KNITWEAR LAB and VIRTUAL KNITTING are currently enjoying an incredible experience as Designers-in-Residence at the Department of Human Centered Design, Cornell University – College of Human Ecology.

KNITWEAR LAB has always been committed to advancing knitwear technology. Virtual Knitting was created within that vision to lead the way in Digital Product Creation for flatbed knitting, a field we’re passionate about developing. It’s clear that the balance between craft and digital knowledge is central to our work. Industrial crafts are not only essential for preserving tactile knowledge but are also crucial for keeping our industries running. Virtual Knitting exists within KNITWEAR LAB to maintain that close connection to physical knitwear while embracing new digital technologies. The interplay of both is what drives innovation in our field.

Thijs Verhaar, together with Lyske Gais de Bildt, brought their work from KNITWEAR LAB and VIRTUAL KNITTING into the creative and academic environment of the Department of Human Centered Design at Cornell University – College of Human Ecology. They also served as visiting critics, provided valuable insights as speakers in the workshops, and shared insights from their work at Virtual Knitting and KNITWEAR LAB into the academic setting.

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The Residency

The residency has been filled with insightful conversations, inspiring connections, and hands-on experiences. As part of the residency, Thijs and Lyske hosted a small exhibition in the Martha Van Rensselaer Hall. KNITWEAR LAB’s own exhibition showcased beautiful knitwear, digital renders, and behind-the-scenes insights into the challenges of Virtual Knitting.

Lyske: “We had the opportunity to meet the talented knitwear students in Melissa Conroy’s knitwear design class and the Fashion Product Management students of Fran Kozen. Sharing our insights on knitwear and digital product creation with them was energizing, and we hope to have left a lasting impression as they move forward in their careers.”

For Thijs and Lyske, the first week also brought fascinating interdisciplinary exchanges, such as a lunch with Saleh Kalantari, where they discussed his research on VR and its applications in the built environment. Later, a deep conversation with Larissa Shepherd led to thoughtful exchanges about sustainability in fashion, the challenges of data collection, and how we can educate future professionals to make more sustainable decisions.

One of their highlights was visiting the Cornell Fashion and Textile Collection with Catherine Kueffer Blumenkamp. They saw garments that manipulated fabric direction, inspiring them to consider how similar techniques could be applied to knitwear. The day concluded with the opening of KNITWEAR LAB’s own exhibition, and Thijs and Lyske have been thrilled to see students continually returning with new friends to explore their work.

Thijs and Lyske also had the pleasure of engaging with Leighton Beaman’s students in the Magnifying Small Spaces Studio class. Lyske: “It made me reflect on my own journey from spatial design to fashion, realizing that what I enjoy most is the dimensionality of garments. It’s not just the technical 3D modeling that draws me in—garments themselves are spatial objects, and I find that truly fascinating.”

A big thank you to Melissa Conroy for inviting us to be part of this incredible experience and for giving us a wonderful tour of the department. To Juan P Hinestroza, Ph.D., interim chair, whose insightful discussion helped shape our approach for the weeks.

These are the last days, and we invite anyone in the area to stop by and engage with us at the gallery! We’ll be showcasing beautiful knitwear, digital renders, and some behind-the-scenes insights into the challenges of Virtual Knitting.

Event Schedule

• Monday, Oct 7th: 10:00–11:30 (open gallery) & 16:30 (workshop)
• Tuesday, Oct 8th: 14:00–16:00 (open gallery)
• Wednesday, Oct 9th: 16:45 (lecture in MVR G151)
• Thursday, Oct 10th: 16:30 (workshop)

Feel free to visit anytime before the exhibition is taken down on Friday!

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Cornell Human Centered Design

Cornell University – College of Human Ecology