2017 NatCroMo Blog Tour, March 26: Brenda Stratton

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: Brenda Stratton | Sara Leighton | 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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Brenda Stratton, Brenda Stratton Designs

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Brenda Stratton with us today, March 26, 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 Brenda, check out our post from last year’s blog tour.

About Brenda:

My mother taught me a few crochet basics when I was 8 years old, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I taught myself to crochet following a pattern. Later, I started improvising my own designs. After teaching myself how to write the patterns, I began making submissions to various publishers.

My first designs were dolls and doll clothing, but the bulk of my career has been based on afghans of all kinds, mostly floral. In the late 1990s, I discovered my passion for thread crochet, so bringing my love for florals into it was a natural progression. Today, florals are still my favorite things to design, whether it is in yarn or thread.

In 2004, I was hired by DRG Publishing, now Annie’s, as a crochet editor. Seeing what happens with a design as it goes through the publication process was an incredible experience. I had no idea how much work and how many people are involved in bringing a pattern, pattern book or magazine to publication. Although I left that position in 2008, it’s an experience I will always treasure.

These days, after a return to designing, I am taking things a little easier than I did in the early years, and find I am enjoying the process even more!

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

I do! I crochet in the car, in waiting rooms of all kinds, and just about anywhere I have to sit with nothing else to do. I have crocheted in parks, on airplanes, in airports, in hotel lobbies and hotel rooms, and in crochet classes at trade shows, to name a few.

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

I have three favorite places to crochet at home, depending on what time of day it is and what I am making. If I am designing something, I generally work in my office at the computer so I can write the pattern as I crochet. In the evenings, I crochet in my recliner in the living room while watching TV with my husband. Sometimes it is fun crochet, and sometimes I’m working up a pattern I have written. In warm weather, I spend as much time as I can in my lounge chair on our screened porch.

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

When I was 12, my friend, Diann, taught me how to knit in garter stitch. Over the years, I’ve added to my knowledge of knitting, but crochet will always be my favorite.

I learned to sew in high school home economics class. Before becoming a crochet designer, I sewed a lot, making things for my home and sewing clothing for myself and my children.

I have also done embroidery, cross-stitch, latch hook and macrame.

How do you decide what to name your patterns?

I try to make my titles descriptive without being boring, and I try not to be too repetitive. There are marketing books that can help with creating interesting titles and phrases.

Tell us about your favorite camping location.

We don’t camp often, but my favorite to date is a trip we took with my husband’s family to a lake in Minnesota. The lake was large, and there were a lot of water sports, fishing and boating activities. We were camped on a hill overlooking the lake, and the weather was perfect with a light breeze most of the time we were there.

What is your favorite camping tip?

Plan ahead, but don’t take more than you need…unless it’s yarn or thread. In that case, take it all. And, don’t forget your crochet hooks!

What is your favorite camping snack/meal/recipe?

One of my childrens’ favorites (mine, too) was a banana dipped in dry raspberry or cherry Jell-O. After it sits awhile, the Jell-O draws moisture from the banana and makes a fruity glaze. So, using as many bananas as you like, quarter them, place them in a Ziploc bag, pour in the Jell-O, and shake to cover the bananas. Place them in a bowl and, when the Jell-O clinging to the bananas is moist, it is ready to eat.

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

I take some of my afghans, and crocheted dishcloths.

Visit Brenda’s Site: NatCroMo Specials

I will be offering a free coffee cup cozy pattern which will be available March 26th – March 31st. I also have a surprise for you – maybe even more than one – but you will have to check my blog on March 26th to find out what I have in mind!

Brenda’s Designs:

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

1. Passionflower Beaded Doily, $3.69

A large, beautiful beaded flower takes center stage in this exquisite doily blooming with delightful texture and radiant color. The beadwork is artfully carried through to the dainty picot-like edging for a perfect finishing touch. This e-pattern was originally published in Blue Ribbon Crochet.

2. Afternoon Tea, $3.49

The graceful charm of hand-crocheted lace can make any occasion memorable. The pieces in this pretty ensemble can be used together as a teatime set or individually as a separate doily and coasters. This e-pattern was originally published in the April 2015 issue of Crochet World magazine.

3. Rose Splendor, $3.49

With an ornate beauty that defies its simplicity, this stunning throw evokes the feel of formal elegance, yet it can perfectly accent any room with easy-living style. It works up beautifully in double-strand size 10 thread for a look that’s extraordinary. This e-pattern was originally published in Favorite Throws & Table Toppers to Crochet.