Crochet is a technique that utilizes a single hooked tool to interconnect loops of yarn and produce a piece of fabric. The name is derived from the French term crochet, which means 'hook'. The origins of crochet are unknown, with people speculating it could have started in Arabia, China or South America.

When I was around 11 years old, my grandma taught me how to crochet. But it wasn’t until I moved to the Czech Republic, when I was 24 years old, that I developed my big love for it. Everyone there seemed to know how to crochet so it wasn’t long since I picked it up as well. I have been crocheting ever since; it has become my comfort activity, the thing I do while watching a movie or while waiting for my next flight in the airport.

CROCHETING

KNITTING

Knitting is a technique that utilizes 2 or more needles to interconnect loops of yarn and produce a piece of fabric. The origins of knitting are also unknown. The earliest known example is a pair of socks found in Cairo in the 11th century.

Iceland is a culture of knitting! Crafters are producing traditional Icelandic wool sweaters, called ‘lopapeysa’, which are highly valued and are integral part of everyone’s wardrobe in order to survive the harsh winters. When I moved here in 2022, it was impossible to not learn this craft. It was the perfect addition to my already existing knowledge of crocheting. Knowing both these techniques offers me a huge spectrum of creating a variety of different styles of clothes and accessories.

EMBROIDERY

Embroidery is the art that uses a needle to create decorative designs on a fabric. It is an ancient technique and has been done worldwide. Embroidery is a great way to prolong the life of a garment by fixing holes or stains and adding personalized artsy details.

SEWING

Sewing is the craft of binding fabrics together by using a needle and thread. It’s considered one of the oldest textile arts dating as far back as the Palaeolithic era. Nowadays, sewing can be done by hand or by using a sewing machine.

The possibilities are infinite. One of my absolute favorite is patching different pieces of old fabrics together to create new clothing and accessories. The result is always a one-of-a-kind item.

MENDING

Mending clothing is the act of repairing holes, tears, stains etc. Mending can include stitching, patching, embroidering, knitting and many other techniques in order to fix a piece of clothing. It’s a great way to prolong the life of an item, to make it more personal and add unique elements.

TAPESTRY WEAVING

Tapestry weaving is an ancient form of textile art which has been practiced all over the world for thousands of years and considered one of the oldest forms of woven textile. The difference with normal weaving is that you don’t use a big loom but instead a frame. I love this technique as it feels like painting with threads instead of colors.

DREAMCATCHER WEAVING

The origin of dreamcatcher lies in the Native American cultures. Its original name is “Ojibwe” which translates into spider. It is a handmade willow hoop, on which a web is woven, and it can be decorated with feathers or beads. The layering of the web leaves a small hole in the middle that allows good dreams to pass through while the web catches the bad dreams. Dreamcatchers were hung above the bed or cradle and used as protective charms for infants.

NATURAL DYEING

Natural dyeing is a coloring technique that uses natural materials (e.g. roots, leaves, food scraps, bark, flowers, earth minerals etc). It’s only after the 19th century that synthetic dyes were invented and vastly replaced natural dyes. Synthetic dyes are one of the biggest source of water and soil pollution as they can be extremely toxic.

Nowadays, natural dyeing is coming back as a form of sustainable dyeing option. It's used by many artisans worldwide to create unique pieces.

ECO-PRINTING

Eco-printing is a part of the natural dyeing technique. It’s a process that utilizes leaves, flowers and other plant parts to create prints on textiles. There are many different methods that it can be done and the result is always a unique print.

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