By Andrea Volkamer
Her design career began 25 years ago in Córdoba, Argentina, where she was born. After traveling the world for several years and getting to know many different cultures, she settled in Spain, where she has now lived for 15 years. She also runs a small online shop in Barcelona. Cecilia is constantly active in sharing new ideas with the crochet community, spreading knowledge, and creating a resource base for all crochet lovers. On her blog and YouTube channel, you can follow her crochet journey and expand your own crochet skills. Her patterns are published in English and Spanish and are available on ravelry.com. We are very happy that Cecilia also creates beautiful designs with our yarns.
Who taught you to crochet, or how did you get into crocheting?
My mother is one of the most creative people I know. She always inspired me and my four siblings – I'm the youngest – with her creativity, bringing joy to our lives! She loves everything to do with sewing, knitting, or dyeing textiles. She would sit at home in our living room creating, and her creative energy was absolutely contagious! My older sister is also very creative and has always encouraged and supported me in developing my own creativity and crafting. So I grew up in an environment deeply connected to handicrafts, and for as long as I can remember, I have always been busy with something—crocheting, knitting, macrame, or batik.
Can you tell us a little about how your life path brought you to crochet? Have you been working full-time in the crochet/knitting world for long, or was it always clear this was what you wanted to do?
It was always clear that I would work in the field of art and handcraft. I’ve always been active in these areas, whether it was music, theater, puppetry, or handicrafts. At first, it was more like a game, but while traveling, I realized that I could truly make it my calling. When I arrived in Spain, it was difficult to get started, but I soon launched my own brand for baby and children's clothing and accessories. Later, with the birth of my second son Lui, I decided to fully dedicate myself to design.
What is special about crocheting compared to knitting for you?
I think crochet and knitting are two very different techniques that produce very different results. Crochet is, of course, very special to me, but after so many years, that has shifted a bit. There are still things I can learn in crochet, but I feel I’ve explored most of it. With knitting, however, I'm still learning so many new things, and that makes me very happy!
What was your first crochet project? Do you remember it?
I believe it was a bikini. I remember buying a book that explained each stitch step-by-step with photos. Eventually, I started changing the designs. The first attempts were catastrophic, but I kept trying until I made a beautiful bikini for myself. It gave me such a boost, and my friends were so excited that I had to crochet bikinis for them too. That was amazing!
Which of your own designs is your favorite?
My favorite design is definitely the Olé Shawl made with your Nepal yarn. I’ve crocheted many shawls, but this one is special because it was the first design I made with a luxury yarn of such a fine weight. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. It turned out beautifully! I love the Olé Shawl!
If we ever see you without knitting needles in hand, what might you be doing? Any other hobbies?
Honestly, I don’t have many other hobbies at the moment. I'm very focused on knitting and, of course, I love spending time with my children. I would, however, love to get more into embroidery, especially Mexican embroidery, because I find the designs and colors so beautiful!
You’ve traveled a lot. Did you learn any new crochet or knitting techniques while abroad? Do techniques differ from country to country?
Oh yes, absolutely! Depending on the country or region, tribes crochet or knit in very different ways. In Colombia, for example, crochet is much more popular than knitting. The Wayuu bags are very well-known, but there are many different types of bags made with natural yarns. The colors and motifs vary depending on the tribe, and each design tells a unique story. In Peru, on the other hand, you see more people knitting. They use very long metal needles that have tips similar to crochet hooks. Peruvians are true color specialists and have a distinct way of working with threads and needles.
You’ve already created some beautiful designs using Pascuali yarns. Which is your favorite and why?
All Pascuali yarns are truly wonderful! It's hard to choose. But I love Alpaca Fino! It's very soft, comfortable, and beautifully warm. The color palette is also stunning. For summer, my favorite is Cumbria. I’ve both knit and crocheted with it, and it’s wonderful to work with. It also has an amazing texture! I love bold colors, and Cumbria offers plenty of those.
