Hi, I'm Nenah from Neentjes.
Today I'm writing a guest blog for you! I'm going to take you into the world of oya crochet.
What is oya crochet?
(Yupa Studio runs oya crochet workshops in the Netherlands, taught in Dutch — check the events page to see if anything is scheduled!)
Oya crochet originally comes from Turkey, where it is traditionally passed down from generation to generation. Women crochet lace edgings — traditional Turkish oya lace — onto the borders of their clothing, headscarves and tablecloths.
But not only lace: delicate bracelets, detailed necklaces and beautiful earrings too. It is made with fine polyester thread, with the beads strung onto the spools of thread first.
The crocheting itself is done with a 0.75 mm hook, working the thread and the beads together. It is really just crochet — bead crochet, teeny tiny.
Oya crochet supplies
You use polyester thread, because when you fasten off it is important to burn the thread closed.
I recommend the brand Altin Basak. For the beads you need Miyuki rocailles 11/0. They are uniformly round and give you the prettiest results.
You also need a 0.75 mm crochet hook, preferably from Clover. And finally a big-eye beading needle to string the beads onto the spool of thread. Scissors and a lighter should not be missing either, of course.
How to start oya crochet: your first bracelet
The base of every bracelet is a little bobble that works as the closure. Then comes a middle section that varies from pattern to pattern, followed by a loop to fasten the bobble. You use the basic stitches: chain, single crochet and slip stitch. The beads give the bracelet its shape and can create a 3D effect. At the end you burn off the loose thread with a lighter. Because it is polyester, it melts shut. That makes the end of the bracelet sturdy, so it will not come undone on its own.
Tips for beginners
Here are my three best tips:
Tip 1: With oya crochet it is important to work tightly, whereas in regular crochet you learn not to work too tight. At first this is really tricky, because you still need to get your hook through the loop, but with a bit of practice most people pick it up quickly. To be able to work tightly, there has to be constant tension on the thread. If that is not working yet, crochet loosely and pull your stitch tight afterwards. Your stitch ends up tight either way.
Tip 2: A slip stitch is normally worked in one flowing motion. With oya crochet it is nicer to do it in two steps. Pull your thread up first, check that the slip stitch lands in the right position, and only then pull the first loop through the second loop on your hook.
Tip 3: Because the thread is wound on a spool, it can get tangled while you crochet. To prevent this, put a stitch marker through your loop. Then lift up your spool of thread and let your work dangle underneath. It will untwist itself (with a bit of luck).
Final tips
Are you a crocheter looking for a challenge, or someone who loves really fine work? Then oya crochet is absolutely for you! Your project is easy to take anywhere, and you can experiment with different patterns, beads and threads. I am sure that once you start, you will get just as addicted as I am! Who knows, maybe I will run into you at one of my workshops.
My story
I am Nenah Floris from Nieuwegein, 28 years old, and I have loved anything crafty since I was little. Sculpting, drawing, needlework, painting — you name it, I love it.
I have always had a thing for miniature and precision work, which is exactly why oya crochet appealed to me so much. It is also the smallest form of crochet that exists. Once I started, I was so hooked that I could not stop.
Oya crochet is not very well known in the Netherlands yet, so I have made it my mission to teach it to people and to develop patterns. I get my inspiration from nature: I look at the seasons, at flowers and plants. You can make countless variations and create something new quickly. That is what keeps oya crochet so much fun for me!
For my career I chose the world of laboratories. There I work accurately and precisely, qualities that suit me completely! But I also noticed that my creative heart was not getting enough. Being creative with my hands and sharing that with people gives me energy.
That is why I started Neentjes: my own business, where I want to inspire people and teach new techniques. I began by designing patterns and giving workshops, and recently I have started selling materials in my webshop too. I import the highest quality thread from Turkey.
Nenah has her own shop where she sells beads and thread. Check out the shop here and follow her on Instagram: @neentjes!
