Meet the Misfits

Jenine aka Kikivuli (She/Her)

My love of crafting was well established in my early childhood and continues to this day. One of the first things handed to me was one of those old-fashioned, metal crochet hooks from my grandmother’s house, along with a neglected ball of yarn that had been sitting around. I’m sure it was to keep me busy and out of the way, but it blossomed into a hobby that required the acquisition of more yarn (and more hooks than the wayward one that was found under a sofa, I’m sure!) which meant going to a yarn store, and that meant that I wasn’t as quite out of the way as hoped. I can’t count how many pot-holders I created when I must have been younger than 10. Although I’ve picked up many crafting skills over the years, crochet was something I always came back to. Crochet also has the added benefit of being a huge salve to my ever present anxiety struggles. Night Owl Misfits started as an idea to not only showcase my creations, but also to include my two daughters who also seem to have inherited the crochet trait. We all are night owls, we all are neurodiverse, we’re all a bit weird, and we all have a fascination with yarn. Thus, Night Owl Misfits!

  1. Most detailed projects thus far: Hyena and Anubis plushies, and a dragon hood.

  2. Favourite yarn to work with: Any plush yarn that won’t fall apart on me. Top of the list currently is Parfait Chunky, Bernat Blanket, and Juicy Couture.

  3. Favourite hook: While I love the look of Furls resin hooks, nothing so far beats the smooth metal of the Clover Amours. Unbeatable combo is a Clover head with a handmade resin handle so you can get the best of both worlds.

  4. Pet peeves: So, so many. Crochet related? Knots in the manufacture of the yarn skein. Yarn that sticks to itself and knots itself up. Yarn that pulls apart and you’re left with fluff everywhere. Patterns, that despite claiming that they’ve been tested, make no sense and are written poorly. Crochet hooks that shatter on cement convention floors! I could go on.

  5. Goals: Larger projects and the time to complete them. I’m talking about a block of time where I can actually concentrate, not 5-10 minutes at a time when I’m up and down and can’t focus.

“In regard to crafting, I used to think I was a jack of all trades - master of none. Then I was late-diagnosed with ADHD. Now it all makes sense.”

Teagan aka Swoog (She/Her)

Teagan is the youngest Night Owl Misfit and has been crafting since she was very young. She’s come a long way from making rubber band bracelets! Teagan has been crocheting for the past couple of years and has really developed the craft. Her favourite yarn to work with is plush yarn but she will make the sacrifice in working with other yarns to make hats and other wearables.

Teagan (aka Swoog) She/Her

  1. Most detailed project thus far: A lace top with delicate yarn and multiple panels.

  2. Favourite yarn to work with: Juicy Couture or Bernat Blanket.

  3. Favourite hook: Metal hooks, sizes from 5 to 8.

  4. Pet peeves: When some yarn is difficult to work with and pulls apart. Also, when you can’t find the end of a skein of yarn and when you pull, all you get is yarn vomit. Disembowling your yarn is no fun.

  5. Goals: Garments like shirts and cardigans.

“It’s collecting! Not hoarding!”

Emily aka StitchHaven (She/Her)

I am a young mother of three who has been trying to find peace through crochet amid my surrounding chaos. I have been crafting for decades (Thanks, Mom!) and picked up crochet again in the last year after my youngest child was born.

Emily (aka StitchHaven ) She/Her

  1. Most detailed projects thus far: A custom granny square cardigan with hood and pockets and a granny square baby blanket made with velvet yarn.

  2. Favourite yarn to work with: For wearables: Lion Brand Mandala yarn. For plushies: Parfait Chunky.

  3. Favourite hook: Furls resin hooks.

  4. Pet peeves: When people say that they have a “brand new pattern” but in actuality it’s a modification of an already existing pattern. Also, disemboweling yarn and being covered in fluff is annoying AF.

  5. Goals: To be able to make clothing for myself and family so that I don’t ever have to buy anything from a store again. To make gifts that will be treasured in their new homes.

“I’ve perfected the “Roomba” crocheting method…. Bouncing from project to project until something eventually gets completed.”