Being an artist requires one to create more than just art itself. Artists need to create a space that suits them, to work on their craft, to sell their finished products and sometimes to teach others. Clara Leung, the owner of C Yarn Hut in Vancouver, has created a space that does all the above for her charming and whimsical crochet creations. We recently sat down with her to get her thoughts on the creative process, running a small business, DIY crochet kits and how community impacts us.
@hgtvcanada On this episode of MadeIn, we chat cutesy crochet creations with Clara from C Yarn Hut 🧶 #vancouverbusiness #yarnaddict #crochettutorial #canadianbusiness
Early Days
You’ll never be worse than you are right now — that’s the mentality one should keep when pursuing a new skill. At the beginning, there’s nowhere to go but up. It might be hard to believe that the same was true for Clara after seeing her delightfully knit pieces, but she once was a novice too. “I used to knit scarves as gifts for my mom, family and my friends. Then, one day I realized that I can’t anymore because everyone had that gift from me already. So that’s why I started to crochet.”
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Everyday Cuteness
“The first time I crocheted, I crocheted for my dog.” If any one theme could be assigned to Clara’s works, it would have to be adorableness. With her keen eye, she has a knack for finding, and then adding charm to, everyday objects. “With the cactus crochet, I wanted to make a plant that would never die. Then, customers told me that, in their offices, they’re not allowed plants. So it was a good way for them to still add some colour.”
Representing Her
As a member of the Asian community and living in the melting pot of Vancouver, identity and expression is crucial for Clara. Her works often represent objects that reflect her life and experiences. As powerful as that can be, sometimes that showcase is as simple as recreating her favorite recipes through yarn. “I like to crochet Chinese dim sum — it’s more durable that way.”
Subtle Joys
“Small mushrooms, ladybugs, foods from different cultures.” Hearing Clara list off the various crochet creations she’s working on lately, they might not seem connected, but they are. Every object is something small, to some even mundane, that deserves to be cherished. It’s easy for artists to gravitate towards grand things like mountains, landscapes and the sky. These are all beautiful, but so are the small and silly things, too.
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Community Influence
Being an Asian small business owner, Clara often finds herself in multiple worlds. Chinese, Canadian and artist — they’re all labels that make up part of her but will never capture the whole picture. The influence of these titles are evident in her work but don’t limit her. One of her specialties is a style known as amigurumi, a Japanese technique. “I find that I have to jump out of not only the Asian community, but also the Canadian. Sometimes, I’m just human.”
Sharing Her Skills
“It feels great. Instead of a finished product, they get to learn how to do it.” Rather than just being a retail space, C Yarn Hut also hosts lessons and sells DIY kits and patterns. It’s an effective way for Clara to spread her passion on to her customers and the community around her. Not only do customers get Clara’s adorable creations, but they get to be a part of the process behind them. “This is why I keep doing it — seeing them find out they can do it, too is why.”
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Connecting Through Craft
Aside from the DIY kits, Clara often gives private lessons herself, too. “I only do one-on-one. Everyone has a different understanding and skill level, so I put 100 per cent into each student.” It’s clear that her artform is important to her and it’s clear that sharing it with someone else is a meaningful moment for her. “I want my students to learn that they each have something unique within each of them.”
The Sometimes Introvert
“Before, I didn’t really enjoy hosting workshops. I’m an introvert, but people asked me to teach them.” Despite her initial hesitancy towards socializing, she quickly learned that there were aspects that she loved. “I feel happy and satisfied teaching people — seeing a student start with nothing and make something makes me happy.”
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A Universal Language
For Clara, knitting and crochet was always a way for her to express herself. It wasn’t until starting C Yarn Hut that people were able to showcase themselves back. Through teaching and the sharing of her skills, she has connected much more deeply with the communities she is a part of. Whether it is as a member of the Asian community, as a Canadian or an artist, yarn has connected her to those around her in a deep and meaningful way. “The people around me speak this same language — we are talking about the same hobby that I love. Now I talk more and smile more.”
Keep up with Clara and her delightful designs on Instagram and find out more about her products and business here.
