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.
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About Marty Miller
Today’s featured designer is special because we are remembering her after having so recently lost her from the crochet community and from this world. Please allow me to introduce Marty Miller, also known as The Crochet Doctor, in memoriam. Marty was featured on our NatCroMo Blog tour in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Marty was both a crochet teacher and designer. She taught classes locally, at CGOA conferences, and online. Her students that I encountered at CGOA conferences enjoyed her classes so much and were devoted fans.
As a designer, Marty was best known for designing tops, totes, and afghans, but she also designed accessories, especially hats. Her tops and sweaters were always easy to crochet, with uncomplicated sizing. In addition to publishing patterns in magazines and books, she also had a collection of self-published patterns. Whenever Crochetville had a booth at a crochet conference, she sold hard-copy prints of some of her self-published patterns and always took time to autograph them.
Marty had several degrees including a Ph.D. in cultural studies, which, in part, led her to nickname, The Crochet Doctor. She occasionally blogged at thecrochetdoctor.blogspot.com.
Sadly, we lost Marty to acute myelogenous leukemia on January 31, 2020. You can read her obituary in the Greensboro News and Record.
Many of Marty’s patterns are still available, and you can see them in her Ravelry Designer Portfolio.
A Special for Our Readers
Because March is National Craft Month (as well as National Crochet Month) Bluprint (formerly Craftsy) is offering any class for just $10 with coupon code CREATE10, good during the month of March 2020, one-time use only.
You could choose Marty’s class, Mastering Foundation Crochet Stitches, which is still available. Regularly $40, on sale for $29.99 — but during the month of March 2020, just just $10 by entering the code CREATE10 in your cart. Note: Coupon can only be used once!
I just purchased this class (with the $10 coupon!) and look forward to watching it when I have some time after the NatCroMo Blog Tour is over for this year. I’m glad to have this in my “Own Forever” classes to help me remember Marty.
Showcase: Crochet Designs by Marty Miller
Here’s our showcase of a few of Marty’s patterns that are still available.
Two-Rectangle Cardigan (FREE crochet pattern)
Get the pattern: Two-Rectangle Cardigan (on Yarnspirations.com)
Ravelry page: Two Rectangle Cardigan
About the pattern: Marty always created sweater and top designs that had simple construction, easy for all experience levels to crochet. Her Two-Rectangle Cardigan is no exception; make this design and you’ll easily have a cardigan ready to wear in no time.
All Angles Throw (FREE crochet pattern)
Get the pattern: All Angles Throw (on Yarnspirations.com)
Ravelry page: All Angles Afghan
About the pattern: This afghan takes the traditional granny square and gives it a new twist with varying shapes and angles that create visual interest. If you love granny squares, this afghan with teach you a few new tricks to do with them.
Totes for All Reasons
Get the book: Totes for All Reasons is a collection of seven crochet tote patterns, all designed by Marty Miller.
About the book: Marty loved to create totes. This collection of seven totes is typical of Marty’s style in designing totes. You’ll find four totes with open-work stitches, one felted tote, and one tote made with granny squares. On the Leisure Arts website, the digital download is on sale for $5.19 (originally $7.99) and the paperback is on sale for $7.46 (originally $9.95).
Marty Online
- Website/Blog: The Crochet Doctor
- Ravelry: Marty Miller Designer Portfolio
- Facebook: martyagm
- Bluprint (formerly Craftsy): Instructor Marty Miller
I am so sorry to hear of Marty’s passing. I took her “Mastering Foundation Crochet Stitches”. It is an excellent course and Marty was a good teacher. I recommend the course highly.