The best collaborations lead to the most beautiful things. So it’s high time to launch a new edition of “Yarnplaza & ….” This time, the spotlight is on creative mom and designer Anneke Kooistra, who designed a home and baby blanket exclusively for Yarnplaza.
Anneke Kooistra is the creative mind behind the popular Instagram account @ak_at_home. She started out making little items for her dollhouse, and now she shares her creativity and designs with over 25,000 followers. But no matter how many followers she has, her biggest fans remain her five children, who are also her greatest source of inspiration. Curious about this creative, enthusiastic crocheting mom? Then read this delightful interview, in which Anneke talks about her exclusive designs for Yarnplaza, among other things.
“Most people know me from my Instagram account @ak_at_home. I’ve had it for about six years now. This has led to various collaborations, which in turn have helped more people get to know me.”
“That was about six years ago. I’d always enjoyed other kinds of crafts, and I happened to come across a crochet book in a store. ‘I’m going to give this a try,’ I thought. It really grabbed me, and now I mostly crochet.”
“First and foremost, I go for colorful. Although the projects I made when I first started crocheting were even more colorful. I’ve noticed that, over time, I’ve been gravitating more toward natural tones. I especially love combining colors until the combination feels just right. I also love crocheting for children. Cuddly toys and blankets are among my favorites.”
“Cuddly toys are my favorite projects. I also really enjoy crocheting Blankets, but halfway through I think to myself, ‘What have I gotten myself into!’ Haha. And yet, it’s still so much fun to do. I like the variety of working on both cuddly toys and Blankets the best.”
“My first blanket. For my first project, I crocheted a little cuddly toy. After that, I wanted to take on the challenge right away and crochet a blanket. You don’t want to know what the blanket looks like—it goes from narrow to wide and back again—but I managed to finish it anyway. Haha”
“There are so many. I follow a lot of people on Instagram for various reasons. Some for their crocheting, others for their use of color, and still others for their photography. And they all inspire me.”
“I prefer to combine the two. First, I enjoy a nice meal out, because then I have a little extra time to crochet beforehand, and when I get home, I just pick up where I left off.”
“I used to sew a lot, or sometimes knit. I also really enjoyed customizing clothes, which involves using different techniques. But these days, I mostly just enjoy crocheting a lot.”
“Those are my kids. I asked this question at the dinner table the other day, and they were all over each other with excitement. I really enjoy seeing how enthusiastic the kids are about the things I make. They often come up with ideas for projects, too, which makes it even more fun and gives me a lot of Inspiration.”
“A long time ago, I used to crochet a lot. So much so that my daughter told someone, ‘My mom does nothing but crochet.’ Oh no, I thought, I need to decrease my activity a bit. But when we talked about this recently, my daughter couldn’t remember it, so I think things are back in balance now.”
“I love crocheting most of all when we’re camping. That’s when we’re on vacation and there’s no pressure. It’s wonderful to be out in the fresh air. At home, I prefer to crochet on the couch, with the kids cozy around me. That’s the beauty of crocheting—you can do it anytime, anywhere, and with anyone around you.”
“I tend to crochet quite tightly. I hear the same thing from other crocheters who try out my patterns. Their projects often turn out larger. Lately, I’ve been trying to take this into account and crochet a little more loosely by automatically using a larger Crochet Hook.”
“My stash consists of lots and lots of little things, haha. I once emptied out my craft cabinet, and I was shocked by just how much can fit inside one. But I’ve also been collecting all kinds of little items since I was a kid, like buttons. When clothes fall apart, I always check to see if I can use anything from them, like a label, buttons, or beads. My friends always save these kinds of haberdashery supplies for me, too, so yeah, you end up building up a stash. I also prefer to use things from my stash first before buying anything new.”
“Ever since I started, I’ve kept a small tray by my side while I’m crocheting, containing a few different sizes of Crochet Hooks, Stitch Markers, a Row Counter, a measuring tape, and a darning needle. Those are the basic items I always bring with me.”
“I designed two blankets for Yarnplaza. One is a large blanket, for which I chose light colors, natural tones, and a repeating pattern. The other is a baby blanket—a sweet combination of fresh (pastel) shades and many different patterns that emphasizes the playful nature of children.”
“I enjoy following Yarnplaza. It keeps me up to date on new yarns and accessories. I really like Studio Hip & Stip, especially because of its use of color. And besides that… just take a look at my Instagram to see who I follow. There are so many that I’m afraid I’ll forget a lot of great accounts that also inspire me.”
Watch the video interview with Anneke Kooistra here
Crocheting with Anneke from @ak_at_home
As Anneke mentioned, her two blankets are now available exclusively at Yarnplaza. If you’d like to add some soothing, cozy natural tones to your living room, the complete Crochet Kit for the large blanket is an excellent choice. If the blanket would look better in your home in different colors, order the Crochet Pattern and Yarn separately. We also have a Crochet Kit and Crochet Pattern for the baby blanket available in our (online) store. One designer, twice the crocheting fun!
