Welcome to our blog tour! Here at Crochetville, we celebrate National Crochet Month with our NatCroMo Blog Tour. This year, we’re interviewing crochet designers, teachers, and hobbyists throughout March and our theme is crochet memories. You can browse all of this year’s blog tour content on our page NatCroMo Blog Tour 2020.
About Courtney Whitehead
Please allow me to introduce our featured designer of the day, Courtney Whitehead of Creations By Courtney. Courtney enjoys designing garments and accessories. You can find her patterns online on her website and in her Ravelry store. Today Courtney will share some of her crochet memories with us and we’ll showcase three of her crochet designs.
Courtney’s Special for Our Readers
As a special treat for the NatCroMo Blog Tour, Courtney is offering 50% off any pattern in her Ravelry store. No code is needed. Visit Creations by Courtney Ravelry Store.
Courtney’s Crochet Memories
Would you share with us an early memory of crochet?
“My earliest memories of crochet are learning from my mother when I was eight years old. When I was ten years old, I learned that I would become a big sister, and attempted to make a gray blanket for my brother-to-be. I never finished the blanket which had become an odd-shaped scarf-like object that was lost in my parents’ basement. I have since made up for that project by making him several hats over the years.”
Would you share with us a memory of becoming a crochet designer?
“I didn’t realize until 2017 that I could refer to myself as a designer. I started, as many crochet business owners do, by making completed items to sell, but I never truly figured out to reach the ideal customers. After finding a crochet business coach, I gained the confidence to consider myself a designer, and have focused on creating size-inclusive garments and practical, stylish accessories for the modern person that likes subtle and bold styles. Also, designing crochet items is easier to juggle with a full-time job and family life.”
Would you share with us one of your most memorable moments as a crochet designer?
“A recent memorable experience was just from last year! A friend and knitter was kind enough to tag me on a post of an indie yarn dyer looking to work with a BIPOC designer. It was a longtime goal of mine to design with hand-dyed yarn, and this dyer was so gracious to offer me as much yarn as I needed. I designed an amazingly textured waistcoat that tested my creativity and math skills. With the help of some awesome pattern testers, we were able to figure out the various repeats for nine sizes and subtle shaping at the arm openings! I think I had a few moments of a mind melt during the process. The waistcoat turned out amazing, and has traveled to a recent Vogue Knitting show!”
Showcase: Crochet Designs by Courtney Whitehead
Making Waves Waistcoat
Get the pattern: Making Waves Waistcoat (on creationsbycourtney.com)
Get the kit: (hand-dyed yarn kit) [PRE-ORDER] Making Waves Waistcoat Kit – a knitcraftandknittery.com collaboration with Creations by Courtney
About the pattern: “The Making Waves Waistcoat is a size-inclusive garment for XS-5X-large. It features the Cross Treble Stitch, which creates a reversible cable fabric. This waistcoat can be made in a solid color or long color striping yarn to create a truly unique piece that you’ll wearing as a layering piece any time of the year.”
X-capade Cardigan
Get the pattern: X-Capade Cardigan (on creationsbycourtney.com)
About the pattern: “The X-Capade Cardigan offers you a truly unique hemline shape that will turn heads. Besides the stair step hemline, you get airy layers created by the fun to learn x-stitch that is paired with simple double crochet stitches. This can be the ultimate stash-busting garment in which you create a truly unique cardigan with a different stripe color for each piece, or use a long color changing striping yarn. You’ll be surprised by how few seams are needed to complete this cardigan.”
Braided Breeze Necklace + Belt
Get the pattern: Braided Breeze Necklace + Belt (on creationsbycourtney.com)
About the pattern: “The Braided Breeze Belt + Necklace was inspired by African rope necklaces that can be made from printed fabric. In this crochet version, you can use a bulky yarn, such as Yarnspirations Bernat Maker Outdoor, T-shirt yarn, or doubling strands of worsted weight to make a truly unique piece. You’ll be surprised how quickly this works up! This can be worn four ways as a necklace and belt.”
Follow Courtney Online
Here’s where you can connect with Courtney online to be sure you don’t miss any of her new designs!
- Website/Blog: creationsbycourtney.com
- Ravelry: Creations By Courtney Designer Portfolio
- Pinterest: CreationsByCourtney
- Facebook Page: Creations By Courtney LLC
- Facebook Group: Creations By Courtney Community
- Instagram: @creationsbycourtneyllc
- LoveCrafts: Creations By Courtney
- Newsletter: Subscribe to Courtney’s newsletter and get “a guide to maintaining a handmade closet!”
About
Creations By Courtney is the destination for finding size-inclusive crochet garment and accessory patterns, while improving your crochet skills.