Schrift met 41 gebreide proeflappen c. 1867 - 1949

This intriguing notebook, or ‘Schrift’, with 41 knitted swatches was compiled by M.A. Smid-Alberts. It makes me think about the touch, rhythm, and time involved. Imagine Smid-Alberts, absorbed in the meditative click of knitting needles, carefully forming each stitch, each swatch a little experiment. The book is like a painter’s sketchbook, but instead of paint, there’s yarn. These small, tactile studies are bound together, each one a testament to time and care. Looking at it, I think about Anni Albers, a textile artist at the Bauhaus, who elevated weaving to an art form. I see this book as part of that lineage, where craft is not just functional but a deeply personal expression. Each stitch is a mark, much like a brushstroke, building up texture and form. Think of all those tiny, individual decisions coming together – a quiet conversation between the maker and her materials, like a painter mixing colors, feeling her way through the process.