Julie Desjardins, Featured Crochet Designer

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 Julie Desjardins

Our featured designer of the day is Julie Desjardins of ACCROchet and Francrochet, Le Collectif. Be sure to visit her blog, where she will have a post celebrating the blog tour and National Crochet Month, including a free pattern! You can get Julie’s patterns on Ravelry, Lovecrafts, Makerist.com, and Makerist.fr.

Julie Desjardins is a passionate crochet designer, ambassador, teacher, translator, and mentor whose mission is to ~~rule the w~~… deepen worldwide love of crochet.

Julie’s philosophy is that a rising tide lifts all boats. It is this philosophy that guides Julie in the 3 facets of her business: namely, her work with ACCROchet and Francrochet – Le Collectif, as well as her corporate clients.

Julie’s Special for Our Readers

Julie is offering a free PDF download of the Hudson Infinity Scarf on her blog. Offer ends Friday, March 19, 2021 at noon EST. https://accrochet.com/crochetville-natcromo-blog-tour-2021

Julie’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?

When I crochet, it’s usually in front of a Netflix series.

BUT!

I do listen to music when I sit down to write my patterns. I put on the headphones, and start a playlist. I especially love to listen to instrumental music, with loads of piano and violin. I’ve completely messed up my Spotify playlists from songs to sing to, to classical and concentration music.

Can you recommend one or two songs/pieces of music you find inspirational?

Recently, the Bridgerton Vibes soundtrack has been in good rotation. Before this, it was a lot of Amélie and Alexandra Streliski. But really, I often just type in ‘concentration’ in Spotify and let it take me where it wants to go.

Designer Showcase: The Opening Act

Pattern name: Hudson Infinity Scarf

Get the pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hudson-infinity-scarf

About the pattern: This pattern is also available for free on ACCROchet.com.
Crocheted with Bulky yarn in rows, and using only chains and single crochet, this infinity scarf is a quick and easy project to work on while listening to a favorite soundtrack.

Intermission

Tell us about one (or more) of your favorite crochet-related items.

I am a HUGE fan of Furls hooks, especially their Candy Shop collection. I sell their hooks on my site, ACCROchet.com, which is useful for my fellow Canadian crocheters so they don’t have to order from the U.S. and pay duty fees.

Designer Showcase: The Showstopper

Pattern name: Sunset Boulevard

Get the pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunset-boulevard-3

About the pattern: This Tunisian crochet top is worked in rows and assembled at finishing. Using fingering weight yarn, it is a long project to complete, BUT the resulting wearable is classic – you won’t be spending your time on a piece that’s off trend once it’s finished.

Designer Showcase: Designer’s Choice

Pattern name: Bahzeek socks

Get the pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bahzeek-socks

About the pattern: These socks are my go-to crochet socks. They are the pattern I use to teach crocheters how to crochet socks. You can crochet a pair for just about anyone in your life (baby to adult). With 2 basic heel constructions included, you get to choose what’s right for you every time.