Experimenting with strange and unexpected materials

While employing technology with traditional knitted craft, Studio Petra Vonk creates often new and unexpected concepts and applications. Through the use of repetition in abstract patterns, our designs experiment with transparency. Our design objects have expressive visual and tactile qualities with an emphasis in functionality, be it to enhance the acoustic properties of a space or offer intimacy within an interior through impenetrable graphic patterns.

KNITTED ROTAN WALL TAPESTRY. The traditional craft of braiding is a wonderful way to use thread as a constructive material. By combining two techniques, knitting and braiding, a new way of handling rotan is achieved. This tapestry and the sculpture are the first of a series. This traditional, but at the same time innovative, material handling will be further explored in the near future.

KNITTED ROTAN wall tapestry at the museum Onze Lieve heer op Solder in Amsterdam.

KNITTED ROTAN. Rotan knit stand alone object.

PILLOWPOEF. A research project in collaboration with Janneke Hooymans. The layering of laceknits and exploring the stretch of it.

PILLOWPOEF; playing with layers and transarency.

PILLOWPOEF. The focus in my work is layering and transparency. This is clearly recognizable in the 4 layers of white and silver stretchy fabric that hook 3 thick cushions to the steel base. Contrasts in materials that merge together and create one big PillowPoef.

PILLOWPOEF. Playing with lace knitting, elastic nylon, hairy mohair and shiny swimsuit fabrics, we came up with surprising combinations of layers.

LASER PATTERN. Acoustic panels with a pattern design laser burned on the textile. Private commission.

LASER PATTERN. Detail of a laser burned print design. The texile is a TreviraCS knitted panel.