Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m Mark, a 35 year old guy living in the Netherlands. In daily life I work as a baker, so most of my days start early. When I get home, there is my other passion; crochet. I have crocheted for over ten years now, and started designing my own patterns about four years ago. Crocheting is something that has become a part of my daily life, and it is a great way to get a calm mind and feel relaxed. Besides crocheting I love taking a walk in nature, especially along the seaside, listening to the best music out of the 80’s!
Tell us a bit about your new book, Crochet Journey?
My new book is called Crochet Journey. The title actually tells a lot. For sure, crochet is my daily life passion. Before COVID changed our world, traveling was something I often did. Discovering new places, people, cultures and traditions. The last ten years I travelled throughout the entire planet to learn and develop myself. In my book I have written twelve personal travel stories about some of my favourite visits. Together with these stories you will find a crochet pattern I designed, according to the story. It became a very personal book which is different from other crochet books, as the book holds a combination of making and reading.
How do you think you reached this point in your craft?
I think I reached this point by developing and learning all the time. Throughout the years I have tried so many techniques and crocheted so many patterns designed by others. At that point, I got the idea to start designing. This is when I got an even better feeling – to create something out of your own hands. Slowly I found my way through all of this and navigated my way through difficulties. It is as most things in life; two steps forward, one step back. A process of learning and development. By creating this book I feel another level is reached and I could have never imagined I would succeed on this.
How big a part, if any, does sustainability play in your work?
Sustainability for me is a very important part in my work. I like to work with materials that don’t harm our environment. We are with many on our planet and we have to be very protective not too dry out all the resources our beautiful world has to offer. In this way, on many levels, we need to take action and seek out ways in which we can do thing without causing or harming our planet even more. Often I use Scheepjes yarns in my designs as I know this brand is really connecting with this.
What advice would you give to your beginner self?
Don’t raise the bar too high on yourself. It is okay to make mistakes and learn. I always feel like I must be better – especially in the beginning. But it is okay to not be perfect and make mistakes, learn from them and take them along your journey to get there.
What’s next for you?
I have worked hard on a follow-up on Crochet Journey. Also, as 2023 will be an anniversary year for me – I will have officially designed patterns for five years by then – I intend to create a very special new piece of art where all elements out of the last years will come together. There is never a dull moment in the life of Mark – always busy with yarn and hooks.
Read more about Mark and get his book here on Bookmarked Hub
