About

Me, having a N7 Wimpy milkshake after seeing my knitting crew

Some other ladies at the N7 Wimpy

• Who is Anna Verloren van Themaat

A Cape Town based Stylist and Art Director, I began knitting about a six years ago. To my surprise, people liked what I made. Seeing potential, enjoying every stitch I knitted and every zany idea I was inspired to produce, I grew my evening knitting hobby into a little business called Wolmer. Named after the suburb in Pretoria where I grew up.

Tessa, Frieda, Myrtle, me and Marie

• A uniquely Wolmer work ethic

I have three things needed to create jobs: design, skill and needles. My inspired knitters can knit at home and look after their kids at the same time. This also creates feelings of accomplishment and a new sense of self-worth among these amazing women.

A basket for "The South African House" show by Laureen Roussow

• A feel for design

The way things feel is very important to me. Only the best locally produced, organically dyed, 100% cotton and bamboo yarn is used to create my products. The combination of material and production makes Wolmer a socially responsible brand, leaving behind a better planet for your children.

I handcraft and personally design every item carrying the Wolmer tag, overseeing all the ladies’ knitting. My use of colour, texture, combination stitches and design is contemporary. I keep in mind what makes so many people think of knitting as tired and ugly, so that I can do the opposite. I look at new ways of constructing everyday products with the hope of recontextualising them.