Felted ornaments at the Köln Christmas Markets. Offered by ní-kí.
Felted Ornaments
Europe
Heinzelmännchen
A highlight of our trip was the Gnome Christmas Market in Cologne, Germany. Many vendors told us the same story. According to folklore, the Heinzelmännchen (gnome-like creatures) lived unseen in craftsmen’s workshops – tailors, carpenters, shoemakers, weavers. At night, they helped the craftsmen to sew or carve or perhaps knit so that the shop owners would have more to sell to provide for their families. One night, one young girl stayed up past her bedtime because she wanted to see the gnomes at work. After a long wait, she finally spotted one in her father’s workshop. But the gnome saw her too and – poof! – disappeared, never to be seen again. You may notice that each gnome carries a book (look closely at the one on the far left). That book carries their life story, their saga. What’s your saga?
Altena Burg
As we wound our way through the German countryside in our rented Mini Cooper, we saw Altena Castle in the distance. Altena Burg was built in the 12th century and sits on a hilltop keeping watch over the town below.
Made in Germany
On a recent trip to Germany, my husband and I took a side trip that only a knitter would understand. We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Thomas Selter, CEO of Gustav Selter GmbH & Co. KG, at the company headquarters in Altena, Germany. The company is better known as the maker of Addi knitting needles. The Gustav Selter company is a family-run enterprise dating back to 1829. Thomas is the sixth generation Selter to run the business.
The Gustav Selter company is the only needle production facility in Germany. Thomas guided us through a tour of the facility where we saw the entire production process for making Addi needles – straight needles, circular needles, needles made of steel and bamboo, as well as crochet hooks.
At each step of the process, a combination of machinery and human intervention come together to create the needles. Because they are the only facility of its kind in Germany, they have had to become resourceful and innovative in their craft. Some of the equipment is purchased and then adapted to create unique pieces of machinery for specialized steps in the production cycle.
Each step in the manufacturing process is carried out with precision. When producing the circular needles, special attention is paid to the joints where the wire and the needle come together so as not to snag the yarn during knitting. Similarly, an innovative threading system was developed to create the interchangeable needles in the Addi Click system.
What was evident on every floor of the Selter facility was the pride in workmanship that went into every needle. Thomas spoke with an in-depth knowledge and a passion about the company’s products. Their focus is on quality and on providing hand knitters the best tools possible.
For more on the company’s history, visit addi by selter (in english).
Agujas 