About Cora

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Hi there dear you! 👋

I am Cora, passionate crocheter and the face behind Cora's Knit Knacks.

Even as a child I was doing two things: being creative or playing doctor. Absolutely no surprise then that I ended up working in healthcare.

In 2020, after working as a district nurse for almost 10 years, I felt my path wasn't fully in healthcare anymore. That the way I was working then, wasn't using my full potential or capabilities. A few years earlier I had already registered my business and it kept pulling at me...

But lets go back a little bit first. When I taught myself to crochet back in 2012 I had no idea what you could do with crochet or how much it would end up meaning to me. The more time I spend crocheting the more I also saw ladies on social media turning their hobby into their livelihood. Mostly Americans, but the more I saw this happening, the more I felt deep inside me "I want this too!!"

But well, how to get there, I hadn't a clue... After doubting about it for years I finally decided to register my business in 2017. My plan at the time: sell finished makes through Etsy. I had no idea where it would take me, but all I could do was start right?..

From finished makes to yarn and crochet patterns

During this time I was still working full-time as a district nurse and my business was mostly just a hobby. But I noticed that the more time I spend on it, the more energy I had! Something I totally didn't get from my work as a district nurse. Nah, that mostly just drained me...

Bit by bit I noticed that I was attracted to teaching others to crochet. Crocheting meant so much to me. It made me experience peace, relaxation, and above all, less stress! I wanted to share that feeling with others.

So I started designing some patterns. With the intent that I would be able to use these to teach others to crochet. But it turned out that I loved designing so much that I still haven't really stopped! Since February 2021 I have published over 80 patterns to my name! From February 2021 until August 2024 even a new one EVERY MONTH!

From the point of designing my own crochet patterns the step to selling yarn and other materials was easily made. Because with the patterns and video's I wanted to offer complete beginner kits. So they no longer have to worry about picking the right yarn and hook for the pattern they were trying to learn to make.

And the more time I spend doing this, the more I noticed that this was what was giving me energy. Making patterns, selecting materials and filming this for beginners, much more then making the same crochet plushie for people over and over.

So over time I build out my stock to an amazing range of various beginner kits and courses. Until at the beginning of 2026 I felt that my energy was being pulled in a different direction. So I still have very clear beginner tutorials and video's on my blog and 1 very thorough crochet course available. But all other courses and beginner kits have moved to retirement. Time will tell if this will be fore the time being or if they'll come back refreshed after some time 😉

The direction that my energy is being pulled towards? Building a fantastic range of eco-friendly yarn and materials and supporting other crochet designers. At this moment there's over 200 crochet patterns available of about 15 different crochet designers, including myself. Designers are from all over the globe!

But I just feel that trying new things, testing yarns and giving amazing other makers a place to sell their patterns is giving me more energy then anything else right now!

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Everything with a clear vision

My business has brought me to such unexpected and fun places, opportunities and experiences! I'm truly thankful for this! I have been able to give workshops on the biggest Dutch national event for women (the Huishoudbeurs), not once, but twice. I've had the privilege to coach other creative businesses for a while and I've been published in a Dutch magazine for creative businesses.

And who knows what else the future might bring! Because while I'm writing this, I'm doing the very first translation of my website to English. I'm going international! Big, exciting and a mad step I've been dreaming about for years. I'm so curious where and what this is going to bring me! It could be a huge flop, or it could be world domination as one of my collaborating designers keeps saying 🥰

What I do know is that I've got a very clear mission and vision with Cora's Knit Knacks. That is to let you experience how much fun crochet is and how amazing it is to crochet with eco-friendly yarn and sustainable materials.

But also to give other makers a podium and spotlight. I love handmade products and I love local products. But oh boy can it be hard "to make it" by yourself. If I can give other makers a helping hand by reselling their created products I will be happy to do so. The same goes for giving other crochet designers a place to sell their crochet patterns, something they would otherwise maybe not have the guts to do.

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Some ins and outs about me

🧶 I stand for creativity, sustainability, high quality, care and attention. Oh, and lets not forget color and cheerfulness!

🧶 I can't live without creativity. I get really grumpy if I haven't been able to do any crochet or other crafts for a few days!

🧶 While I started with knitting, I now spend most my time crocheting. I can't go without! Oh, and both are self taught, thanks to Mr YouTube.

🧶 I'm married to a Brit, so I'm pretty much native in English as well as Dutch. And sometimes, when I'm tired everything turns into a big mess and jumble in my head and a strange sentence comes out!

🧶 Apart from crocheting and knitting I also love to do cross stitch embroidery. But knitting and cross stitch I do purely to relax and as a hobby.

🧶 In my spare time I love playing video games with my husband and friends or like watching a sci-fi film or series.

🧶 I spend 6 years working as a self employed nurse alongside running my webshop and business. But since 2024 I chose a part time job as a nurse again. I never thought I would be able to settle back into working for an employer again, but thanks to my fantastic team, the combination is working out really well!