Christian, could you tell us a little more about yourself?
“What a big question! :) I’m 56 years old and have been living in the South of France for 16 years now, but I was born and raised in the province of Zeeland. After high school, I enrolled in the Academy for Youth Welfare Work. During my internships, I realized that this field wasn’t my calling. Eventually, for my final project, I created a theater production that I was able to tour throughout the country after graduation. I then produced a number of other shows, which ultimately kept me in the theater for a few years. Life on stage was fun, but I’d seen enough of it pretty quickly. I wanted to try something different and came up with the idea of flying; I wanted to become a flight attendant. Back then, the application process decreased in complexity and duration compared to today. I already had my HAVO and HBO diplomas, so I received a two-month in-house training program at KLM. During those months, I learned the flight safety rules and had to memorize where the sugar packets, milk, and matches were located on board. These days, there’s a lot more to it!’
When did you start crocheting?
“I went to a small Christian elementary school. My class had six kids: five girls and me. The girls all took needlework with the teacher. I took woodworking classes with the boys from the upper grade, like jigsawing. I really didn’t like that at all, because I’d much rather have been working with my friends. My parents and the elementary school were okay with that, so I got to take needlework! I’ve been crocheting and knitting since I was seven or eight years old, but I also sew, for example. Recently, I made chair covers out of old jeans and turned an old vase into a lamp. So I do all kinds of things!”
Have you ever crocheted or knitted while flying?
“No, not that. I’ve seen some girls on the plane who were crocheting and clearly needed help. I helped them then. But I have packed projects in my suitcase, like blankets and mandalas with lots of colors, which I’d then work on once I reached my destination. For example, I once took a blanket with me on a flight to Mexico. During my stay in Mexico, there was an earthquake. As it happened, I was out of the city at the exact moment the earthquake struck. The blanket I’d packed in my suitcase as a crochet project was lying in my hotel room. Two days after the earthquake, I returned to the hotel room and noticed that, unfortunately, several things had been damaged by this natural disaster. My blanket, on the other hand, was undamaged and lay on the bed like a silent witness. It weathered the earthquake completely, so it has earned a very special place and will never leave.’
Now you've published the wonderful book *Flying Dolls*. Was your life at KLM the inspiration for this book?
“I’ve experienced all the stories in the book. The main character, Jackie, is based on me. I took the name from my French mother-in-law’s first name, Jacqueline, and the main character’s appearance is based on Jackie (Jacqueline) Kennedy/Onassis. Take Getty, for example, the singer from Teach In. I met her on one of my flights. We’ve stayed in touch ever since, and she’s become a true friend of mine. In my book, you’ll also meet a Bollywood star. I ran into this lady on one of my other flights. Upon arrival in Sri Lanka, I was told they were still looking for a white Western man to appear as an extra in a Bollywood movie. I signed up for the job, and before I knew it, I was walking onto the film set. I thought, “This is going to be my big break!” but I ended up getting cut from the film. That really sucked! I did stay in touch with that actress for a while, though.’
What was so charming about working in the air?
“It’s a way of life. No two workdays are ever the same. Every month was a surprise. One week you’d fly to Nairobi and Nigeria, the next month to Australia. It’s magical! My first flight was a training trip to Vienna. I was sitting in a passenger seat wearing a blue suit and a KLM pin. A moment I’ll never forget! Working for an airline means you meet so many new people. This goes for your coworkers, too, because no two flights are the same and you’re almost always working with a new crew. Personally, I was a flight attendant for only a relatively short time. After two years, I moved up the ranks. I became an assistant purser, then a purser, and eventually a senior purser—the position I ultimately held the longest during my 32-year career at KLM. I didn’t have my own specific area of responsibility on the plane, but I was in charge of all the flight attendants. This gave me much more time to talk to people. That suited me and my role much better. As a flight attendant, I’d often ask, “Chicken or pasta?” As a purser, you focus more on public relations, and that was a lot of fun!”
During those 32 years at KLM, you met an incredible number of people. Besides your New book, *Flying Dolls*, could you fill a second book with people who have left a lasting impression on you?
“During my time as a senior purser, I did indeed meet a great many different people. I could certainly fill another book with stories about the people I’ve encountered all over the world. I could do the same with colleagues, for example, because you’re actually flying with a different team on every flight. Right now, I just want to enjoy my very first book and not focus on the future just yet. This book, for instance, just came my way out of the blue. Now that you’re bringing up a sequel to *Flying Dolls*, I’m thinking, ‘Oh yeah, I could definitely do that!’ So who knows!”
What does crafting mean to you?
“Crafting lets me express my creativity. I don’t follow patterns from a book; I design everything myself. When you’re working on a design from scratch, you really have to stay focused. But when you start working on a Blanket with stitches that are a joy to crochet, it’s soothing and relaxing. Designing a book and having to write down and work out all the designs step by step, on the other hand, decreases relaxation. Still, it’s a lot of fun to do! Everything I come up with, I have to be able to crochet. This is in contrast to knitting or other craft techniques, such as punch needle. I can knit and really enjoy it, but I do believe you can create more with crochet than with knitting. Because the possibilities with knitting are somewhat more limited, the sky isn’t the limit. Crocheting is definitely my thing! In my crochet designs, I always push the boundaries, because crocheting is usually associated with the idea that you have to make sweet and cute designs. For me, the challenge lies precisely in the unconventional. For example, I’m currently crocheting prostitutes from the 1950s. Something a little different!”
What yarn did you use in the book?
“When it comes to crocheting, I’m a big fan of Yarn and Colors yarns. All the dolls in the book *Flying Dolls* were made with Yarn and Colors yarn. As for Crochet Hooks, I find the Clover Soft Touch to be a really pleasant Crochet Hook to work with.”
What is your design process?
“It always starts with an idea. And instead of working out the idea on paper, I just start crocheting. I follow Pippi Longstocking’s motto: ‘I’ve never done it before, so I think I can do it!’” After a while, though, it dawns on me that it’s actually helpful to write down the steps I’ve taken, so I dutifully do that. I also take several photos during the design process. It’s really helpful to have a visual reference alongside the written instructions. And that’s how I eventually get there.”
What's still on your craft to-do list?
"Secretly, I’d still love to make a book. Creating a book is incredibly rewarding, and it’s so much fun to hold your designs in your hands, all printed and bound. It’s very special! But in between, I also take on fun projects. For example, right now I’m working on a crocheted mosaic blanket and crocheting two cacti that are at least one meter tall. And as I said, I don’t look too far into the future, but I’m sure there will be lots of fun things coming my way.”
Flying Dolls is available on Yarnplaza.com and at the Yarnplaza Inspiration Center in Zaltbommel! Click here to view the book.
