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Hello, and welcome! I’m Aida, the maker behind The Athenian Maker. I am a knitter that fell in love with botanical dyeing, and decided to start this small yarn company creating hand dyed yarns and project bags, all dyed with colors provided by nature.

 My passion is to practice my crafts with care towards the environment and the animals, this means that the materials I use are according to my ethics, I mostly dye plant based fibers but also use recycled wool and when available I dye wool that comes from rescue farms or farms run by vegans, where the sheep live a long and natural life. 

I was tought how to knit by my mum when I was a kid. My mum was an avid knitter, would make wonders with a limited amount of yarn and no patterns, people would stop me and my brother in the street to check out the knitted garments she made for us, but as an introvert, that was not something I enjoyed. Most of those garments where frogged when they fit us no more, and she would then create something brand new and gorgeous with them. I still remember her baskets filled with balls of yarns from tiny to bigger ones, and in all sorts of colors. I used to knit clothes for my dolls on her side, but I didn't actually stick to it.  I also knitted a couple of scarfs for friends when I was at the University but I really became a knitter about 8 years ago, and have not stopped knitting eversince. Much of my aproach to crafting I owe it to my mum, and that is beeing mindful with my materials, to be confident to experiment and try out things that are out of my skills, to not rush the process but take the time to enjoy it and create something I'm happy with.

My journey into the world of botanical dyeing began here in Athens in 2018, when I had the opportunity of studying Natural Dyeing at SEN. It was there that I was first introduced to the timeless beauty of plant-based colors. Since then, I’ve dedicated my time to exploring the art of botanical dyeing and eco-printing, this world fascinates me and despite the years that I'm practicing these crafts, they've not stoped to excite and surprise me. I've never felt closer to nature before, especially botanical dyeing has had such a great impact in how I see and appreciate nature, I am amazed by the endless posibilities she offers us as long as we respect her and are mindful towards her. 

My crafting adventure however, had started earlier in 2013, when I discovered the world of homesewing, tought myself how to sew my clothes from blogs and patterns and that led to creating my entirely handmade wardrobe but also opened to me the world of slow fashion. I'm grateful that crafting got the hold of me even that late in my life, I feel it shaped me and it evolved me to the person I am today and I look forward to find out where it will take me next.

Thank you for supporting my journey of creativity, sustainability, and mindful crafting. I’m thrilled to share my work with you.