2017 NatCroMo Blog Tour, March 30: Katy Petersen

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: Linda Dean | Katy Petersen | Mélissa Thibault | 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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Katy Petersen, KT and the Squid

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Katy Petersen with us today, March 30, as one of the featured designers on our 2017 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo).

About Katy:

Hi! I’m Katy and I’m the designer behind KT and the Squid. I taught myself to crochet as a teenager but didn’t really get into in until after I had my first child (the “Squid”).

In 2009 I started selling finished crocheted items and in 2011 I decided I loved designing. My favorite things to design are sweaters and shawls.

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

Not really unless the car counts and even then I don’t do it much because I get car sick. But I do get really excited when I see others crocheting in public.

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

I have a boring little corner on the couch in our living room and yarn is strategically hidden so I can grab it when I need it.

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

My favorite thing I ever crochet was actually the first project I ever completed. I made it in college to help calm my nerves before and after big exams. It’s a simple granny square blanket and it’s UGLY! The weights of the yarns don’t match, the colors are horrible and I actually can’t even use it because I had no idea how to weave in my ends at the time so I just tied knots and cut them.

But I love it because it’t the first thing I finished and it’s a reminder of how far I’ve come. Not just in my crocheting but how far I’ve come as a person.

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

I learned to knit before I learned to crochet so I love it just as much. I’ve played around with weaving and hope to learn how to dye and spin yarn someday.

How do you decide what to name your patterns?

I have a secret weapon. Google Maps. Most of my patterns are named after random streets. I like to look up places I’ve visited or places I’d like to visit and pick a fun name.

Tell us about your most popular pattern.

My most popular pattern (appropriately named) is My Favorite Crochet Pullover. It’s really simple which is why I think people seem to flock to it.

Tell us about your favorite camping location.

I haven’t been camping in years! Haha. But I do live by a state park that’s fun to visit. We do a lot of photo shoots there.

What is your favorite camping snack/meal/recipe?

S’MORES! We’ll cook them in the backyard during the summer.

Visit Katy’s Site: NatCroMo Specials

I’ll be doing a blog post about the first thing I ever made and what I’ve learned from it.

I’ll giveaway a copy of my Cool Weather Wear ebook and do a sale 40% off all patterns in my Ravelry shop.

Katy’s Designs:

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

1. Katula Cardi, $4.99

A cardigan where comfort and sophistication meet!

The Katula Cardi is cold weather sweater perfection. With an interesting striped pattern and range of textures, this cardigan is perfect for the office, errands, and home.

The Katula cardi is a beautiful tie front cardigan that will be the new staple of your wardrobe. This is a simple drop shoulder pattern that gets your attention through the subtle texture of the stitches. It is constructed from the bottom up and seamed at the shoulders. The sleeves and the front trim are also sewn on. The pattern includes a video tutorial of the extended single crochet that is used.

2. Stark Cardi, $4.99

The Stark Cardi is written for sizes XS(S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X) for a bust of 28”(32”, 36”, 40”, 44”, 48”, 52”) and finished bust of 32”(36”, 40”, 44”, 48”, 52”, 56”). The sample is modeled in size S on a 34” bust. I have also included a detailed schematic with more measurements to help you pick the best size for you.

I rate this pattern at an intermediate level. Skills needed include working in the front loop, single crochet, double crochet, foundation stitches and seaming.

Yarn: Berroco Vintage Dk (52% acrylic, 40% wool, 8% nylon; 290 yd/266 m/ 3.5oz/100g; light worsted/DK/3 weight) 5(5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9) balls of Pumpkin (2176)

Hook: G/4.25mm hook (or hook to obtain gauge)