30 | http://www.crochetnow.co.ukit and she asked me if it was for sale. That
one got sold that morning, so I made Pien
a new one! I also sold this one, and then
started making them to sell at a market
in Amsterdam. Then I made a shawl for
myself and my first pattern. People started
to ask me if I offered workshops. The first
one was in my house with friends, and
that's how it started. My patterns became
popular as Iposted them to Instagram and
Facebook. Soon, yarn shops outside the
Netherlands asked me to come and teach,
and now I travel to New York, London,
Spain, Denmark and of course Holland.This month we were delighted to get to know
Ellen of By Pollevie, one of the most colourful
and exciting crochet designers out there
DESIGNER SKETCHBOOK
Ellen Deckers – By Pollevie
C
urrently, I live in what they call the
‘green heart’ of West Holland in a
small village, though close enough
to Schiphol that I can go abroad. I
live with my three kids Tibbe, 11, Jurre,
nine and Pien, seven, as well as our
two cats Tompoes and Pip. Two days a
week I'm a teacher at a local school, and
the rest of the week I tend to my kids. I
take them to school and to sports clubs.
In between all this, I crochet – a lot! I
always have plenty of projects to choose
from that I will do while waiting for them
and in the evenings.My mum is very creative, so I grew up in
a creative environment. She embroiders,
quilts, knits and crochets. If there was
something I wanted as a kid, she'd look for
a way to make it. If that was not possible
only then we would buy it at a store. So,
when I had kids of my own I sometimes
made toys, but I like to add colour and
details to their everyday wear. When Pien
started riding her bike to school, I wanted
her to wear something cute but bright. I
bought a neon pink poncho and added
crocheted flowers. Another mum asked
me where I had bought it. I told her I madeThe Leaping Hare
shawl was designed
for Loop LondonWhat an amazing
yarn stash!