2017 NatCroMo Blog Tour, March 28: Susie Allen

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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: Natasha Robarge | Susie Allen | Donna Hulka | 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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Susie Allen, East End Design Company

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Susie Allen with us today, March 28, 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 Susie, check out our post from last year’s blog tour.

About Susie:

I am physical therapist by day and crochet and knit wear designer by night, I often marry my two professions into one. I am inspired by the natural world around me, especially by its texture and color which I often take and translate into my designs. When not knitting or crocheting, I can be found being a mom and wife or indulging my passions for hiking and running.

I am an extroverted, social person who can be found teaching at many of your favorite local yarn shops such as Altman’s Needlearts in Mattituck, NY, The Village Knitter in Babylon, NY, Knit New Haven in New Haven, CT or at the Green Mountain Knitters Weekend in Putney, VT. I have also taught at the TKGA/CGOA National Conference in 2014 and 2017. I love to share my passion of knitting and crocheting. I love to hear your stories about how you became a passionate needlework artist as well. I am also the current President and former Vice President as well asactive member of my local guild chapter of the Eastern Long Island Knitters Guild.

You can find me in various publications such as:
Stitch Mountain by Laura Zander, published by Soho Publishing
Mother’s Day Bouquet Collection – Jimmy Beans Wool
A Green Mountain Weekend – published by Green Mountain Spinnery
60 Quick Knits from America’s Yarn Shops – Cascade Yarns, published by Soho Publishing
Vest Bets: 30 Designs to Knit for Now – Cascade Yarns, published by Soho Publishing (November 2014)
60 Quick Cowls: Cascade Yarns (2015)
60 Quick Cotton Knits: Cascade (2016)
Crochet! Magazine Summer 2016, Spring 2017

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

I crochet literally everywhere including church! I crochet at the dance studio while my daughter dances, the train when going into the city, baseball games, Girl Scout leader meetings and while out to dinner. I love getting the comments from various people! The best is I don’t have time to crochet… I look down at my crocheting and look back up and say … I found that time you were looking for ;).

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

My special place to crochet at home is on my couch in the quiet when everyone else has gone to bed.

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

I have many favorites… that’s the problem but my top three are my Montauk Beach Bag made out of Jute cord, a design that is coming out soon in Crochet ! Magazine (you’ll have to wait and see) and finally this collection with the Glamping theme! It has been dancing in my head for months now and watching it come to fruition has brought me true joy.

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

I love to knit as well, and of course I love all things fiber-related but I have just started diving into sewing with my antique singer machine!

How do you decide what to name your patterns?

Deciding on pattern names is so tough. Sometimes I find names I like first and then have that guide me, other times I look for a themed book on my bookshelf and go from there and of course local places totally inspire names of patterns for me.

Tell us about your most popular pattern.

That is so hard to choose as in different years the popularity changes. This is my Kismet Shawl which is a rectangular shawl that is super fun to crochet and can be used as a wrap, stole or prayer shawl. I love the versatility.

Tell us about your favorite camping location.

My favorite camping spot is a place I used to go as a kid called Hammonasset State Park on the coast in Connecticut. We used to tent camp with my cousins yearly. It was super fun. My favorite part was going down to the canteen and getting sweet snacks (I still love sweet snacks). One year I got a paintball gumball and it had to be defective because my mouth was blue for at least 3 days despite numerous teeth brushing.

What is your favorite camping tip?

Always bring a fun thing to play with everyone like cards or a board game. Also never forget to bring a good camping chef, My Uncle Ted made the best campfire breakfasts ever.

What is your favorite camping snack/meal/recipe?

When I was little it was Air Heads and Slim Jim Beef Jerky… lol. Now it’s a nice glass of Sangria by the campfire at night! I like to make it ahead in Mason Jars and bring it ready to go! Mmmm!

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

I love to make sure that I am come especially by the campfire and at night so I bring my crocheted accessories to bring the “glam” to the site… and I have to color coordinate. Even in the summer I tuck in a hat or headband and some fingerless mittens at the very least.

Visit Susie’s Site: NatCroMo Specials

National Crochet Month always helps me to restart my creative crochet juices flowing! I will be getting lessons together to teach at my LYS – Altman’s Needlearts in Matituck, NY. I will be teaching the afghan stitch pattern and teaching them how to make the modifications for a sleeping bag and tent!

Susie’s Designs:

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

1. Glamping Sleeping Bag, $3.99

A summer wouldn’t be complete without a camping trip, and there is no better way to camp then to GLAMP! This sleeping bag is perfect for those cool nights either in your tent, RV or cuddling be the campfire. Great for both adult and children.

2. Glamping Play Tent, $5.99

There is nothing more fun as a kid then pretending to go camping and then trying to make tents out of blankets. This great tent is crocheted with love, built with love and is sure to please the little one in your life .

3. Jody Cowl, $2.99

Named after Putney, VT native Jody Williams, whose work for human and women’s rights is to be admired, this gorgeous cowl is made from Sylvan Spirit by Green Mountain Spinnery and combines fine wool with Tencel to make a delightful yarn which works up into an even more delightful cowl.