Who are you and what do you do? I’m Tuija Heikkinen from
Rovaniemi, northern Finland, which is very close to the Arctic
Circle. My education is as a fashion and textile designer, but my
heart and soul is in the various fields of arts and crafts, which
I practise as well as teach.
Five words to describe your work? Colourful; shape-filled; simple;
hands-on; and cheerful.
It’s almost like you’re illustrating with crochet! Where did that
idea come from? My crochet hobby started by chance. I was looking
for a new form of expression alongside my main work with printed
textiles, so I sat down, took a hook and let go! I decided to use the
hook like a pen, with the yarns as my colours.
Where did you pick up your crafty skills?My grandmother was a
grand old crochet lady – very skillful and diligent. She crocheted
huge amounts of basic granny stuff, like doilies, curtains and
blankets. So, I guess I picked up the spirit of crochet from my
childhood. It took some time before I got my hands on the hook,
though. I don’t have super-technicalskills, but I understandthe
limits and possibilities, and what you can do with only one tool.
Can you recall the first crochet piece you made?As a little girl,
I made Barbie outfits that were more like strange alien creatures
than clothes. In school, we made things like potholders, beanies
and slippers, but those weren’t a big success, either.
What’s your process – how do you approach each piece? I crochet
like I’m writing a diary or drawing in my sketchbook. Crocheted
notes tell about my life, mood, interests and nature. I don’t do actual
sketches; I just start with a theme and let the hook fly. I work with
intuition and believe in the process itself – it leads, advises, teaches
and surprises.
What are your influences and inspirations? Flowers and retro
motifs seem to appear a lot in your work! I’m a big fan of the 1950s
and 1960s. It shows also in my home and collectors’ items – vintage
and retro fabrics, dishes and cloths. Social media is one way to get
inspiration and information, but at the same time, I can find exciting
things in old craft books, items in the cupboard, and of course,
nature! I’m lucky to live in a part of the world where nature is very
close, and seasons change strongly and clearly.
How does craft fit into the rest of your life? Luckily, I have been
able to make a profession from it. I have two sides to my job: as
a teacher to my students, and as a student with my own artwork.
What are you working on right now? I have several works in
progress, always at the same time. Some need more time to get
ready; some need less. Right now, I’m printing and sewing a little
collection of textiles for the summer season. (My summer theme
is ‘maturing in the crochet field’.)Where can we see more of your stuff? instagram.com/tuijaheikkinenfinnish artist tuija heikkinen
approaches the art of crochet in
an unexpected way.
drawıng
with thread
look what i made