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National Crochet Month:
Welcome to Crochetville’s third annual Designer Blog Tour, taking place all throughout March 2015 in celebration of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo). Each day on our blog, you will find 1) in-depth profile posts for two crochet designers, with a link to their blogs so you can see what specials (free patterns, discount coupon codes, tutorials, etc.) they may be offering for NatCroMo, 2) a daily giveaway post with entries open from 8:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST the following day, and 3) during the last week of the month, daily posts from a Crochet Guild of America board member. Join us each day for a new surprise!
Today’s Posts: Janaya Chouinard, Charmed by Ewe | Wendy Bickford, The Hooked Haberdasher | Daily Giveaway | Halos of Hope Hat Collection | Complete Designer Schedule
Wendy Bickford, The Hooked Haberdasher
Crochetville is very proud to have designer Wendy Bickford with us today, March 19th, as one of the featured designers on our 2015 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo).
Wendy’s Designs:
If you’re not familiar with her work already, we’d like to share two of Wendy’s designs with you.


Three Truths and a Lie:
- Wendy is retired. She loves the RVing lifestyle and enjoys seeing the glorious sites to behold of the United States of America.
- Wendy is passionate about the fiber arts.
- Wendy has been married to her bestest friend in life, her husband Bob, for 30 years.
- Wendy just celebrated her 29th birthday.
About Wendy:
Wendy is very passionate about the art of crochet. She enjoys putting a touch of whimsy in her designs and says, “I love to create fashionably functional patterns.” She is a pro/hobbyist photographer with a strict eye for details. She’s dabbled in nearly all of the fiber arts, but crochet is her favorite.
Crochet Beginnings
“My two beautiful grandmothers taught me the art of crochet when I was just a little girl,” says Wendy. Now she has been crocheting for over 40 years.
For her first projects, Wendy says, “Under the wise tutelage of my grandmothers, I started with doll blankets, which were really stitch/gauge-learning swatches. My first finished project was a dress for a ‘barbie bed doll.’ This project won a grand prize at the county fair in the junior division, and also prompted me to make my bed daily, so I could sit and gaze at my beautiful work of crochet art.”
On Designing
Wendy started designing when she saw a garment in a movie and wanted to replicate it for herself. She did and then got so many requests for a pattern that “it all started this glorious ride of pattern designing,” she recalls.
About designing, Wendy says, “Well, for me it’s quite an arduous process that I do so enjoy! Beginning with sketching, making a mockup, taking detailed notes and photographs for tutorials, writing the pattern, grading the pattern sizing if necessary, photographing the finished object, editing the photos, rewriting and publishing a PDF document. Then it’s off to my testers for tech edits and projects. Once all of that has been completed, then I release the pattern, either paid or free.”
Wendy sees inspiration for her designs everywhere she looks: “from nature, urban culture, the fashion runway, to the eyes of a newborn baby.”
On Crocheting
Wendy says her greatest crochet-related accomplishment is: “Seeing my family and friends wearing, using, and loving the items I’ve made for them; and having to replace some of the items with new ones from being ‘loved’ so much. It is also really nice to hear from someone who has made an item from one of my patterns, exclaiming how much they enjoyed the pattern and the finished object.”
Wendy shares a funny story with us: “When family or friends ask a question, and all they see is the palm of my hand facing them… they all say, ‘Oh, sorry, you’re counting.’ ”
Advice for New Crocheters:
Wendy suggests, “Try to find a family member or friend to teach you – there is something special for the experienced crocheter to pay it forward by teaching another the art of crochet. If unavailable, then read, watch You Tube tutorials, order a crochet resource book and JUST DO IT. I once took a midwifery Spanish class (20+ years ago) where the instructor had a motto that I’ve adopted into all areas of my life: ‘It’s not hard, it’s just NEW.’ ”
Advice for New Designers:
Wendy recommends, “Read, research, subscribe to crochet blogs, read, research, take classes, read, research, join a crochet community, read, research, join crochet groups on Facebook, read and research and then take action and implement all you’ve learned.”
Next Big Trend in Crochet
Wendy says, “Well, as trends go – everything old is new again! I love how this takes place every 20-30 years, bringing ‘old’ into the ‘new’ with a modern twist. I believe early 20th century fashion with a modern day twist is uptrending.”
Some of Wendy’s Favorites:
Favorite Books: Wendy doesn’t have any one particular favorite crochet reference book because, “The RV lifestyle has necessitated going paperless. I am an avid reader of many blogs, eBooks, eGuides, eMagazines, tutorials, and online documents of garment making from pretty much every era and the history of the garments.”
Favorite Hooks: “I have quite a ‘collection’ of crochet hook styles/brands and have used them all. At the moment, my favorite is the Clover Amour – they seem to fit my hand size perfectly and are extremely comfortable to work with.”
Favorite Yarn: “I really have no preference in particular. But, I would someday enjoy a nice hank of paco-vicuña (the most luxurious yarn I’ve ever seen or touched). I prefer to use blended animal/plant fiber yarns when I have the opportunity.”
Favorite Thing to Crochet: Wendy doesn’t have a favorite thing to crochet, she says, “I just LOVE to crochet and design something that strikes my fancy and hope that others will enjoy, too.”
Favorite Designers: Wendy guarantees us her list is a mile high. She says, “Just to name a few, in no particular order: Pattern Paradise, Moogly, Charmed by Ewe, Petals to Picots, The Purple Poncho, Cre8tion Crochet, and Kim Guzman. I also enjoy watching these folks on You Tube: Mikey from The Crochet Crowd, Johnny from New Stitch a Day, and Clare from BobWilson 123.”
Visit Wendy’s Blog: NatCroMo FREEBIE Sneak Peek
You will definitely want to visit Wendy’s blog post today! She has a week-long series for a Spa Day gift basket to include free patterns for the face scrubbie, washcloth, and basket as well as tutorials on how to make homemade fragranced sugar scrub, bath salts, and bath fizzies. The entire series will remain free on her website.
Find Wendy Online:
Website: thehookedhaberdasher.com
Blog: thehookedhaberdasher.com
Ravelry Designer Page: ravelry.com/designers/the-hooked-haberdasher
Ravelry Profile: ravelry.com/people/WendyBickford (must be logged in to view profile)
Facebook: facebook.com/HookedHaberdasher
Twitter: twitter.com/hookdhaberdashr
Craftsy: craftsy.com/user/1119429/pattern-store
Pinterest: pinterest.com/hookdhaberdashr
Instagram: instagram.com/thehookdhaberdashr
The Truth
Well, if your read our post about Wendy you know that she is indeed retired and loves the RVing lifestyle and that she is passionate about the fiber arts. And of course, the truth is that she did not just celebrate her 29th birthday.
Additional Blog Tour Information:
Links to All the Info
I adore the Stella Slouch pattern! So much texture!
The Stella Slouch Hat is beautiful! I’ve been wanting to make it since it was featured on I think Moogly’s FB page.
Love the Stella Slouch hat!
The Stella slouch remains my favorite slouch pattern. Love, love, love it!
Love those hats! Gorgeous stuff.
Great blog–so much to look at!
I envy Wendy being retired and able to devote so much time to crochet!
I’d have to haul a trailer behind the RV to hold my stash if I ever hit the road! lol
I’ve been eyeing the Clover hooks for a long time – maybe it’s finally time to purchase them!
That’s a bright red hat
The Wimple Hood Bandana Cowl Scarf is fabulous!!!
Another rving, passionate about the fiber arts, crocheter who loves the Clover Armour hooks.
Thank you!
Your patterns are adorable. Thank you for sharing.
I love the bandanna, I wish it was a freebie on the site. Its gorgeous. I love the work and the design. Congrats on being showcased! What an honor. I have read, entered, followed and shared to everyone and everything. I need some new yarn, I have never worked with RH Shimmer so my fingers are crossed. I could do so much with 5 skeins! I am learning tons from #NatCroMO! I wish it was every month!
~Crystal
The grey in that hat really brings out her beautiful grey eyes.
really like that slouchy hat!
Wendy’s Simply Pampered Spa Day designs are adorable!
Great advice for beginner crocheted and for new designers. Thank you.
I love reading about other crochet blogs and other crocheters. It really does make me feel less alone in my hobby.
The Stella Slouch Hat looks invoived and i like a crochet challenge
Love all your stuff!! It’s so amazing!
Although I have had her “liked” on FB for awhile it is interesting to learn a little more about the person “behind” the page.
I love the Stella Slouch Hat!
I have your ‘wimple hood’ on my to-do list…It looks lovely!
Teaching someone to crochet what a great pay forward idea!
Love your motto “It’s not hard, it’s just new.” I will keep telling myself that and share it with my kids!
I love Wendy’s designs!! I have the Stella hat pattern and can’t wait to make one for myself someday!
You & me both, Wendy as for being 29 ;-D
Love the slouch hat
Great designs! Added to my ravelry favorite designers 🙂
Those hats are gorgeous!!!
I have been following Wendy for a while now and I always find something that picks my interest.
Your Stella Slouch Hat is exactly what I’ve been looking for! Thank you for sharing…will be purchasing soon 🙂
Love the cowl scarf!
Love the Stella slouch hat
I’ve known quite a few people who just celebrate their 29th birthday over and over again, so it could have been legit. 🙂
Beautiful designs..I love learning more about these designers!
I love the Simply Pampered Spa Day designs and recipes. Thank you for the furls pendent giveaway.
RV’ing sounds fun, I like your The Stella Slouch Hat.
I would love to be able to travel in an RV across the country! What has been your favorite place to visit?
Belated happy birthday! I love your designs!
I am enjoying meeting the designers.
I enjoyed her blog. Love the recipes with the wash cloth patterns.
I love the flower you put on a hat!
I think the RV lifestyle would be fun in some aspects but I have one major concern. Where would I put my yarn stash????? lol
Your hat designs are spectacular. I love hats.
I just came across the spa series earlier today and really love that the homemade scrub recipes are included to make a nice complete gift set.
Wonderful designs and such an engaging smile. Makes her look younger than 29!
Love your designs..especially the hats!! I keep a bag of crochet tools/yarn stashed in our RV!
Great to know I don’t have to surround myself with a stash of books 🙂
I’ve heard nothing but fabulous about her!
I agree with Wendy’s advice to new crocheters. My grandmother first taught me to crochet as a youngster. Now in my sixties, I had the opportunity over Christmas to start two of my granddaughters on this craft.