2017 NatCroMo Blog Tour, March 9: Phyllis Serbes

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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Phyllis Serbes, Many Creative Gifts

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Phyllis Serbes of Many Creative Gifts 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 Phyllis, check out our post from last year’s blog tour.

About Phyllis:

It all started back in 2005, when a number of my friends were having babies. In addition to routine items off a registry, I wanted to give a unique present as well, so I started crocheting again after a long hiatus. Everyone oooh’d and aaaah’d, so I opened an Etsy shop, then a Ravelry page, and off I went, designing and posting a variety of crocheted items and patterns. This year, I’m vowing to return to my roots and concentrate on designing baby items, but I’m sure I won’t be able to stay focused!

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

At the library twice a month with a group of friends; sometimes on my commute on the metro into my “real” job; at a coffee shop near home by myself or with a friend.

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

I usually crochet while on the couch watching TV, but sometimes, I will sit at my desk in front of my desktop computer and design/crochet then type in the instructions or learn a new technique on YouTube or Craftsy.

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

Phyllis Serbes | Many Creative Gifts | Favorite Design

This is a hard question because don’t we all love our creations differently but equally?! I’d have to say that my current favorite is a baby blanket made with 6 large squares (I hope to post the pattern soon!)

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

I’m enjoying playing around with the lucet and a drop spindle that I got at a craft show a few years ago.

How do you decide what to name your patterns?

Actually sometimes the name comes first and inspires a design. I try to choose pattern names that describe the design clearly. But I enjoy the funky and image-conjuring names that other designers dream up for patterns, so I might experiment with a new approach to pattern naming myself this upcoming year.

Tell us about your most popular pattern.

Phyllis Serbes | Many Creative GIfts | Clownie the Crocheted Clown Doll

Clownie the Crocheted Clown Doll continues to be my most popular pattern. He’s a totally not scary, vintage-inspired clown that seems to bring happiness and good memories to all generations. I do think that Clownie needs a companion though, so keep an eye out for a new member of the family soon!

Visit Phyllis’s Site: NatCroMo Specials

Click the link above to go over to Phyllis’s site and see what special things she’s doing for National Crochet Month.

Phyllis’s Designs:

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

Phyllis Serbes | Mainly Creative Gifts | Pollie the Octopus

1. Pollie the Octopus, FREE

This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download.

Meet Ollie’s big sister, Pollie! She’s made with a bit thicker yarn that’s more purple and a little bit bigger hook. A great amigurumi project for the beginner to intermediate crocheter.

Update: this pattern is now FREE because I really want crocheters to make one (or more!) to take to their local hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Premature babies respond well to the crocheted octopus: it helps them breathe better and feel safe. Please make one today!

Phyllis Serbes | Mainly Creative Gifts | Humpty Dumpty in Crochet

2. Humpty Dumpty in Crochet, $5.95

Humpty Dumpty lives and he’s ready to sit on a wall near you! Although not recommended for very small children (might be too easy to swallow an arm or the belt!), this amigurumi-style version of Humpty makes for an amusing companion for just about anybody. His main part is about 7.5 inches tall, and he sits easily wherever you prop him up. Easy to make with just single crochet stitches and some left over worsted and DK weight yarns. Stuff him with some polyfill and watch smiles appear!