PROFILE: MARK ROSEBOOM
Dutch designer Mark Roseboom, aka The Guy With The Hook, shares his thoughts on male stitchers, designs that sparkle and his crochet heroes…
As a male crocheter and designer Mark Roseboom is aware, he’s in the minority in this female dominated craft, but doesn’t feel that means his work is held to a different standard or viewed in a particular way by the crafting world. “Sometimes people say to me that as a male designer it should be easier to stand out of the crowd instead of being a woman and one of many,” he says, “but it’s absolutely not true. In the end people like you based on your works and so that decides it.”
Having said that, Mark does his best to help out any other male crocheters he comes across, “I do see that men are trying to connect, to support each other as we’re still a really small group together in the crochet community,” he explains. “It can be a bit frightening to get out there and show off that you can crochet too as a man. When I spot men on social media doing crochet I always try to like their work, post a comment and encourage them. I’ll never forget one woman in particular who posted me a comment. Every time I posted a new design she called her kids and showed off what I had done. She had two little boys and they were so inspired by it. They are learning to crochet at a young age right now and maybe I can inspire a new generation. I do hope so.”
SECOND TIME LUCKY
Back in 2002 Mark began to knit and then crochet while recovering from a long period of sickness, then years later the urge to design came almost by accident as he became frustrated with other artistic projects. “I was always busy with colouring, drawing and painting but I couldn’t get my ideas out in the best way due the fact my skills were low in these areas,” he recalls. “So I searched for another way to express my ideas and thoughts and started designing with yarn. Just some simple things like a square. When I finished my first pattern I felt so proud, but there was simply no one who liked it and so the whole designing phase ended as soon as I started it!” Two years ago Mark took up designing again, this time much more successfully. “In three months’ time the rollercoaster started as I had an audience who liked what I did, companies noticed my work and I started getting my patterns published.” All this activity has to
be worked around Mark’s day job: “Crochet was and still is a side job in my life, although it’s getting much bigger and I now even take a day off every week from my regular day job to give it the time and attention it needs. Because in daily life I’m just a simple bakery and deli worker. My days start very early, baking fresh bread and pastries, and I have many other interests too.”
Based in the Netherlands, Mark’s crochet designs, thanks to his ‘The Guy With The Hook’ blog and books, are followed around the world. “I have been blogging for over two years now. I spend a lot of time on social media interacting with followers, but also tracking down others to see what they are doing. But I have given myself a rule this year to cut it down a bit as it became a kind of addiction to just scroll around and keep being updated. It is not healthy to be so involved. I have an online community of almost 16,000 followers on Instagram and over 3,000 people on Facebook. It makes me really aware of being some kind of role model in what I post or say. However I keep being myself, so when I have an off-day or I’m insecure about something I also post about these kind of things. And maybe that’s the best thing about interacting online with your followers – the authenticity. They respond with the most kind words and you feel so supported.”
STITCH STORY
As for what inspires him to pick up a hook, Mark says that’s simple. “A design, whatever it is, has to give you a kind of sparkle,” he enthuses. “Like when you see it you want to make it or have it. It has to be worth it to crochet and put all your work, materials and time in. But above that, the design has to have a story from my side. I can’t just create patterns that don’t mean anything but just look pretty. I want a design to carry a story which makes it unique.” To make sure he captures every idea, he carries a notebook with him on his travels around the world. Once he has a design in mind, he loves to work with mosaic crochet and overlay techniques the most, “You see it a lot in my designs as it is such a rich way of creating things. Besides that it is an easy technique many of us can accomplish. And my favourite yarn remains Scheepjes. I am a friend of Scheepjes which means I’m dedicated to the brand, but I think it’s just the best quality and the colour ranges are amazing. But also it’s a Dutch brand, so as a Dutch citizen it’s even better when you can work with products from your own country.”
CROCHET COMMUNITY
Real-life meet-ups with other crocheters are geographically pretty tricky for Mark, as he’s not based near any larger cities such as Amsterdam. However, when asked for his list of personal crochet heroes, he’s not short of people to name. Firstly the Netherlands’ rich history of artists has provided him with plenty of colour inspiration, “Look at all the famous painters we had and have – they’re the best example of a natural gift with colours.” In the crochet world he’s a big fan of Jane Crowfoot. “When I started crocheting, I joined her Crochet Clubs and I learned so much out of it. And still today I admire her work. Martin from Martinupnorth is a true blessing as I feel this man has paved the way for me to get out there. Next to him is Johanna Lindahl from Mijocrochet who has giving me such good advice and support. And last but not least there is Tinna Thórudóttir Thorvaldsdóttir from Iceland. She has inspired me over time and became a good friend.” (For more on Tinna and her crochet work, check out last month’s Simply Crochet, where we profiled her!)
Mark feels positive about the coming year, with plans to expand his portfolio of designs for sale. And with a loyal online following, the endorsement of a huge yarn manufacturer and apparently endless reserves of creativity, we have no doubt it is a confidence that is well placed.
Written by Lucy Evans
“WHEN I SPOT MEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA DOING CROCHET I ALWAYS TRY TO LIKE THEIR WORK, POST A COMMENT AND ENCOURAGE THEM”