Carlie

Carleen Luyt "Carlie" is the visionary founder of Carlie’s Darlings, a social enterprise rooted in creativity, healing, and women’s empowerment. With nearly two decades of operational experience and a deep passion for community transformation, Carleen leads with warmth, strategy, and purpose. She launched Carlie’s Darlings from her own cr

Carleen Luyt "Carlie" is the visionary founder of Carlie’s Darlings, a social enterprise rooted in creativity, healing, and women’s empowerment. With nearly two decades of operational experience and a deep passion for community transformation, Carleen leads with warmth, strategy, and purpose. She launched Carlie’s Darlings from her own crochet journey, scaling it into a vibrant hub where women learn, earn, and grow together. From training new crocheters to designing impact-driven programs, Carleen blends artistry with administration to build a movement of hope—one stitch at a time.

Vivienne is a 46-year-old mother of three, a mental health survivor, and a passionate crocheter whose journey is stitched with courage and determination. Living with bipolar disorder, major mood disorder, and fibromyalgia, she faces daily pain—but crochet has become her lifeline and source of joy.

Taught by her mother, who lovingly passed 

Vivienne is a 46-year-old mother of three, a mental health survivor, and a passionate crocheter whose journey is stitched with courage and determination. Living with bipolar disorder, major mood disorder, and fibromyalgia, she faces daily pain—but crochet has become her lifeline and source of joy.

Taught by her mother, who lovingly passed down the craft, Vivienne discovered the unique challenges of crocheting as a left-hander. Though she began crocheting years ago, life pulled her away—until she joined the Mitchell’s Plain crochet classes led by Carleen Luyt (Carlie). With patience and encouragement, Vivienne learned to read patterns and now confidently tackles new designs with pride.

💬 “Crochet gets me out of bed every day, eager to take on new projects and challenge myself,” Vivienne shares. “Some days are tough, but being part of this crochet support makes it so much better.”

Her story is a testament to the healing power of creativity and community. We’re honored to have Vivienne on our team, bringing heart, skill, and inspiration to every piece she creates.

In 2021, Charlene faced a difficult chapter after losing her job, which led to a spiraling depression. When she saw the notice for Carlie’s Darlings free crochet classes at Lentegeur Library, she took a brave step forward—hoping it might help ease her mind.

Crochet was a familiar comfort from her youth, shared with her aunts. But it was th

In 2021, Charlene faced a difficult chapter after losing her job, which led to a spiraling depression. When she saw the notice for Carlie’s Darlings free crochet classes at Lentegeur Library, she took a brave step forward—hoping it might help ease her mind.

Crochet was a familiar comfort from her youth, shared with her aunts. But it was through the Mitchell’s Plain Crochet group that Charlene truly found healing and growth. She’s calmer now, laughs more, and her doctor even noted her blood pressure has stabilized. Friends and family say she’s not as angry as she used to be—and we see her joy shine through every stitch.

Charlene now reads and follows patterns with ease, and she’s especially passionate about making crochet dolls and keyrings. She’s mastered the art of multitasking and proudly crochets, stuffs, and assembles our signature Carlie’s Darlings dolls.

Her journey is a beautiful reminder of how creativity, community, and courage can transform lives. We’re so grateful to have Charlene on our team.

At 21, Ammaarah is joyfully exploring the world around her. Her favorite colors—purple, blue, and green—reflect her deep love for nature, swimming, hiking, and the peaceful energy of the outdoors. She’s also passionate about children and animals, and dreams of studying early childhood development in the future.

Crochet became her favorite 

At 21, Ammaarah is joyfully exploring the world around her. Her favorite colors—purple, blue, and green—reflect her deep love for nature, swimming, hiking, and the peaceful energy of the outdoors. She’s also passionate about children and animals, and dreams of studying early childhood development in the future.

Crochet became her favorite hobby after she taught herself the craft, driven by a long-held desire to create with her hands. Every piece Ammaarah makes is stitched with love and intention, especially the adorable dolls she crochets for Carlie’s Darlings.

💬 “I love seeing children’s eyes light up with joy—it makes me smile,” she says. “Each crochet piece I make carries that same joy.”

Though currently unemployed, Ammaarah’s creativity, warmth, and dedication shine through in every project. We’re so proud to have her on our team, bringing youthful energy and heartfelt craftsmanship to our crochet family.