Hooked at nine

I was born on the island of St. Maarten, and I started crocheting when I was nine years old. It was part of the curriculum at my elementary school. There were also people in my family who crocheted, so it was always around me. Even as a young child I loved making things with my hands. I had seen what could be created from scratch, seemingly from nothing, and that intrigued me. I was hooked. Pun intended.

At first I would crochet whatever came to mind, a kind of freestyle crochet, just to see what would emerge. By doing that over and over again I gained better control over the tension in my work. Later I learned to make pieces by following diagrams, and eventually by reading written patterns. Creating something from words felt even more magical. It was like casting a spell that took a long time to unfold: making something from nothing, with your hands, guided only by words.

Over the years I have made tablecloths, throws, table runners, bags, baby booties, clothing pieces and much more. Following all those patterns gave me a deep understanding of crochet techniques and stitches.

The first beanie

In 2008, when I had a different hairstyle, I made my first beanie. It was for myself, and I didn't follow a pattern; it was my own design. Looking back, it was far from perfect. People would ask whether I had made it myself, and I would say yes. Then they would ask whether I sold them. At first I said no. Eventually "no" became "not yet", and "not yet" became "yes". Since then I have kept refining my patterns and upgrading my materials, which brought my work to where it is today. Later came a scarf that keeps you warm without excess material: a clean design, just like my beanies.

Dance and yarn

My main profession is dance. I am a freelance dancer, teacher and choreographer based in Amsterdam. Crochet has always been part of my life alongside dance. Whenever I'm waiting to perform, travelling by train or plane, or relaxing at home, my crochet is usually with me. I can take it almost anywhere.

Over time, the beanies and scarves have also become a way to support my work in dance, especially in the colder, quieter months when opportunities can be less frequent. Every beanie or scarf you buy helps me keep dancing and creating: it contributes to studio rental and gives me the freedom to keep developing my work and doing what I love.

From yarn to beanie

The process of making a beanie always begins with the model I want to create. Over the years, I have developed several designs: the classic, slightly slouchy beanie; a beanie with a foldable brim; and variations in different weights, ranging from very fine and lightweight to medium-weight and thick, robust, chunky styles.

Once I've chosen the designs, I visit the yarn shop. I'm a regular at Stephen & Penelope, a boutique yarn shop in Amsterdam. They focus strongly on high-quality hand-dyed yarns from brands such as Twisted Ambitions Yarn, LITLG, Qing Fibre and West Wool. That's where I go to discover new yarns and choose my colours. I can spend hours there until I find exactly the right colour or combination. Sometimes I choose a solid colour or a yarn that carry several colours in one strand. Other times I put together my own combinations that allows me to create my own colour blend, thickness, ombré or marbled effect.

After choosing and purchasing my yarn, I take it home and begin winding it. Then I start to crochet. When the piece is finished, I weave in the loose ends and sew on my label. Every beanie passes through these steps by hand, and I design and make everything myself.