About
Hello my name is Anna. My love of crochet was passed down to me by my Grandma and Auntie Jo. There’s something very comforting about creating a hat, a pair of slippers, a blanket, or whatever I’m working on, using the same crochet stitches that they used all those years ago. I’ve grown to love this mindful, versatile and truly wonderful craft so much that I’ve made it my mission to pass on the craft of crochet to as many people as I can through my business, Homebird. I love seeing others get the same pleasure from crochet that I do, and that my Grandma and Auntie did before me.
Growing up, my Grandma was ALWAYS knitting or crocheting when we visited. I can picture her in her chair with her knitting bag by her side full of needles, yarn, patterns and Woman’s Own magazine. My Grandpa would be getting irritated with the sound of the needles clicking together as he sat and read the newspaper. All our (incredibly itchy) school jumpers and cardigans were lovingly made by Grandma, parcelled up in brown paper and sent to us.
My mum also made clothes for my sister and I, including the kind of long party dresses that were so fashionable in the seventies, matching summer dresses and dressing gowns - how lucky we were!
A few years later I had my first son and I knew I wanted to dedicate myself to being a Mum. But in the following years I experienced multiple miscarriages, it was a very tough time. So, when I became pregnant with my second son it was so precious, I wanted to treasure every moment.
That year my Auntie asked me what I would like for Christmas and the answer was simple, I wanted her to teach me to crochet. Sadly my Grandma had died when I was 15, before I had learned to crochet, but I had been given some of her knitting needles and crochet hooks and I wanted to use them.
I was so pleased to be learning this craft that my Grandma had passed down to her. I was in the Nesting phase of my pregnancy and had plans to fill our home with soft homemade cosiness.
Sadly, we have lost Auntie Jo too now, I treasure the letters and cards she sent me with hand written crochet patterns and explanations. After that Christmas crochet became my way to relax in the evenings after busy days with my young boys. As they got older I was employed as a Teaching Assistant at their school, I soon realised that I loved to teach and was good at it. I decided to combine my teaching skills with my love of crochet and Homebird was born! I started my first classes, teaching friends and colleagues to Crochet around my kitchen table. Those nights were busy, but fun. I would cook tea and then quickly transform the kitchen into a classroom while homework and family life was going on around me.
Over the next couple of years my business steadily grew and I gave up my job to concentrate on Homebird full time. I now run my business from a pretty wooden studio in my garden that I call ‘The Nest’.
One of the things that I love about crochet is how accessible it is, if you have the use of your hands and the desire to learn, you can crochet. I’ve taught children, adults of all ages, people with disabilities, everyone can get pleasure, mindful escape and a real sense of achievement from crochet. Once you have mastered the basic stitches you have a a lifelong skill and a huge choice of brilliant things to make.
