Ode to Baukje Jelles | Baukje Jelles. A household name in the world of crafts

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In the collection of the Amsterdam Museum, during the project to prepare for the move to the new depot, a rolled-up flag was found. It was a city flag more than five meters wide and more than three meters high with the coat of arms of Amsterdam and below it the motto Heroic-Vastberaden-Barmhartig. This flag had been used since 1947 until well into the 1960s to commemorate the February Strike.

Vimal Korstjens, an art historian and crafts teacher, was one of the volunteers in the project. She happened to have been looking for this flag for years, which she knew from photos and stories. She knew the flag had been made under the direction of teacher Baukje Jelles by students at the First Industrial School for Female Youth at Weteringsschans 31. Vimal's research led to artist Nynke Schepers, the wife of a full cousin of Baukje Jelles. Nynke had kept many of her belongings. These included letters from the designer of the flag Pam Rueter and the sample patches for the flag with instructions on them.

In 1917, she began her career as an art needlework teacher, a profession she would pursue with great skill and enthusiasm until her retirement in 1957. Jelles worked at several schools in Rotterdam, Haarlem and Amsterdam. She played an important role in modernizing art needlework teacher training, and was a member of the committee that prepared guidelines for the new technical diploma in craft techniques and art needlework. 
 

In 1952, Sijthoff Publishers asked her to revise the outdated craft book I Can Craft. The new edition became a huge success. Many women crafted at that time and there was a clear demand for a modern approach with new, colorful models and the opportunity to use one's own creativity. Many reprints followed, regularly revised with new models. In 1967 a renewed and expanded edition of “I can handcraft” appeared, now under the title: “The big handcraft book”.

In 1957 Baukje retired after 40 years of working as an industrial education teacher. Although every form of textile technique can now be found on the Internet, Jelles' books remain useful reference books for education and for true craft enthusiasts.
 

Until 1976, the devotional flag flew annually at the commemoration of the February Strike on Jonas Daniel Meijer Square. Over time, the flag began to wear out, it was decided to make a copy and the original ended up in the city's flag warehouse. In 1976, the flag was transferred to the Amsterdam Historical Museum.

Reference:
Vimal Korstjens, Baukje Jelles, “A household name in the world of crafts,” in: Costume 2010, p. 60-69.