Edie Eckman, Featured Crochet Designer

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 Edie Eckman

Please allow me to introduce our featured designer of the day, Edie Eckman. In addition to being a well-known teacher of both crochet and knit, Edie enjoys designing accessories, garments, afghans, home decor, and baby items – really just about anything! Edie is the author of many books, including the indispensable The Crochet Answer Book and – one of my favorites – Around the Corner Crochet Borders. And you can purchase her self-published patterns in her Ravelry store.

Today we’re focusing on Edie’s crochet designs, but last week we also featured her as a crochet teacher. Today Edie will share more of her crochet memories with us and we’ll showcase three of her crochet designs.

Edie’s Special for Our Readers

As part of National Crochet Month, Edie is giving away a copy of her book, Every Which Way Crochet Borders, to two winners. Enter to win by making a comment on any of Edie’s March 2020 blog posts. Details at edieeckman.com/giveaway.

Edie’s Crochet Memories

Would you share with us one of your earliest memories of crochet?

I don’t remember learning to crochet, but I know I was pretty young. I learned from my grandmother, who lived with us and was always available to teach me something. She taught me knitting, sewing, and embroidery as well as crochet.

Would you share with us one of your memories of becoming a crochet designer?

Well, if you really count the beginning, I designed crocheted garments for my dolls, but I suspect you mean becoming a professional!

I was a knitting designer for about eight years before I started designing crochet. Most magazines and yarn companies were only interested in buying knitting patterns, so that’s what I did.

A publisher approached me about writing a book about crochet, and at first I was apprehensive. I wasn’t sure I knew enough to write a book, but she said, “Just write a book that answers your own questions about crochet.” That’s how The Crochet Answer Book came into being. After that, I realized that there was a need for more crochet patterns, I started designing for crochet, as well.

Would you share with us one of your most memorable experiences as a crochet designer?

My favorite memory of a design is the Noro Vest. Usually when I design I spend time swatching and playing with yarn. It can take time for me to figure out what the yarn and stitch pattern and fabric want to be, and what shape they’ll take. It’s a process. With the Noro Vest, I woke up one morning with the idea for the garment fully formed: yarn, stitch pattern, construction, every thing! I didn’t even know that the elements had been bumping around in my brain, but they just coalesced. It was SO easy; I wish all designs would come that easily.

Showcase: Crochet Designs by Edie Eckman

Noro Vest

Get the pattern at: Noro Vest (on Ravelry)

About the pattern: This season-spanning top is deceptively easy to crochet. Worked side-to-side in one piece, the openwork stitch allows the yarn to go a long way while showing up the colors to perfection. Most importantly, the long color changes in Noro yarn mean there are only a couple of ends to weave in.

Eulerian Triangles Shawl

Get the pattern at: Eulerian Triangles Shawl (on Ravelry)

About the pattern: Hundreds of tiny triangles joined together, yet only six yarn ends to weave in! How can that be? The innovative construction method uses a concept called a Eulerian Path to build tiers of interconnected triangles without cutting the yarn. Once you take time to understand the concept, it’s surprisingly easy to master.

This tech-edited pattern includes complete text instructions and charts. A video tutorial is provided to help you with the techniques.

Dinkin’s Bay Shawl

Get the pattern at: Dinkins Bay Shawl (on Ravelry)

About the pattern: Who knew that the lonely single crochet and chain stitch could create such beauty? Wear this as a scarf, wrapped a couple of times around your neck in its compressed shape, or drape it around your shoulders as a lacy shawl. Working lengthwise, you’ll create a single row, then add additional interconnected tiers of color.

It can easily be made larger or smaller by adjusting the length and number of rows; instructions are included.

Shown in five colors, but this design lends itself to so many different color options! Try shades of the same hue, or use a variegated yarn of your choice. Even better, choose your own colorway with a kit from Stunning String Studio.