Berlin, Germany
2018
Designs for M.A. of Arts
A research on colour effects in knitted fabrics under the influence of their three-dimensional structure. The main focus of this project are the effects the complementary contrast can create in knitted fabrics.
The angles of the stitch pattern and the properties of the yarn have an impact on the reflection, absorption and transmission of the light. The samples turned into a huge archive. A few patterns were knitted in a larger scale for installations and for costumes.
Pictures of knitted structures produced on industrial flat knitting machines at the STFI in Chemnitz.
Zeche Westerholt, Ruhr Valley, Germany
RUBUG 2022
https://www.rubug.de/kuenstler/?_sf_s=theresa
A conceptual installation of knitted fabrics in the space of the light hall at mine Westerholt. The space is a space of transit, where the miners clocked in, went into the mine and returned to daylight. The textiles contain text about my research on the experience of the miners. I used keywords of their daily workflow to express the processes they went through. A poem and critical information about mining is asking on how we want to live on this planet.
A poem for the miners:
‘When I shine for you, the light goes out. You invite me. I see your eyes, mirrored gaze. A room in the depths. The darkness screams - the air is all black! The walls are stone. Hidden in the earth - I am with you. You carry me down. I shine for you, but if I get lost, you lose yourself too. Found by friends. I come back to the light. And back again. The hall of light.‘
The knitting with the text elements has colour effects and openings that stretch open when installed in the space. The colours are the three main colours mixed with black, which stands symbolically for the coal.
The knitting on the turnable information boards create holographic effects. They are interactive objects and remind on a circus a surreal experience of going back into the past and the reality of the miners.
Pictures of exhibition, details and creative process by Susan Fankhänel, Cindy & me. The fabrics were produced on a circular transfer knitting machine in collaboration with Terrot GmbH.
Paper factory in Flöha, Saxony.
IBUG 2021, festival for urban art
„ibug“ – short for „Industriebrachenumgestaltung“ (industrial wasteland redevelopment)
https://ibug-art.de/
A variety of knittings were installed in the space of the paper factory. The installations made the space more playful and touchable. The change of colours in the structures of the textiles made the transformation of sunlight during the day visible. The knitted fabrics were designed and produced by Theresa. The production happened on flatknitting machines at Protoknit Berlin and the Saxon Textil Reserach Institute, Chemnitz.
Pictures of installations by Matthias Wolf & Susan Hebenstreit.
Coloured Paper Factory, Flöha, Saxony
IBUG 2022
A collaboration with Madeleine Marquard
A transformation of the papers from the factory. The selceted paper got cut by laser at motionlabberlin with different patterns to create colour layers and mixtures through reflection of the sunlight. Cutting into the sheets of paper changed their properties and asthetics.
During the Artist Week, the laser-cut sheets were attached to the windows. Ultimately, the installation lives in coexistence with the rhythm of the sunlight. The colors, shadows and structures change with the light. This relationship makes our connection to the movements of the earth and the sun perceivable.
Pictures of tripartite installation by Madeleine Marquard and me.
Theatre Aachen, Germany.
2020
A collaboration with Raphael Jacobs
Special knitting designs for the costumes of the Opera La Calisto at the Theater Aachen. The knittings wear designed and produced by Theresa on industrial flat and circular knitting machines in Chemnitz and Berlin. The fabrics show a variety of colour and material effects on the body. They have an innovative look.
Pictures of fabrics for costumes used in play by Wil van Irsel.
Berlin and Chemnitz, Germany
2018
A collection for Terrot GmBH
The fashion collection demonstrates the technical capabilities of the circular knitting machine from Terrot GmbH. The infinite variety of structures on the body. The clothing is sporty, casual for the leisure sector. The design consists of patterns incorporating various innovative structural elements and fonts, creating a dynamic design. The unusual, extreme look stands out to classic sport articles. The T-Shirt sleeves can be custom-designed by cutting them in the wanted length. Next to this, Theresa researched on how to reduce seams and waste material by knitting one shape that only needed two seams to be closed.
Pictures of fashion collection by Jonny Brooking. Models: Sandra, Lilli & Raphael.
Knitting Workshop at Fraunhofer IZM Berlin, Germany
2022
A collaboration with TPL Berlin
The first part of the knitting workshop focused on basic knowledge about the construction, the properties and production of knittings.
The second part focused on technical knowledge of knitting on the kniterate machine and programming a designpattern. I consulted the institute on the development of special knitting structures and future key points.
Pictures of Workshop at Fraunhofer IZM by me. You see one part of the TPL (Textile Prototyping Lab) and the kniterate machine.
Sound & Movement Workshop at Silence Guelph, Canada
2023
A collaboration with Marcella Echeverri
The Sound & Movement workshop ‘Boundlessness’ is an exploration of creating sound with different materials and opportunities in an interactive group setting. This is a connection of my work in the field of design with materials and improvised movement.
Pictures of participants and group improvisation at Silence Guelph.
Concept by Sebastian Schrader | Directed by Marin Blülle
Knitting for costumes by Theresa Kretsch.
For the stage production of Take Away the Alps, based on the award-winning novel by Ralph Tharayil, I created a range of custom-designed textiles that bring the poetic and layered world of the story to life. The piece explores a childhood in Switzerland through the voices of two siblings, blending themes of belonging, identity, and the strangeness within ourselves — a timeless coming-of-age tale rendered through language, movement, and material.
The textile work was developed in close collaboration with costume designer Sebastian Schrader. It included a curated selection of existing fabrics alongside newly produced knitwear, crafted specifically to support the narrative and character development. The knits were made using a Stoll flat knitting machine, while the masks were constructed on a circular knitting machine.
Materials ranged from vibrant viscose and soft wool to transparent monofilaments, each chosen to reflect and enhance the personality of a specific character in the piece. The result was a rich, tactile costume landscape — one that echoed the poetic tone of the performance and underlined the individuality of each role.
Pictures @yoshikokusano.
July 10-21, 2023
Facilitated by Greta Riondato, Handel Callender and Theresa Kretsch. A dynamic art camp designed to ignite creativity while fostering a deeper connection to sustainability and community. Through a series of hands-on, multidisciplinary art projects, the children explored meaningful ways to express positive ideas and envision a hopeful future for Guelph.
Campers engaged in a wide range of artistic activities, including painting, puppetry, sculpting, animation, installations, printing, weaving, collage, and dancing. We also incorporated games and garden time, encouraging play and connection with nature.
Each activity was rooted in themes of local sustainability and interconnectedness, helping young artists discover innovative tools for storytelling and self-expression. The camp culminated in a vibrant exhibition titled "We Are All Related", showcasing the campers’ creative work and celebrating the collective spirit of our community.
Pictures by Theresa Kretsch.
2020-2021
Knitweardesign by Theresa Kretsch
A team of researchers, designers, companies and institutions developed
a kit for multifunctional textile-adapted electronic systems. This "interposer" is integrated in an adaptable electronic patch onto the surface of a functional textile leggings that is developed with an industrial knitting machine. The leggings has motion sensors and visual and haptic feedback. The smart pants practically work as a gamecontroller in therapeutic gaming. Young people with gait problems can use the trousers and practice their exercises motivated by gamification.
Text from project description: https://www.drlab.org/project/texas/
I did the knitting development & knitting design on an industrial knitting machine, ADF-530-32W @stollknitting for the TEXAS project.
Credits:
Photo: Detlev Schneider
Model: Katharina Bellinger
Design: Hannah Friederike
Fischer, Daniela Wittmann
Illustrations: Joanna Wilkans