National Wool Museum
Clothing - Knitted Outfit, Inge Cammans, 1998
... borrowed a spinning wheel from a friend to try out. She taught herself how to spin and knit over the course of two months.
From there, Inge went on to win a vast array of awards for her knitting - the house was full of walls upon walls covered in certificates, sashes, newspaper articles and pennants. She never used dye and only ever worked with natural wool, and would regularly travel out to the local farms to choose the colour of sheep she wanted...borrowed a spinning wheel from a friend to try out. She taught herself how to spin and knit over the course of two months.
From there, Inge went on to win a vast array of awards for her knitting - the house was full of walls upon walls covered in certificates, sashes, newspaper articles and pennants. She never used dye and only ever worked with natural wool, and would regularly travel out to the local farms to choose the colour of sheep she wanted ...
Inge Cammans was born Ingenborg Flachs on 13 March 1932 in the Netherlands. She married Theodore Cammans on 27 April 1959 in Valkenburg. Inge was a dressmaker, and Theo a butcher.
Later that year they emigrated to Canada, then in the mid 1960’s arrived in Australia. After arriving in Australia, they settled in East Gippsland. After some time in Sale, they moved to the small country town of Buchan and for two years they operated the local butcher shop and then took over the kiosk at Buchan Caves Reserve, which they ran for 13 years while raising their four children.
Around 1980 they retired to the main street of Buchan. There they bought and restored the "Callemondah" property and opened a small craft and gallery space called the Buchan Black Marble Hut to display and sell Theo’s beautiful woodwork, stone craft and paintings. Although they were quite busy with the tourist trade, Inge fast became restless and borrowed a spinning wheel from a friend to try out. She taught herself how to spin and knit over the course of two months.
From there, Inge went on to win a vast array of awards for her knitting - the house was full of walls upon walls covered in certificates, sashes, newspaper articles and pennants. She never used dye and only ever worked with natural wool, and would regularly travel out to the local farms to choose the colour of sheep she wanted. She would take the fleece to spin and then design and knit, crochet or latch hook every item from scratch, often inspired by techniques from dressmaking, and make knitted garments appear or behave the same way, despite its very different construction.
This outfit was made by Inge in 1998. She was intrigued to figure out how to create the kilt pleats, the plaid pattern and the structure of the head piece. It was never intended to be worn out and about. She did knit items to wear, gift or sell, but the vast majority of her creative pieces were specifically intended as show submissions. This outfit was entered in the National Wool Awards competition in 1999 and won first prize.
Hand knitted cream and brown outfit consisting of a skirt (kilt), jumper, hat (beret), scarf, socks and bag. Outfit is made using hand spun wool from local East Gippsland area, Perendale and Mohair.
An artist tag and rosette award accompany the outfit.tag [front]: [handwritten] SCOTTISH OUTFIT / DESIGNED HAND- / SPUN + KNITTED OUT / OF PERRIDALE + / MOHAIR BY / Inge Cammans / [printed] BUCHAN / BLACK MARBLE HUT / GALLERY / Main Street, Box 9, / Buchan, Vic. 3885 / (051) 55 9296 / AUSTRALIA
tag [back]: Theo Cammans / is an exceptionally talented individual. / He is responsible for not only / the beautiful paintings and / woodwork throughout the / shop, but also fashions the / unique Buchan Marble / into many varied and / stunning designs. / Inge Cammans / using her own hand spun / wool she has made multi / award winning garments / and wall hangings. / Each item in unique and / renowned world wide / She has taken first prize at - / National Wool Awards, / Melbourne, Lakes, Bairnsdale, Omeo / Paris Exhibitor
front [rosette]: OMEO & DIST. A.&P. SOCIETY / WOOL DESIGN AWARDS / 1stknitting handicrafts, cammans, mr theo, knitting, handicrafts, east gippsland, inge cammas, buchan, migration, buchan black marble hut, awards