Saturday Spotlight presents: Nkese Lewis

It’s Time for another Saturday Spotlight and I am super excited about this one. I have said this a million times easily, my favorite part is the people. When I came across this talent during the diversity conversation, I knew immediately I wanted to shine my spotlight on her.

Thank you Nkese for spending some time with me today, let’s get started. Tell me your story. What is your name? Where do you dye from?  My name is Nkese Lewis. I am a stay at home wife and mother. I worked as a Probation Officer for 12 years but had to stop working due to health issues.

Sorry to hear about your health issues, I pray all is well. What is your craft of choice? Do you knit, crochet or both? Who taught you and how long have you been creating?

Currently I only crochet, but I’m hoping to learn how to knit in the coming months. I actually learned how to crochet from watching YouTube. I watched Clare who goes by the Instagram handle @bobwilson123. I was home on bed rest after surgery and I was tired of watching tv and reading books. So I wanted to find something else to do. My daughter had recently learned to knit and crochet and I was interested in learning as well so we would have something to do together. I have been crocheting about 8 years now. 

I am glad you foud Clare because I have seen some fabulous crocheted items on your feed. Do you sell your items?

I have sold some items in the past, but I haven’t sold any garments. It just feels like sometimes people don’t want to pay for the time it takes me to make a garment. People want handmade but they don’t want to prices from people, but they will pay handmade prices from department stores.

OMGAWD, we are twins because THAT is the exact reason I stopped selling as well. What are your maker goals, do you have any?

Maker goals are just learning how to knit and finish up a couple of personal designs I’ve created. I also want to finish the things I put on my #makenine list for this year. Just keeping it simple while enjoying making beautiful things from yarn. This is a stress reliever so I don’t need it to stress me out

Please get out of my head, yes to the stress relief. I wish we were closer, I would absolutely teach you how to knit. What is your favorite yarn to work with?

My favorite yarn to work with is definitely light weight DK yarn. I love the light and airy yarns. I don’t think I’ve had quite enough experience with different types of yarns yet to really have a favorite. But I am currently w

I keep hearing about this ZZ twist yarn, I must investigate. Talk to me about that talented Daughter, did you teach her to crochet?

My daughter T’nai just finished her first year in college. She had always wanted to design her own clothes so she had started designing crochet in between doing her college work. She has also been crocheting for about 8 years. She got a knitting and crochet kit for Christmas, but because she is left handed and the kit was for right handed people she had to learn to via YouTube videos. She is super creative and I love seeing how her mind works, and all the beautiful creations she comes up with. I guess you could say she taught me how to crochet.

Yes!! I love that she taught you, there something about that mother-daughter bond isn’t there? Maybe I need to point my spotlight towards her one day. What impact, if any, has the current diversity conversation had on your making?

I don’t think the diversity conversation has impacted me as much because I feel like Crochet is seen as less than. Even though there are some really great designers and designs out there I don’t feel as if crochet itself gets as much recognition. It’s kind of seen as a hobby instead of something beautiful. So as far as that goes I don’t feel the same impact as knitter

That makes complete sense. I am till shocked at the separation, but will continue, in my way, to strive for that to change. This was great! You are amazing for allowing me to shine my spotlight on you, thank you so much! Last question, how can my readers find you in this cyber world? 

Your readers can find me on IG. My IG name is cosmic_crochet_creations. You can also look me up under my hashtag #afteryarnglow. Basically the hashtag is used to show of your yarn makes each week. It can be knit or crochet. Flat lay or on your body. How ever you want to show it off. I feature the makers at the end of each week in my stories. I love how big it’s getting and how people all over the world are embracing their inner beauty and sharing their beautiful makes with the world.

I love the hashtag and YOU!! Alright folks, go check her out and tell her you found her in my Saturday Spotlight.

Knit on my fiber friends…knit on

GG