You’ve arrived at the annual NatCroMo Blog Tour! What is that, you ask? It’s a virtual celebration of National Crochet Month with new blog content daily throughout March, including featured crochet designers, free patterns, discounts, giveaways, and more.
This year our theme is The Crochet Concert and we are celebrating music as creative inspiration. Each featured designer’s showcase will include an “Opening Act” (a quick or easy pattern); “Intermission” (the designer’s favorite crochet tools, yarn, or books); a “Showstopper” (an impressive or unique pattern); and “Designer’s Choice” (any pattern of the designer’s choice).
See all of this year’s tour here: NatCroMo Blog Tour 2021.
About Donna Childs
Our featured designer of the day is Donna Childs of Donna Childs Crochets. Be sure to visit her blog to read her post celebrating the NatCroMo Blog Tour and National Crochet Month! You can find Donna’s patterns in her Ravelry store.
My neighbor taught me to crochet when I was 10 years old, and I’ve had a hook in my hand since then. I made my own wild accessories back in my hippie days, and crocheted unique gifts for my friends and loved ones. No matter what I make, everyone asks for more of my anthropomorphic animals and amigurumi. My designs have been published in almost every major knit and crochet magazine, and this year I am expanding my self-publishing business.
Donna’s Special for Our Readers
Get Donna’s free Rainbow Bears pattern – read more about it in her blog post today and download it from Ravelry.
Donna’s Creative Inspiration
Is music a source of inspiration for your crochet creativity? Or do you listen to music while you crochet? If so, tell us about it. If not, what is something else that helps fuel your creative inspiration?
Depending on my mood at the moment, I listen to everything from Bach, to the Beatles, to 80s punk – anything to keep the hook and yarn flying through my fingers.
Can you recommend one or two songs/pieces of music you find inspirational?
- Bach’s Cello Suites – the version by Steven Isserlis
- Pressure by David Bowie/Queen
- Bruce Springsteen – a tossup between Thunder Road and Born to Run
Designer Showcase: The Opening Act
Pattern name: Rainbow Bears
Get the pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-bear-2
About the pattern: Rainbow Bears is a free pattern, designed specifically for quarantine when materials may be scarce, but cheer is essential – even when the one who needs some cheering up is yourself.
Intermission
Tell us about one (or more) of your favorite crochet-related items.
I love any crochet-related tools, but here are some non-traditional ones: I always polish my hooks with the kind of tissues that contain lotion–it makes the yarn fly! Baby powder comes in handy when my hands get all hot and sweaty in the summer. And I have a huge selection of needles – there’s always the time that you need a needle that will go through that little button, but also has an eye large enough to accommodate the appropriate thread.
Designer Showcase: The Showstopper
Pattern name: Circus (yet to be named)
Get the pattern: Email Donna to sign up for her newsletter: donna.childs.crochets (at) gmail (dot) com
About the pattern: These little animals stand up on their own. Donna is in the process of re-working the pattern, and she’ll notify you when it’s available if you sign up for her newsletter.
Designer Showcase: Designer’s Choice
Pattern name: Chocolate Bunnies
Get the pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chocolate-bunnies
About the pattern: The arms and legs on the bunnies are button-joined for sitting and posing, and they won’t melt while being cuddled.
Crochet Designer Donna Childs
I love to see how other crocheters interpret my designs – I am always delighted to hear from fellow crocheters and to see what they come up with.
Follow Donna Online
Here’s where you can connect with Donna online to be sure you don’t miss any of her new designs!
- Blog: donnachilds.blogspot.com
- Ravelry: ravelry.com/people/donnachilds
- Newsletter: Email Donna to sign up for her newsletter: donna.childs.crochets (at) gmail (dot) com
Explore Blog Tour Featured Designers
