Yael Falk - New Wire Crochet Jewelry

Bracelets

Necklaces

Earrings

Rings

My given name is Yael, but Im known by friends and family as Yoola. I am an industrial designer by profession, but a metal crocheter and jewelry designer by heart and destiny.

Several years ago, when my husbands job relocated our young family to Switzerland, I becamefor the first time in my lifea stay-at-home mom. This gave me lots of free time. The first year I learned French and attended lots of coffee mornings with other foreign moms, but by the second year my fingers were itching and I knew it was time to plunge back into designing or Id go nuts. So, I went to a nearby craft store and bought some delicate wires and modeling clay, although I didnt have a clue what I wanted to do with them. The clay eventually went to amuse the kids, but the wire intrigued me. Im not a big crocheter; all I know are the basics my grandma taught me when I was little, but somehow this felt like the right thing to do with the wires, so I crocheted a thin ring that I still have today.

I had no idea where to go from there, so I decided to find a more structured education about jewelry making. After a search, I found a small jewelry-making studio in Montreux not too far from our house that offered a large variety of short courses. I immediately signed up for two classes, one for basic metalsmithing and the other all about wires and beading.

By the time the first day ended I knew I was home, I was so excited, like I hadnt been in years. It felt like falling in love, I was swamped with endorphins!

Out of everything I learned there, I was most intrigued by one particular stitchand it changed my lifeit was done with just a crochet hook and thin wires. We spent almost an hour in making what I now call a base (see ) to work from, and the next hour or so learning the stitch, and that was it.

I rushed home and couldnt stop making tube necklaces using the method. I raided all the craft stores in the area to source wires, but found a very limited selectionmostly only Christmas colors: silver, gold, red, and green, and if I was really lucky, blue. However, I worked with what I had, and made endless tube necklaces, giving them to all the moms I had coffee withbasically anyone showing the slightest interest was immediately gifted a necklace.

Then, as Christmas neared, those ladies and a few others wanted to order Christmas gifts to send home, I was amazed that people were ready to pay good money for what I was doing for fun. As a professional industrial designer, I was used to working for companies, never individuals.

On returning home to Israel, I went back to industrial design, but I wasnt using my hands and they were left itching to create actual pieces, not merely computer-generated designs. Luckily, I still had a large box filled with tube necklaces and other bits and pieces that I had no use for. Around this time my sister told me about Etsy and suggested I list them there and just see what happened. It was 2008 and Etsy was still relatively unknown among the non-arts community, also at that point I didnt know much about selling online.

I received a warm welcome, the community loved my designs, but they were most interested in learning how I was making them (at that time Etsy was mostly a makers collective). This is when I decided to write instructions about how I do what I do and offer them for sale along with my finished designs.

Quite a few eyebrows were raised hearing what I was planning to do; Why would you sell your secrets, anyone could copy you? This is all truewas, and still isbut the part that intrigues me most is the discovery stage. Im an inventor. I like creating things. Im less happy when I have to make more of the same; endlessly repeating the same designs bores me. I like to try something different, explore variations, and get carried away. I get a lot of satisfaction seeing my designs recreated in far-away lands, with different cultures, languages, and weather.

I love hearing how much satisfaction people get from following my techniques. For some people it helps them keep their hands busy, for others its a true tool for pulling out of depression, and sometimes it has become a viable source of income.

My subconscious holds the keys to my inspiration. I never know when and where it will come from, I keep my channels open and welcome whatever passes through. It can be a movie, a book, a trip to an exotic place, or just life in general. Teaching, both online and in person, is also a great source of inspiration. The thought that someone is waiting there for you, to see what improvements or new designs you have come up with, is a great energy source that pulls the best out of me.

And I discovered that I really love teaching!

My design process is very intuitive and mostly achieved by experimenting. The physical requirements are minimaljust crochet hooks and wiresand the world is at my feet, anything can happen. One design leads to another, until I see the one to keep. This is why I have boxes full of samples, waiting for further development (one day) into a finished item, or just to stay as an inspiration for future designs and teaching aids.

My designs are very versatile style-wise. I have a romantic line of jewelry for brides and bridesmaids, where I combine wire crochet with Swarovski crystals or freshwater pearls. For ladies who are enchanted about the airiness of wires and want to feel unique in a minimalist way, I design clean geometric pieces, small or big, for sophisticated evening and day wear. Youll find all of these and more in the pages of this book. Enjoy!

I use the smallest size available, so usually 14 (0.9mm). Just as useful are 12 (1mm) or 10 (1.15mm). It is very important that the hooks are good quality stainless steel ones. By good quality, I mean that the hook has a smooth finish with no peeling or scratches, otherwise it will get worn out very quickly, the wire may leave marks, and the hook will not be as smooth as it was originally. Its really not enjoyable to work with a hook with flaws, it squeaks and gets stuck, the whole thing becomes a struggle instead of calm, flowing work.