Michelle Mohr - textile design from sheep wool

I am a textile designer and work with sheep’s wool from my region and from Germany. I focus on rare breeds of sheep and work a lot with natural colored sheep wool. My long experience with the material I knot into large and small rugs, felt pillows and “vegetarian” skins.

The theme of furnishings and materials has been running through my life since childhood. I simply enjoy bringing rooms to new life and bringing warmth, joy and tranquility to rooms with my products made of wool.

The path to a unique carpet

After training as a display designer in a furniture store, I decided to catch up on my A-levels and go to university.

I first began studying architecture, then later switched to the Weißensee School of Art to study design. In 2003, long before my textile design studies, I learned the craft of felting from Christine Birkle from HutUp in Berlin.

During my studies, I repeatedly dealt with sheep’s wool and its processing techniques. In my diploma thesis in 2012, I focused intensively on alternative production techniques and was inspired by traditional methods. I made my first knotted rug as part of this thesis.

Based on the macramé knotting technique, I have developed a unique process that allows me to knot sturdy rugs entirely by hand – without any machines. Each rug is created directly at my work table. My enthusiasm for this material continues to this day.

Balance between calm and hustle and bustle

The balance to my quiet and concentrated work in the studio is the cities where I travel for trade fairs and exhibitions. I experience the hustle and bustle there, make lots of contacts and enjoy the contrast.

Joint projects and joint exhibitions with other artists offer further enrichment. Collaborating on selected projects is an inspiring counterpoint to the rural tranquillity of the studio. For example, we have been running the “provinzgestaltung” community store in Hitzacker since February 2024.