The Story Behind Alexa & Rosie

Hi, I’m Yasemin — the hands (and heart) behind Alexa & Rosie.

Crochet has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Istanbul, watching my mum crochet whenever she had a spare moment. Sometimes she stitched for beauty and tradition, sometimes simply to fill our home with love. My grandmother crocheted too but for her it was a way to earn a living. I like to think I inherited a little of both: the joy of making and the determination to share it.

By the time I was eight, I was copying stitches, and at ten I was making tiny outfits for my one Barbie doll. (Yes — I still have them tucked away!) Years later, when I was expecting my daughter Alexa, I picked up my hook again, this time to make her little bunnies. That was when I fell in love with amigurumi: the Japanese art of crocheting soft, stuffed toys.

Alexa became the best kind of creative partner. For a while, every doll she owned was called Rosie. It was sweet, funny, and so perfectly her that I couldn’t resist naming my little business after that phase. And so, Alexa & Rosie was born.

Today, I spend my evenings with yarn, a cup of tea, and a head full of ideas. Some toys are for keepsakes, some for seasonal mischief (hello Rag Mischief!), and some are for teaching others how to make their own. Whether you’re here to adopt a forever toy or learn to crochet your own, I’m so glad you’ve found me.

With love

Yasemin 💕