Hooked Together

Starting Maasstitch was almost as easy as starting a new crochet or knitting project. During the Covid years, administrative assistant Sasha Cicilia (25) was looking for a new hobby. She taught herself how to crochet by watching videos on TikTok and YouTube. 

A few years later, she posted a message on Reddit, asking if anyone would like to crochet or knit together. “Crafting on your own is lovely,” she says. “It helps you focus. But when you do it with other people, you learn from each other. And it's much more social.” 

The small Reddit group first met in cafés and at Centre Céramique. After they created an Instagram account, they received a message from the owner of Dr. & Dr. Samosa, a newly opened board game café. The group was invited to meet there, and they have been gathering every Tuesday evening ever since. The members are all young women, each with their own story.

Creative minds

Jolieke Kessels (29) is a true expert. She graduated from art school with an entire knitted fashion collection. Today, she teaches sewing and designs crochet and knitting patterns. She is also fascinated by traditional techniques such as tatting and lace knitting.

Floor van der Grinten (26) works in an optician's shop. She first picked up crochet as a joke, making a tiny hat for her boss's pet snake. Since then, she has gone on to create blankets and soft toys for the babies of friends and family.

Bianca Hurck (28), originally from Germany, is completing her PhD at Maastricht University. She crochets complete outfits and once attended a Comic Con event dressed entirely in a handmade Star Wars-inspired crochet costume.

Room for more

Maasstitch has grown so much that members now sit shoulder to shoulder while working on their projects. Nobody minds. The more people join, the more enjoyable the evenings become. The group would love to organise a joint crafting session with the women of Breicafé Maastricht, who meet at Café Tribunal. And they all share one big wish: a dedicated yarn shop in Maastricht.