2017 NatCroMo Blog Tour, March 2: Tian Connaughton

A-Glamping We Will Go: 5th Annual National Crochet Month Blog Tour

Welcome to Crochetville’s fifth annual National Crochet Month (NatCroMo) blog tour, taking place each day of March 2017. Join us for a month of virtual glamping (aka glamorous camping), as we visit crochet designers, crochet-friendly local yarn stores, and yarn companies, as well as offer some fun giveaways.

Today’s Posts: Shelby Allaho | Tian Connaughton | Julie Blagojevich | The Yarn Club | Daily Giveaway

Want to Chat about the Tour?

Part of the fun of glamping is the daily round-up around the campfire, chatting and stitching with friends. We hope you’ll join us in our NatCroMo Facebook group, where we’ll be sharing daily camping recipes, campfire songs about crochet, and so much more! We’d also love to hear about your favorite things you’ve discovered on the tour and see photos of your current crochet projects. You’re invited to join us daily for virtual cocktails/appetizers and dinner. (We’ll be sharing links to some fabulous recipes!)

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Tian Connaughton, Knit Designs by Tian

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Tian Connaughton of Knit Designs by Tian with us today, March 2, as one of the featured designers on our 2017 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo). If you’d like to know even more about Tiancheck out our post from last year’s blog tour.

About Tian:

I am the crochet and knitwear designer, and tech editor behind KnitDesigns by Tian. I live in a small town in Western Massachusetts with my fantasy author husband, Daniel, and son, Aidan. Teaching is at the heart of how I approach design. While my style tends toward classic shapes and silhouettes, my designs are intended to provide learning opportunities featuring interesting and unique details. I blog about crochet, knit, and design at knitdesignsbytian.blogspot.com. I also write The Weekly Yarn, a weekly dose of knit, crochet, yarn, and fun. You can sign up here.

Do you crochet in public? If so, when and where?

I crochet everywhere, while waiting in the pick-up line for my son after school, at restaurants while waiting between courses, on the sideline at my son’s basketball and soccer games. I’m always with my yarn.

Do you have a special place at home where you crochet? Tell us about it.

The truth is, there is yarn activities happening in just about every room in my house. But a special place at home where I like crocheting is in my office in my comfy oversize leather chair with a cat tugged in next to me and a dog at my feet. What can be more cozy than furry friends to help.

Share the story of your favorite thing you’ve ever crocheted or designed.

Tian Connaughton | Knit Designs by Tian | Galway Slouchy Beret

I’ve crocheted so many great products and I love them all. If I had to pick just one, I would pick my Galway Slouchy Beret. This is one of my earliest designs and I am still proud of the design.

Tell us about any other fiber-related hobbies you enjoy.

In addition to crochet, I knit and spin. For me, knitting is a natural extension of crochet. I got into spinning because I was interested in how yarn is made and how the construction of a yarn can influence the finished product. Both knitting and spinning play a vital part of my crochet because each brings in interesting elements.

How do you decide what to name your patterns?

Naming a new pattern is still the hardest part of designing for me. Over the years it’s gotten a bit easier. I read a lot and am always writing down interesting words and names. From that list I match up designs with the word or a variation of that word. The thesaurus is my best friend.

Tell us about your most popular pattern.

Tian Connaughton | Knit Designs by Tian | Harwinton Easy Lace Boomerang Shawl

One of my most popular pattern is my Harwinton Easy Lace Boomerang. This is, as the title states, is an easy lace shawl pattern. I was inspired by all the knit sideways asymmetrical shawls on Ravelry and didn’t see too many easy crochet versions, so I created my own.

Tell us about your favorite camping location.

My favorite camping location is a family campground in Franconia, NH. My family goes there about twice each year.

What is your favorite camping tip?

My favorite camping tip is that you can’t have too many crochet projects. Take a variety of projects to work on because you never know what item you will be in the mood to work on.

What is your favorite camping snack/meal/recipe?

My favorite camping snack is the tradition smores. No other foods feel like camping than roasting marshmallows over an open fire.

Tell us about any crochet items you take to “glam up” your camping experience.

Summer nights in New Hampshire can be chilly. To glam up my camping experience, I usually take along a crochet shawl to wrap myself in while we sit around the fire in the evenings. Because whatever I wear will get smoky from the campfire, the shawl has to be crocheted in an acrylic yarn so I can toss in the washer when I get home. It’s a little bit of home away from home.

Visit Tian’s Site: NatCroMo Specials

Tian Connaughton | Knit Designs by Tian | NatCroMo Special

I have a new post on my blog today. I’m also offering a coupon code for a free crochet pattern from my Ravelry shop. Click the link above the photo to visit my site to get the details.

Tian’s Designs:

If you’re not familiar with my work already, I’d like to share three of my designs with you.

Tian Connaughton | Knit Designs by Tian | Keora Shawl

1. Keora Shawl, $6.00

Keora Shawl is the perfect piece to transition from warm to cold and back again. Dress up a plain white t-shirt for the summer picnic or layer under your winter coat for extra warmth.

Keora Shawl begins with an easily repeatable lace edging that you can make as wide or shallow as you like, then transitions to the DC body, which is cleverly shaped using short-rows.

Tian Connaughton | Knit Designs by Tian | Leymus Shawl

2. Leymus Shawl, $6.00

Dress up simple jeans and t-shirt for a picnic or throw over your favorite little black dress for a garden party. Leymus Shawl is a simple yet striking reversible lace edged crescent shape shawl worked from the bottom up in a beautiful linen yarn.

Leymus Shawl starts with an easily repeatable lace edging, then transitions to the HDC body, which is cleverly shaped using short-rows.