Hi, I’m Carmen—the face (and hands!) behind Off The Hook Creative (photo credit goes to my very talented 8-year-old photographer!).

I live in a gorgeous little village on the Surrey border here in the UK. We moved over from South Africa in September 2019, and recently celebrated six wonderful years of living our UK dream—what an adventure it’s been!

Home for us is a cosy little cottage where something delicious is always bubbling on the stove, music is spinning on the turntable, and three busy, creative, energetic children are usually buzzing through the rooms. I share this beautiful chaos with my endlessly supportive (and endlessly crafting!) husband, a kind-hearted teenager, a sassy newly-turned 10-year-old with a sharp bob and even sharper opinions, and my affectionate, noisy, wonderful son with special needs who keeps us all on our toes. And of course, no family would be complete without our three rescue brother kitties—now fully grown into the fluffiest finishing touches to our home.

Before the world of yarn took over, I worked as an Executive PA for an IT Director in London, then as a Logistics Manager for an Apple reseller in Cape Town. Somewhere in between, I fell in love, got married, and became a mum. I first picked up knitting in 2010 while pregnant with my eldest, Scarlett. Over the years, I juggled motherhood with roles in marketing and part-time graphic design—always with some creative project on the go.

When we moved to England, I decided to try crochet in 2020 using the one hook I’d brought with me—my mom’s trusty 4mm. I was instantly hooked. What began as baby blankets for gifts turned into toys for my children, and before I even realised it, I was designing my own pieces. With the encouragement of my family and the incredible yarn community I found on Instagram, I took the leap and published my very first pattern last year—one of my proudest moments.

My designs are rooted in the warmth of family life and the joy of childhood—where colour, texture, and imagination meet. I aim to create patterns that are not only beautiful, but practical, playful, and made to be treasured for years to come.

When I’m not crocheting, you’ll usually find me painting, cooking, collecting vinyl records (old soul at heart!), or crafting in just about any form possible. Creating is truly my happy place.