NatCroMo 2015, March 21: Ida Herter

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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:

Kathryn White, CrochetNBeads | Ida Herter, Herter Crochet Designs | Daily Giveaway | Halos of Hope Hat Collection | Complete Designer Schedule

Ida Herter, Herter Crochet Designs

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Ida Herter with us today, March 21st, as one of the featured designers on our 2015 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo).

Ida’s Designs:

If you’re not familiar with her work already, we’d like to share two of Ida’s designs with you.

 

 

Three Truths and a Lie:

1. Ida and her husband met when when they were both just 11 years old.
2. Ida has lived in the same state her entire life.
3. Ida has been a serious crocheter for only four years.
4. Ida was terrible at making amigurumi at first, and didn’t even enjoy it.

About Ida:

Crochet Beginnings

Ida remembers, “My mother taught me to crochet when I was nine years old. Although I was not a ‘serious’ crocheter during my childhood, it was a craft that I had a strong interest in. I started crocheting again in adulthood after my first child was born.”

Ida recalls, “My first childhood project was a doll sized afghan. Since I didn’t understand the concept of counting stitches, it was a lovely trapezoid shaped blanket.”

Later, as an adult, Ida’s first project was a hat for her daughter. She says, “I made the hat because I could never find one that would actually stay on her head in the big box stores. I refreshed my memory of crochet stitches, and learned to crochet in the round. Soon, I had a little, slightly sloppy, ear flap hat to keep her little head warm. Since I did not understand the importance of keeping track of stitch counts, let alone gauge, it was miraculous that hat actually fit her head. I did learn the importance of stitch counts and gauge during my next project though.”

On Designing

Ida shares with us, “I found that I was a natural at designing crochet. I first started designing my own granny squares for different projects, and that later progressed into toy design and garment design. My kids really loved the toys I made them, and I decided to start writing down the patterns I came up with. Soon after, I decided to share my designs with the rest of the world.”

Ida says her design process sometimes begins with one of her children requesting a specific animal or toy. She says, “I will then dream up the little critter and begin designing either from a sketch I create of the toy, or from the image of the toy in my head. After I select my colors (which can be a long process since I love playing with colorful stripes) I sit down with my hook and start bringing my design to life.”

Ida’s children are the inspiration for her designs. She says, “They each have smiles that can light up a room. I try to capture that sweet cheerfulness and playfulness in each of my creations.”

When asked what makes her designs special, Ida replies, “Truth be told, there are a lot of different and wonderful amigurumi patterns on the market. I think each toy designer brings a little something unique and special to the world of amigurumi; each designer has their own style. In particular, my amigurumi designs have bright, fun colors and have expressive, cheerful faces that I carefully embroider. I consider my style to be playful with a touch of sweetness and joy.”

Her greatest crochet accomplishment so far was getting her book, Learn to Crochet Toys, published through Leisure Arts. She recalls, “At that point, I did not have any sort of online presence, so my first step in the design world was a big step for me.”

Other Crafts

Ida enjoys knitting and embroidery and occasionally sews. She’s not sure whether or not she loves sewing, but she says, “I do, at least, love my sewing projects when they are finished.”

 

Advice for New Crocheters:

“Keep trying,” recommends Ida. “There are so many different ways to hold a hook and so many different types of hooks and yarns to choose from. It may take time to figure out what works best for you.”

 Advice for New Designers:

“Put your best foot forward,” advises Ida. “Do not be held back by any intimidation you might feel. If you want to write a book, write a book. If you want to self-publish, then self-publish. If you put your best designs forward, chances are, they will be loved. For the more technical side, do your research. Learn how to write patterns properly and come up with a style that is easy for other people to use and that compliments you as a designer.”

Some of Ida’s Favorites:

Favorite Hooks: “Clover Amour hooks are my absolute favorite.”

Favorite Yarn: “I love using worsted weight cotton for my toy projects, and I love wool and wool blends for my ‘cold weather’ projects.”

Favorite Thing to Crochet: “Toys!”

 

Visit Ida’s Facebook Page: NatCroMo FREEBIE Sneak Peek

You will definitely want to visit Ida’s Facebook page today! She will be having a giveaway. Simply leave a comment under the “Giveaway” post and you will be entered in a drawing to win a free copy of her newest pattern, Arthur the Giraffe. See Ida’s Facebook page for details.

Find Ida Online:

Ravelry Designer Page: ravelry.com/designers/ida-herter

Ravelry Profile: ravelry.com/people/HerterDesigns (must be logged in to view profile)

Facebook: facebook.com/HerterCrochetDesigns

Etsy: etsy.com/shop/HerterCrochetDesigns

Pinterest: pinterest.com/hertercrochet/

 

The Truth

The truth is that Ida has not lived in the same state her entire life; she has lived in five different states.

In addition, Ida was indeed terrible at amigurumi at first, and she says, “After finding the right size hook for my amigurumi making, the process became much more enjoyable, and addicting!”

 

Additional Blog Tour Information: