2017 NatCroMo Blog Tour, March 9: Darleen Hopkins

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: Phyllis Serbes | Darleen Hopkins | April Garwood

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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Darleen Hopkins

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Darleen Hopkins with us today, March 9, 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 Darleen, check out our post from last year’s blog tour.

About Darleen:

Hello! I am Darleen Hopkins. I have been crocheting and designing for over 10 years now. I love the feel of yarn in my hands and the magic of transforming that yarn into something beautiful or, something silly. My design style is diverse, from lacy scarves and shawls to silly baby bibs and everything in between. I’ve been published in print magazines and online publications. I also self-publish my patterns and really enjoy the entire process, from the initial idea to seeing finished projects of my designs crocheted by talented crafters like you. I work hard to create designs that are fun and easy to crochet. I hope you enjoy crocheting my designs as much as I enjoy creating them 🙂

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

All the time! If I’m sitting, I’m crocheting. One of my favorite places to crochet in public is at the high school football games. My oldest plays in the marching band. We go to as many games as possible to see him play. My husband enjoys the football too, but I enjoy the time to crochet and talk to others who ask me about my crochet. This last year, I, along with a couple other crocheting band parents, sold items at the December holiday concert. We raised over $300 for the band. It was a fun fundraiser and I’m looking forward to it again next year.

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

I have two special places. When the weather is warm, I sit out on my screened in porch. I can spend hours on a weekend sitting there listening to the sounds of nature and the neighborhood while I crochet and design. My cat comes to visit me and my family will make frequent visits when I’m out there. My favorite indoor spot is in the family room in my special chair. It is a hand-me-down Lazy Boy recliner from my parents. It is the perfect size for me to sit and crochet in. But, I’m only crocheting in it when I’m relaxing with the family watching TV.

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

Darleen Hopkins | Farm Stand Watermelon Set

Last year I posted about one of favorite crochet designs, the Patchwork Baby Kitty Blanket. It is still my favorite because of the history behind it-please, check out the post! If I were to pick another that is on the top of my list, it would be the Farm Stand Watermelon Set. It is a coordinating table setting consisting of a place mat, a coaster and a basket. All designed to look like a watermelon! I use my set almost every day during dinner and it reminds me of summer, warm weather and sweet watermelon. I love it.

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

Crochet is pretty much it–unless you count hiking while wearing crocheted hats a fiber-related hobby! I have knitted in the past and I would like to knit some more when I can find the time.

How do you decide what to name your patterns?

Most of the time the names just pop in to my head. For example, when I named the Tiffany Scarf, to me, it just fit. I don’t know why but when I looked at the finished sample I just instantly thought “Tiffany Scarf”. Other names are descriptive, for example “Button Nose Snowman Bib”. So, I guess there is no real method to the madness.

Tell us about your most popular pattern.

Darleen Hopkins | Black Raspberry Shawl

The Black Raspberry Shawl is my most popular pattern. I designed this with the linen stitch so the shawl would have a solid body but with lovely drape. It is topped off with a gorgeous, lacey edging. This pattern has been translated in both Italian and French. In reference to the question above, I named this design after a candle. The original sample was the same color as the Black Raspberry candle.

Tell us about your favorite camping location.

My bedroom! Ha! we haven’t camped but we do occasionally have a campfire in our yard! One time I had to “bribe” my youngest with s’mores to get a pattern photo!!

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

Once our boys have finished high school, my husband and I would like to purchase a trailer and see the USA. Our dream is to spend the summers visiting national parks and exploring nature. We often look at the different RVs and campers available. I’m always checking out the storage and thinking about how I’ll work out crocheting and designing on road.

Visit Darleen’s Site: NatCroMo Specials

darleen-hopkins-Annie-the-Alien-enjoys-the-views-of-the-Grand-Canyon

The Crochetville National Crochet Month Blog Tour is all about camping. We recently visited many national parks in the United States. Although we didn’t camp at these locations, we did have a special friend with us on the road trip, Annie. Annie has a special blog post all about her visits AND for the month of March, 2017, the Arnie and Annie Alien Lovey pattern is FREE with any other Crochet by Darleen Hopkins purchase via Ravelry-use coupon code, AnnieNatCroMo2017 for this special offer.

Darleen’s Designs:

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

1. Button Nose Snowman Bib, $3.49

The perfect winter bib. Crochet the hat and scarf in holiday colors or perhaps in mom or dad’s favorite sports team’s colors. Drool, spit and burps happen so keep your baby looking cool in the Button Nose Snowman Bib.

Darleen Hopkins | Tiffany Scarf

2. Tiffany Scarf, $3.99

This beautiful scarf can be crocheted with just one ball of Knit Picks Lindy Chain! Add a splash of color to any outfit; dress up a T-shirt for work or date night with your sweetie. Shown in fingering weight yarn. Instructions provided to easily adjust the pattern for any gauge, from lace to DK weight yarns. Includes a chart.

Darleen Hopkins | Modern Tote

3. Modern Tote, $3.99

The Modern Tote is sure to be your favorite project bag! Fill it with skeins of yarn and turn your WIPs into FOs. This easy crochet pattern produces a stunning bag with lovely details. The bottom edging, the finished top edge and the addition of eyelets set this bag above all others. Unsure of how to use eyelets? The bag can be made without as instructions for crocheted strap supports is included.