Introducing Rachel from Mellow Yarns. Where every item is handmade!! From her home in Melbourne, she turns luxury yarns into soft, beautiful knitted items.
Find out why Rachel started creating and why she is so passionate about the value of handmade.
Tell us about your creations and your handmade process.
I'm a fibre artist that creates both ready-to-wear oversized knit scrunchies and thoughtfully designed crochet kits for beginners. While my scrunchies are a popular item, my real passion is supporting others to experience the joy of making for themselves through crochet. When designing my beginner kits, I put a lot of thought into making the process clear and encouraging.
My DIY kits support aspiring makers to build their skills gradually, with detailed written instructions and step-by-step video tutorials. For me, handmade isn't just about the finished object, it's about creating an experience that feels calming and rewarding. My joy comes from helping others discover they can create something beautiful themselves.
Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a handmade artist.
My journey began during maternity leave with my son. Having my son was a long and difficult journey, and I was searching for something creative and grounding. I wasn't quite ready to return to my demanding corporate job, but I wanted something that felt like mine during a season of change.
I had learnt to crochet many years earlier, but being stuck in a chair for long periods when I was pregnant and nursing gave me a lot of time to spend on the hobby, and what began as a personal creative outlet gradually became Mellow Yarns. Through Mellow Yarns, I decided I wanted to create not only beautiful handmade pieces, but also pathways for others to learn and feel that same sense of accomplishment (while unlocking all the mindful benefits of slow stitching).
What is your inspiration or where do you find inspiration?
I'm inspired by the way crochet can quiet the mind. There's something deeply satisfying about working with your hands and watching something grow stitch by stitch. Especially as a someone who operates mostly "in my head" during my day job. I'm also inspired by the personal nature of handmade.
Crochet allows you to create something completely tailored - whether that's creating the perfect gift for someone you love, or a piece for yourself in your favourite colour and exact style. That ability to create intentionally and meaningfully, and 100% yours, is what I love about making.
Where did you learn your craft?
I learned through a combination of in-person lessons and online tutorials, especially YouTube. That mix of structured learning and self-teaching gave me a deep appreciation for clear instructions and patient guidance. And also the importance of understanding the "why" behind the "what".
It's one of the reasons I now include detailed video tutorials in my own kits, I know how important it is to have someone walk you through each step and explain why it matters. Otherwise the skill won't stick.
Why is handmade artistry so important to you?
Handmade artistry matters to me because it reconnects us to slowness, intention, and creativity in a fast-paced world. There is something incredibly empowering about making something with your own hands. It builds confidence, patience, and pride. There's nothing quite like someone complementing you on an item, and being able to say "thanks, I made it".
Rachel is a much loved member of the MadeIt Collective, posting regularly in our Facebook Group ~ MadeIt: Handmade not Massmade Australia ~ and sharing their new creations as they are released. If you haven't connected with Mellow Yarns make sure you join our FB Group and say hi !
