Illustration by Joshua Walters

CRAFTING REQUIRES FIERCELY FOCUSED FINGERS AND A STRONG LIVER

Katie’s Cozy Craft Corner
De Nieuwe Anita
14 April, 20.00, free

Once a month a group of crafty crafters come together for an evening of hardcore knitting, interpretive sewing, freestyle macramé and other forms of raw expression – including cupcaking and cocktailing. We speak to Katie Holder, the hostess of Katie’s Cosy Craft Corner.

What is a craft?
I reckon anything unique one makes by hand. At de Anita we welcome crafters of all persuasions: knitters, stitchers, hookers… even weavers of bellybutton fluff. Heck, if you’re into something kinky with string, who am I to judge?

Is talking shit a craft?
Most certainly! Crafting a mean cocktail and talking up a storm are two of the most prized skills at craft night. One of the evening’s features I’m most proud of is the Craft-ini bar. Miss Olga of de Anita and I wanted the crafters to be able to create their own boozy drinks. Et Voila: the DIY cocktail bar was born!

What’s the most deeply odd craft ever?
I can’t speak for anyone else, but my craziest piece was a self-portrait done on flesh-toned leather using my own hair as thread. Never, ever try this at home. A dear friend in LA has an amazing, freaky modern art collection and an enormous collection of Victoriana woven hair memento mori. One day I saw an embroidered piece by my hero Jenny Hart that used human hair on leather and SHAZAM! I decided to create this self-portrait for his collection. It was the single most frustrating piece I’ve ever made, as hair doesn’t like to be threaded or sewn. Go figure.

Any fire starters?
Almost. Somebody came to craft night once with a big ole chunk ‘o wood and some branding equipment. The Nieuwe Anita ended up smelling like campfire night on Brokeback Mountain. Luckily we didn’t need to call in the fire brigade and the results were indeed smoking.

What makes a mighty crafter?
A mighty crafter isn’t afraid to wrangle with branding equipment one day, and take on delicate lacework the next. They should also be open to stuffing themselves stupid on our delicious cupcakes and cocktails. Crafters aren’t afraid of carbs. Crafters have no fear.

If you were a craft what kind of craft would you be?
Macramé. I’m easily tied up in knots.

What’s the next big crafting trend?
Anything with bacon. (If I say it out loud, does it make it true?)

Who are your big role models?
There are truly too many to name, but some of those who knock my socks off are: Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching whose Dolly Parton embroidery makes me swoon, Shawn Quinlan who is also known as the Quiltman, and Floresita who collects and shares vintage embroidery transfers. Of our own crafters, there’s Petra Timmermans whose work always blows my mind.

So when is your Cosy Craft Corner going to come backed with a Needle Exchange Afterparty?
No worries, it’s already in the works…

Katie’s Cosy Craft Corner: every second Thursday of the month at De Nieuwe Anita, 20.00-23.00.