Discover the magic of Moroccan carpet knotting under the guidance of Mina Abouzahra and Fadma Ait Oukhechif.
Learn the art of weaving and knotting on a mini loom. Fadma Ait Oukhechif is a master weaver from Taznakht. In this region, five hours south of Marrakech, the craft of weaving is still alive and well, with at least one loom in every household.
During this workshop, you will work on a small loom and make a small tapestry with wool that you can take home with you.
The craft of carpet knotting is passed down from generation to generation. Berber carpets are unique pieces full of identity and heritage. An experienced weaver can make an average of 10,000 knots per day, with carpets taking months or even years to complete. Each carpet and knot tells its own unique story, the story of the weaver.
For the Amazigh, wool has a special power, full of invisible blessings. Rituals and songs accompany the making of carpets, making them not only works of art, but also carriers of culture and tradition.
Fadma Ait Oukhechif leads the Kasbetaznakhte weaving cooperative in Taznakht, the village she calls home and where she learned the art of carpet knotting. She likes to experiment with colours, especially blue, a colour associated with Taznakht. Her weaving cooperative works with Mina Abouzahra, and their collaboration unites Dutch design and Moroccan craftsmanship. Together they hope to ensure that the weaving craft with its rich history can continue to exist sustainably.
Fassi embroidery, also known as Tarz al Fassi, is a traditional style of embroidery from the city of Fès in Morocco. It is renowned for its intricate, geometric, and reversible designs. Fassi embroidery is typically carried out on a large scale, with large tablecloths and napkins taking months to complete.
In this workshop, you will learn the basic stitches of traditional Fès embroidery. With just thread, a needle, and some fabric, you can take home a piece of Moroccan heritage in the form of a napkin.
The embroidery school is part of the Fadila El Gadi Foundation for the Arts of Embroidery, founded in October 2015 and located in the Hay Salam district of Salé. The foundation was established by the Moroccan designer Fadila El Gadi, who had the dream of perpetuating and passing on the art of traditional embroidery to young people. The mission of the Fadila El Gadi Foundation for the Arts of Embroidery in Salé is to train young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in crafts related to traditional embroidery. In doing so, the foundation contributes to the preservation and promotion of Moroccan cultural heritage and improves the social conditions of young people by facilitating their access to the job market.
Nabila was a student at the Fadila El Gadi Foundation for the Arts of Embroidery. She graduated in 2020 and is now an embroidery teacher, working freelance on embroidery projects. She is 24 years old and lives in Salé.
Aissa was also a student at the Fadila El Gadi Foundation for the Arts of Embroidery. He graduated in 2021 and has since been collaborating with Fadila El Gadi and other workshops. He specializes in pearls and maalam embroidery.
Get to know blueprinting with indigo and dye your cotton with this purely natural dye.
Blueprinting is a cotton printing technique, an ancient craft used to decorate fabrics. In this centuries-old printing technique, a protective paste is applied to fabric to create a pattern. After the paste dries, the fabric is dipped one or more times into a blue vat to dye it blue. The paste is then washed out, leaving a white pattern on the blue dyed fabric. Indigo is one of the oldest dyes globally used to dye textiles blue. In Europe, historically, the blue dye plant used for blueprinting was woad. From the 16th and 17th centuries, stronger indigo arrived from India, which allows for entire fabrics to be dyed, as well as creating patterns by covering parts of the fabric before dipping it into the indigo vat. Blueprinting has been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage in Germany. Cotton printing (block printing) has been added to the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Netherlands.
In this masterclass, you will practice three different techniques to apply the clay paste – with a brush, stencil, and a wooden printing block from India – on cotton swatches, which you will then dye with indigo. Afterward, you will choose one of these techniques to design and dye a slightly larger piece of cotton. You will personally dye both the swatches and the final piece in the indigo dye bath. After oxidation, the cotton will be rinsed. At the end of the masterclass, you will take the pieces home to further integrate into your own project.
Nathalie Cassée operates her specialized Cotton Printing Workshop in the national monument, de Volmolen, in Amersfoort. She learned the craft of cotton printing in India, England, and France. Apart from direct printing on fabrics and paper, she deepened her knowledge of printing with resist techniques and natural dyes. In India, she worked in various regions to learn different styles and block printing methods. In her workshop, she houses a collection of approximately 1000 printing blocks.
Marte Haverkamp is a visual artist and natural dye expert. Marte puts a contemporary spin on traditional crafts and techniques. She maintains her own garden with dye plants in the heart of Amsterdam. Flowers from her garden, food waste, and natural pigments are the foundation of her monumental textile artworks and creative workshops, where experimentation always comes first.
Dive into the world of weaving, a realm of threads, structures, and colors, and weave your own fabric for a cushion. Each participant will have a loom with pedals ready. Choose your own yarns and colors and get started. Experience the feeling of weaving on a standing loom, watching the fabric grow slowly under your hands. At the end of the workshop, you can leave the woven fabric on the loom. We will sew it into a cushion, and a few days later, you’ll receive your own fabric in the form of a cushion at home (Workshop price includes shipping costs).
Hand-weaving is an ancient technique for producing fabrics, but it’s also an inexhaustible game of patterns, yarns, textures, and colors. In her hand-weaving studio, Eva Klee revives this old craft in an artisanal way, creating exclusive, high-quality, custom handwoven fabrics, unique pieces, and reproductions of fabrics. The goal of each fabric design is exquisite quality with an eye for detail.
Eva Klee took over her mother’s Swedish loom at the age of eleven, making weaving feel like a second nature to her. In her studio, she constantly explores new fabric designs, an endless interplay of patterns, materials, and colors. Small changes in the weaving process can lead to unexpected and fascinating results. It is the process of discovery along the way and critically questioning technical perfection that fuels her ongoing research. Her work is characterized by great technical skill combined with creativity.
Eva Klee completed a three-year training in hand-weaving in Southern Germany. She subsequently studied Monumental Design at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague.
Creating handmade buttons has been a cherished tradition for centuries, adding unique accents to garments, such as the iconic Zeeuwse buttons made of silver worn as jewelry.
In this workshop, you will craft two artisanal buttons of your choice. Monique will provide various examples and ample materials like ribbons, beads, embroidery threads, allowing you to customize your buttons to reflect your personal style. She will teach you how to use these beautiful materials, along with simple rings, needles, and thread, to create your own buttons.
Monique van Munster has devoted over thirty-five years to exploring handcraft techniques, specializing in embroidery. She is fascinated by the endless possibilities of needle and thread, constantly investigating various techniques and applications. Her focus is not only on reproducing historical and traditional embroideries but also on using them as inspiration for new interpretations. Monique values preserving her craft and enjoys sharing her skills, teaching workshops at her studio in Tilburg and wherever she’s invited to share her knowledge, such as at the Ambacht in Beeld Festival.
Unique exhibition during Ambacht in Beeld Festival!
“100,000 Trees and a Forest of Thread” is a project where textile artist Sara Vrugt embroidered a forest. This artwork, spanning one hundred square meters, was created in 2020/21 in a public pop-up studio. Over a thousand participants shared nature stories and contributed embroidery stitches, collectively creating a forest of thread on canvas.
This artwork aims to reconnect people with the significance of nature in their lives. Concurrently, through crowdfunding, a real forest of one hundred thousand living trees has been planted, both in the Netherlands and in tropical regions.
After being displayed at various locations, the artwork will be placed outdoors in 2025, in the gardens of Museum Belvédère in Heerenveen. A ceremony will mark its transition to a final “life phase.” The canvas will integrate into nature; the fabric will degrade over time, and seeds embedded in the hem will eventually replace the embroidered trees. Thus, the spiral form will persist with living nature as its material.
Creating connections among people and fostering creativity are fundamental motives in Sara’s projects. Yet, an overarching theme has emerged: nature. Her goal was to engage people through art in planting more trees and raising awareness about our inseparable connection with the ecosystem – interbeing.
Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh once said, “The same life force that flows through you, flows through me and all other living beings. We are all interconnected in a complex web; this is ‘interbeing.’ When we harm nature, animals, or other people, we harm ourselves, not in a metaphorical sense, but literally.”
Deforestation, biodiversity loss, heat stress – in the Anthropocene, humanity bears responsibility for these monumental crises. Sara reflects, “Deep down, we all feel that nature is essential to us. Yet, we often fail to act accordingly. I sometimes feel despair over human arrogance and the future of new generations. The large systems need to change, and as an individual, it can feel overwhelming. Nevertheless, every day we make significant choices, even with our fork and wallet. I compel myself to remain optimistic. Through this work, I aim to raise awareness. I believe that once you truly realize that the Earth is essentially your mother, you will care for her better. It may seem like a drop in the ocean, but many drops of water together will not evaporate. Planting one hundred thousand trees aims not only to create more forests but above all, to demonstrate that taking action is within our reach.”
Staphorster Stipwerk is a special, unique technique used to print and decorate fabrics and other materials. Initially, this technique was applied to fabrics used for the traditional clothing of Staphorst. After this comprehensive workshop, you will take home a bag printed with Staphorster Stipwerk.
This printing process uses stamps made from items such as wooden bobbins or corks, to which nails, pins, and other pieces of metal are attached. These stamps are dipped in paint and then applied to the material. Stamps with different motifs are combined to create patterns. Each ‘stipper’ develops their own patterns. Some patterns and motifs are commonly used among ‘stippers,’ such as leaf and flower designs or folk art symbols like the sun wheel, beehive, and six-pointed star.
Not only the motifs, but also the colors of the dots carry their own meanings. Traditions around mourning heavily influence color choices, where blue, white, and green are mourning colors, and red is not used during mourning periods.
Staphorster Stipwerk is listed on the national inventory of intangible cultural heritage. The workshop instructors are all craftswomen who have completed the official Staphorster Stipwerk vocational training.
Moniquenwerk Broderie d’art is the store for materials used in haute couture embroidery and goldwork, owned by Monique van Munster.
Broderie d’art is the intricate embroidery technique renowned in Parisian haute couture. Monique frequently travels to Paris to source the finest beads and sequins. The store also specializes in silk embroidery threads and other beautiful yarns.
Monique has been passionate about handicrafts her entire life. Since 2013, she has run an embroidery studio in Tilburg. At her studio, Monique teaches broderie d’art, goldwork, and 3D embroidery. Her students come from all over the Netherlands, as well as from Germany and Belgium. Since 2023, Monique van Munster’s broderie d’art has been recognized on the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Netherlands.
Because she often works with hard-to-find materials, Monique started sourcing them for her students. The assortment initially grew from her classes but has now expanded into a treasure trove for embroiderers who enjoy experimenting with unique materials.
At Ambacht in Beeld, Monique sells materials for goldwork such as gold threads and spangles, silk embroidery threads, beads and sequins, colored silk organza, various types of ribbons and trimmings, silk velvet, and materials for crafting artisanal buttons.
During the festival, you can participate in Monique’s workshop on crafting artisanal buttons.
During the workshop, you will learn to create beautiful tassels that can be used as stylish accessories or unique decorations for your clothing. Discover the joy of combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary style and take home a stunning handmade tassel!
From skilled artisans of ancient Egypt and Persia to the trendsetters of London Fashion Week, tassels have been a timeless medium for artistic expression. The art of handcrafting tassels has evolved from simple bundles of thread to intricate, decorative pieces that reflect rich cultural and artistic influences. As tailoring advanced in the 16th century and garments became more elaborate, passementerie (the art of making elaborate trimmings) became integral in showcasing craftsmanship. Passementerie encompasses braids, fringes, cords, embroidery, pom poms, lace, appliqués, and tassels. In the 20th century, designers like Coco Chanel and Christian Dior blended traditional techniques with modern fashion, incorporating passementerie into their bespoke pieces.
The workshop begins with winding, tying, steaming, and trimming threads to create a smooth and straight tassel. It may seem simpler than it is; artisans spend hours perfecting this process. You will learn to use materials that make this process faster and easier. Additionally, we will add a decorative bead element for an extra luxurious touch.
During the workshop, all necessary materials will be provided, and additional materials will be available for purchase to continue making tassels at home. You will also receive guidance on the best materials and where to source them. We will share inspiration from modern fashion designers who incorporate tassels into their clothing collections.
By the end of the two-hour workshop, you will have created a beautiful tassel that can be used as jewelry, an accessory, or a clothing decoration. This passementerie element will give your creations a unique, personal touch!
Katja van der Steen is a master cutter specializing in bespoke tailoring for men’s clothing, as well as theater and dance costumes. She has worked on various projects at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow and undertakes commissions for the Dutch National Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam, the National Dance Theater in The Hague, several museums, and other cultural institutions.
In addition to her theater work, her expertise lies in historical pattern drafting and garment construction, bespoke tailoring, various traditional embroidery techniques, and tatting lace. As a true textile enthusiast, she promotes the craft of handmade through various masterclasses and private lessons, including embroidery, traditional garment making, and textile processing.
Batik is an ancient traditional technique of fabric pattern design using wax and various tools made of copper, brass, wood, brushes, and dyes.
During this workshop, you will experiment with creating spontaneous designs on pre-framed canvases. You’ll work with different oils such as fish oil, castor oil, cooking oil, and various textile dyes. You’ll take home your own framed artwork.
The workshops can be conducted in English, Dutch, Mandarin, and Indonesian.
Shuen-Li Spirit studied as an art educator in Singapore and officially moved to the Netherlands in 2016. She offers international Batik masterclasses in the Netherlands as part of her commitment to preserving her mixed Chinese-Malay-Indonesian heritage. She is also passionate about ecological sustainability and incorporates reused food products in practicing traditional crafts and upcycling her clothing and bags.
Festival address:
NDSM Loods
NDSM-Plein 85
1033 WC Amsterdam
Postal address:
Stichting Ambacht in Beeld
Kalf 158
1509AH Zaandam
The Netherlands
