing stockings in Limbach in the 17th century. Many generations later, Reinhold Esche began building his factory in Sachsenstraße in 1853. Today, the building houses the Esche-Museum, Lab and Forum, where textile history is not only told, but made tangible. People with a love of knitting, a penchant for beautiful things made of wool and a heart for all kinds of textiles – socks, scarves, jumpers, cushion covers or even wraps for street signs – will meet here for a whole weekend.
When? 22 to 24. August 2025
Where? Limbach-Oberfrohna, Esche Museum
Stadt Limbach-Oberfrohna, Esche-Museum, Landesverband der Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft Sachsen e.V.
Workshops
The workshops are limited to 8 to 10 participants each, so registration is required. On Saturday, 23 August 2025, the workshops are free of charge, on Sunday, 24 August 2025, a participation fee of €20 per workshop will be charged.
Saturday, 23.08.2025
10-11 am: "1 ball of yarn-1000 possibilities"- UNDOYARN
This open material workshop with yarns from UNDOYARN invites you to work experimentally. The focus is on intuition, transformation and intermediate textile forms.
11:30 am -12:30 pm: Idea Workshop - Bettina Kletzsch
In this workshop, participants will explore social issues, problems and challenges. In a playful and subtle way, textile sketches, designs, patterns or garments are created that visualise this content. The workshop takes up the motto of the Capital of Culture "C the Unseen" and invites participants to experience the invisible through design.
1-4 p.m.: Knitwear repair workshop focussing on weave stitch incl. working materials - The Hole Story
In this one-hour knitwear repair workshop, participants will learn the technique of weave darning using small practice pieces. The anatomy of textile damage will also be discussed. Participants can bring their own damaged items of clothing, discuss them together and repair them on site if necessary.
2:30-4:30 pm: Wiggly Scarf Workshop - Helena Wieser (fully booked)
In this one-hour workshop, up to eight participants will work together with the workshop leader to realise a specially developed instruction for the "Wiggly Scarf" - a fashionable, wave-shaped scarf. All the necessary techniques are explained step by step and individual assistance is available at any time. The workshop is aimed at people with basic knitting skills and an interest in new techniques. It is not suitable for absolute beginners.
5-6 pm: "Double Knit (double-sided knitting)" - knitting a coaster with a double-sided pattern - Sabine Hoffmann
In this workshop, participants will learn the technique of double-sided knitting - also known as double knit or double face. Two colours, a background and an accent colour, are used to create patterns that can be used on both sides: the motif on the front appears as a "negative" on the back. The finished knitted item has no defined reverse side and can be used on both sides. Double Knit is suitable for scarves, shawls, hats and decorative home accessories, among other things. The workshop is aimed at advanced beginners with a solid basic knowledge of knitting.
Sunday, 24.08.2025
10 am - 2 pm: "Looping Around" - Luise Wonneberger
In the first two hours, participants will create their own costumes and simple, large-scale figures using the materials available in the museum. This will be followed by a performative activity lasting around an hour, during which they will walk through the museum with the objects they have created and interact with the visitors.
12:30 pm -3pm: 2.5 h Knitwear repair workshop - focussing on loop stitch filling and weave stitch as well as presentation of other techniques (appliqué, knit stitch) including working materials - The Hole Story
In this 2.5-hour knitwear repair workshop, participants will learn the darning techniques of loop stitch filling and weave stitch for repairing minor damage to knitted items. They will practise on prepared knitwear samples, supplemented by theoretical insights into the "anatomy" of damage. Other repair methods such as appliqué and knit stitch will also be introduced. You can bring your own items of clothing, discuss them and repair them on site if necessary.
3-5.30 pm: Embroidery on knitwear - Magdalena Sophie ORLAND
This course is about the creative finishing of knitted surfaces - for example (by arrangement) on a potholder. The underlying stitch pattern serves as a grid that provides both orientation and scope for creative experimentation. The needle and thread can be used to pierce binding points, wrap stitch legs or embroider entire stitches. This opens up an unusual but versatile form of embroidery that deliberately abandons traditional rules and enables intuitive work. Graphic and regularly repeated patterns are shown as well as free or floral motifs.