Recognize this girl?

Doris Chan has an exciting new pattern line for girls! DJC Designs, Too! The first pattern, Birthday Girl skirt, is up and is modeled by... Chickee! She loved the skirt and your little girls will too... and many of us not so little girls... yes, I got to try one on too.


Check out more patterns by Doris Chan here, which are hosted by Vashti Braha.

Designer Profile: Lisa Pflug

Would you believe I asked Lisa these questions almost a year ago and I'm finally getting around to publishing her answers! It's been so long that I asked her to check it over to make sure it still applies! Lisa is a very talented person in multiple areas, not just crochet. Here's a little bit about her:

How long have you been crocheting?
I've been crocheting since I was about 10 years old. My mother and her friend took my sister and me to a couple of lessons where I made a fishnet poncho for myself. It's funny that those are now back in style. I've been crocheting ever since, teaching myself from books.

What's your favorite technique or item to crochet? I'm a bit dull - I like traditional crochet best and I like to crochet scarves and afghans. One thing that excites me about crochet now is that with all the fantastic yarns available, crocheting is like painting with texture. The color and texture combinations I can make are infinite. Now when I am inspired to create something, I can usually find yarns to fit my idea. When I was a young teen, I only had about 10 flat ugly colors of itchy acrylic yarn to choose from at our local store. What a different world it is today!

When you crochet "just for fun" what do you choose to make?
Usually things that I don't finish. I like to make baby clothes because they are small, fast projects and adorable of course. Now I rarely stitch anything from a pattern and instead stitch simple scarves and purses and hats for fun, using whatever combination of yarns I have available and strike my fancy at the moment. I'm just as interested in the color and texture of yarn as I am about the pattern. I'm definitely most inspired by colors.

Do you have a favorite yarn? hook?
I love bamboo yarn for a garment. I like the earthy colors of Lion Brand's Vanna's Choice yarn, and it is soft and afordable - great for afghans. I've also been a fan of Caron's Simply Soft yarn for years. It's has a silky sheen and good drape for an inexpensive yarn. I just wish it came in more color choices. I'm not partial to any kind of hook. I just need several in every size since I leave them in bags with my multiple ongoing projects.

When/where have your items been published?
I started designing about 4 years ago when I joined CGOA. I've had my designs published in books. Only a few have been in magazines, and I'd like to try to submit more to them. I've tended to publish in books mainly because some have allowed email submissions and those are easiest for me to do. I saw that Crochet! magazine asked for email submissions recently so I have a few designs about ready to go to them.

Your website and Etsy address of course...My website is www.TheCrochetGallery.com, and my etsy address is misslisalou.etsy.com. The Miss and Lou in MissLisaLou is for 'MISSissippi' (my home now), 'LOUisiana' (my birthplace).

An interesting tidbit about yourself unrelated to crochet? I don't know how interesting it is, but in addition to my jobs as a scientist and part-time crocheter, I run a mail-order antique rose nursery (CountrysideRoses.com). I stay pretty busy. Doesn't everyone who crochets? You can always squeeze in a little crochet while you are doing something else!

Designer Profile: Jill Hanratty

Look out world, here she comes! Jill Hanratty is just one of the fabulous designers I'm going to profile. Jill burst onto the crochet scene when I met her in line to meet editors at the 2006 Chain Link conference. She was wearing one of her crocheted dresses and wow, she can do great things with hook and yarn. You've started to see a few of her designs since then, she's been published in Annie's Hooked on Crochet, Crochet! and Interweave Crochet. Her talent is second only to her charm and generous personality.

1. What’s your name and website/Ravelry name, etc.
Jill Hanratty. No website or blog (yet?). My Ravelry name is scorpiocrochet; unfortunately, all I have done on Ravelry is choose the name! (Time management is a foreign concept to me, so I cannot find enough time to do all I should do!)

2. When did you learn how to crochet and who taught you?
I learned to crochet (and knit) when I was about 10 years old (give or take--I don’t remember exactly). My mother tried to teach me, but gave up when I wasn’t getting it. My grandmother stepped in and hung tough with me until I finally caught on!

3. When/How did you become a professional?
In 2006, I joined CGOA and attended my first conference (where I met you!). I brought along my portfolio, which consisted of photos of completed items and sketches of items yet to be created, and showed it to the magazine editors at the "Meet and Greet" portion of the conference. When I got home from the conference, I began submitting designs to magazines. Prior to that, I sold finished items.

4. What’s your favorite thing to crochet?
I love making clothes. I also sew, but crocheting clothing feels like an extra treat, since I can sit still and do it--not to mention carrying the crochet along wherever I go. (Can’t carry a sewing machine around and use it!)

5. When you design, do you start with a plan first, or do you start with hook and yarn and see what happens?
Both. I sometimes have a design in mind and set out to find the right yarn and stitch combination to accomplish it. More often, though, I find yarn that I love (we all know that feeling!) and swatch with it until I find a stitch pattern that looks best to me; then I decide what type of garment it will best suit.

6. What are you most proud of in terms of crochet?
This is tricky! I’m sure you know the feeling: It’s great to have designs published, and I’m proud of each design that has been published. It’s also great to have people react with amazement to things I’ve created.

7. Do you have any advice to crocheters who want to be designers?
If possible, go to the National Chain Link Conference and attend Professional Development Day. There is a wealth of information passed along by designers, editors, publishers and yarn company representatives--it is an invaluable experience. Whether or not it is possible to attend the conference, submit ideas to editors! CGOA also offers a mentoring program, which is very helpful. AND, I’ve noticed that your blog is chock-full of great information! Thanks, Jill!

8. Anything else you want to say?
I wish there were more hours in the day. It’s difficult to keep up with everything I would like to design and crochet! (See #1, time management problem, ha!)

Thanks Jill for giving us a little insight into you!

Designer Profile: Deidre Eyles

Hi All,
I thought it would be fun for you to meet a few of my crochet designer friends. So I interviewed a few of them. Today is Deidre Eyles! Hi Deidre! Thanks for answering my questions.

1. What’s your name and website/Ravelry name, etc I’m Deidre Eyles, my blog is Crochet A la Carte and on Ravelry you can find me as CreativelyMe. I don’t have a web site yet, but hope to one day.


2. When did you learn how to crochet and who taught you? My Maternal Grandma taught me when I was about 5 yrs old. (My first project was a very lumpy Mexican Hat pot holder, which I still have. It is turquoise blue with bright red trim!)

3. When/How did you become a professional? I don’t know if I’d call myself a Professional yet, I’ve only had 2 designs published so far, but I’m working on it.

My very first published pattern was “Spring Flower” baby afghan for Leisure Arts book #4422 Afghans for All Reasons & All Seasons Nov 2007. I submitted the pattern to a magazine and was rejected. Just as I was trying to decide where to submit it next, I saw a call on the CGOA list from Jean Leinhauser. Her and Rita Weiss were doing a book for Leisure Arts and needed afghan patterns ASAP! Any color, yarn, size, ANYthing, FAST! Since I already had the afghan finished and the pattern written up, I sent an email with a pic of the afghan. They said they would make instant decisions, and they DID! Before I knew it, I was mailing them the afghan for photography and being thanked for my design! Lol!

4. What’s your favorite thing to crochet? That’s a tough question as I like to crochet a lot of things. If I had to pick I’d say probably purses and totes. They are quick and usually easy and they give you a LOT of room for creativity!

5.When you design, do you start with a plan first, or do you start with hook and yarn and see what happens? I usually get an idea for a design in my head first. I see the design in my mind’s eye, then try to work on creating it. Although, on occasion I have found a yarn that I couldn’t resist, bought it and let the yarn tell me what it wanted to be.

6. What are you most proud of in terms of crochet? For designs, that would have to be my Tranquil Ocean free form afghan that won People’s Choice at the Conference this summer. It was my very first attempt at free form and it turned out even better than I could have hoped! I get so many wonderful comments on it when I show it or pictures of it to people.
For crochet in general, that would be to be able to design things and have them published in crochet books and magazines. 2 or 3 years ago I wouldn’t have even dreamed that this was possible! (I still have to pinch myself!)

Do you have any advice to crocheters who want to be designers? Yes. Never think that you can’t do it! Even if you are scared to death, submit that design anyway, because you never know until you try. (wise words from my very good friend, Thank you, Ellen) If you do get rejected, don’t take it personally. They just might not have had room for it. Dust yourself off and submit it else where.
Never think a design isn’t “good enough” or that people will think it’s silly. I thought that about my Tranquil Ocean afghan and it won People’s Choice! You just never know.
And finally, join the Crochet Guild of America and get a Mentor. They help you polish your skills, they teach you the ins and outs of submitting, they can be an invaluable source of information, and best of all, they can be your friend and cheer you on!

8. Anything else you want to say? Yes. Dream big and be open to finding inspiration and opportunities ANYwhere! They can happen when you least expect it. I’ve had opportunities come out of nowhere with perfect timing, and I’ve found inspiration in the most unlikely places. You just have to keep an open mind.

Thank you so much Deidre!

Interweave Winter

Have you seen it? It's in stores now... it's Interweave Crochet's winter issue! In this issue, you will find several phenomenal crocheted pieces including the "Stone Path Hat" (photo above) designed by Lisa Naskrent of Crochet Garden. Lisa has been wow-ing crocheters for a long time on her website and is now taking the plunge into publishing. With her first published pattern in Interweave, you might as well start at the top, right? Remember her name, because by the end of 2008 you will have seen it in various places numerous times.

In this issue there are also fabulous projects by Pam Gillette, Dora Ohrenstein, Doris Chan, Annette Petavy, Robyn Chachula... All of their websites are listed on the right hand side under "Great Sites to See". There are several other talented designers in this issue, check it out for yourself. Congratulations to you all!

Here's a favorite thing!

4 Ingredients to a yummy appetizer, gotta love that! And... an appetizer that doesn't use cream cheese! I don't know about you, but when I throw a party, it seems like I have to buy 20 cream cheeses for all the appetizers. Here's one that doesn't use cream cheese. (but it does use butter and cheese!)

Thanks!

I need to say THANK YOU! Something good happened yesterday, and it makes me want to say, "I'd like to thank the Academy...." But don't get your imagination all revved up, it's probably not quite as good as what you think (and probably not quite as good as what I aspire to). Anyway, I had a nice day yesterday and I think it's time to name names. So, in no particular order:

Thank you to:

Lisa Pflug for helping me with this website/logo and linking them with my blog. She is http://thecrochetgallery.com/ and a published crochet designer. Thanks Lisa!

Tammy Hildebrand, mentor, friend, crochet designer extraordinaire. Your unwavering support and wisdom has been more valuable than I can measure. Thank you Tammy!

Lisa Naskrent for helping me see a new perspective on gauge which has unlocked a treasure trove of possibilities for me. Lisa is also a published crochet designer and owns http://crochetgarden.com/

Now, for people who answered my questions, no matter how elementary they may have seemed. These women have taken time out of their day to answer them the past few years...

Sharon Mann, author, artist, crochet designer, http://sharonmanndesigns.com/

Darla Fanton, crochet designer, teacher, leader... she also has a blog, but I'm sorry, I don't know the address. I'm sure if you google her or look her up at http://needlecraftuniversity.com/ you'll be able to find her.

Kathleen Stuart, thank you!

Susan Lowman, thank you!

Melodee MacDuffee, thank you!

Susan Huxley, thank you! http://sewntellstudios.com/

Heidi Petach, crochet designer, author, illustrator, pianist....thank you!

The women of the SouthWest Ohio Crochet Guild, to which I am a non-attending member, but they keep me anyway.... http://southwestohiocrochetguild.com/

If I forgot anyone, I apologize, but I hope there will be more opportunities to say 'thank you' in the years to come!

Here's a little get-to-know-you questionnaire that I found:

Favorite way to spend a Saturday/Sunday afternoon: Crocheting!

If you could have three wishes granted, what would they be: That my children would grow up to have faith and be optimistic. That we would always have what we need. That our family would be remembered for being "good people". (I wouldn't mind a new car and a yearly trip to Chain Link, though)

To read or be read to: To read. Right now I'm reading "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon

Do you wish on stars: Yep.

What was the last movie you watched? Ugh, High School Musical 2.

If you were blind but could some how see for one hour a week, what would you spend your time doing? Staring at my children's faces and memorizing every expression.

Best concert you ever went to? Paul McCartney was fun.

If you could learn a new skill what would it be? I'd like to be fluent in another language.

Are you a dancer or a wallflower? At Jazzercise I'm a dancer, at weddings, I'm more of a wall flower.

Do you prefer reading books or listening to music more? Read, absolutely! I only listen to music in the car and at Jazzercise.

If you could live on only one food item for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

Chocolate Cake

And 6 weird things about me:

1. I like cherry flavored things, but not cherries. I like oranges, but not orange flavored things.

2. I had a cat named "Ansel" when I was a teen because I loved Ansel Adams' work and thought that I would be the next awesome photographer!

3. I know all the words to the movie, The Princess Bride.

4. I re-read all the earlier Harry Potter books before each new came out.

5. I'd rather go out to dinner than watch a movie.

6. I played soccer for 8 years as a kid and never once scored a goal.

Now, let's see if I can find a photo...



Tammy Hildebrand (left) with me at the 2006 Chain Link CGOA conference

Pam B, Diane S, and me at the 2006 CGOA conference. They are also crochet (and knit) buddies! Thank you, friends!