Blog tour posts may contain affiliate links.
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
.
Kathryn White, CrochetNBeads
Crochetville is very proud to have designer Kathryn (Kathy) White of CrochetNBeads with us today, March 21, as one of the featured designers on our 2015 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo). Kathy has been a member of Crochetville’s social community site practically since its beginning. Kathy has also been a professional member of the Crochet Guild of America for the past eight years.
Kathy’s Designs:
If you’re not familiar with her work already, we’d like to share two of Kathy’s designs with you.
“This filet crochet shawlette—which showcases stitch variations beyond blocks and meshes—embraces your shoulders, and beads give it both beauty and weight.”
The gorgeous Snowdancer Doily is available to subscribers of the Mainly Crochet website.
About Kathy:
Getting Off to a Good Start
Kathy first learned to crochet over 50 years ago, when she begged her Aunt Haydee to teach her after finding a book ifull of beautiful crochet patterns in the attic. She was left-handed, and no one was quite sure how to teach her. Aunt Haydee took pity on her, and taught Kathy how to chain and single crochet. Kathy took it from there by herself.
Her first project was a single crochet potholder that her aunt used to teach her the basics of crochet. Kathy was quite ambitious from a very early age, as her next project was a runner in thread that she made for her mother.
A Design Career Is Begun
Kathy says, “I have made what I wanted when I couldn’t find it someplace else. I posted a picture of one of my twiddlings on Crochetville and the response was overwhelming. I posted a few more and they started telling me to submit. I did and, surprise, I had my first doily book published.”
It is so thrilling to realize that the career of such a fabulous designer was begun while Kathy was a member of Crochetville way back in its early days. I remember Kathy being a little bit reluctant to turn her deep love for crochet into a career. The crochet world is a much richer place now that Kathy’s gorgeous designs have been published and shared with crocheters around the world.
Kathy’s Specialty
Many people have called Kathy the Thread Queen. She prefers the term Thread Advocate, as when she creates her designs, promoting thread and fine yarns is one of her major goals. Kathy hopes her designs will prove that thread is a medium that can be as contemporary as any other in the crochet community.
Sources of Inspiration
Kathy’s inspiration comes from everywhere. She says, “Our world is filled with shapes, rhythms, patterns if you just look.”
Her Greatest Crochet Accomplishment
“Last year I got to cross an item off my bucket list. My Secret Garden Doily took first place in the thread division of the CGOA design contest. That win meant an awful lot to me,” says Kathy.
Predictions for the Next Big Crochet Trend
Kathy would love to see thread become the next big trend. But she’s also a realist who has no idea which way the trends will go. She will keep on designing with her beloved thread no matter what, as she doesn’t tend to follow trends anyway.
The Wider World of Fiber Arts
Kathy also knows how to tat, knit, and do embroidery, although crochet will always be her passion.
About Her Design Process:
I start with a very, very rough sketch to capture the concept of what I want from a design. Then I let my hook and thread fill it out into a completed design. I try and keep good notes as I work. I used to try and write up the pattern as I worked. But my designs tend to morph and the constant changing made writing it up confusing at times. I find notes work better for me.
Advice for New Crocheters:
Challenge yourself to do new things such as stitch patterns, garments, or whatever you really want to do. Challenges will help your skills grow.
Some of Kathy’s Favorites:
- Designers: Kathy says she could never name all the designer she respects and admires without the risk of leaving someone out, so she prefers to say, “My respect goes for any of the people out there that put their ego on the line and present us with their creations or works towards presenting others creations to the world.”
- Favorite Hook: My trusty Boye hooks, with a big preference for steel hooks.
- Favorite Yarn: Duh! Thread, of course!
- Favorite Thing to Crochet: “Doilies are my number one as they are all small works of art. Shawl are my next favorite as I can wear them in public and entice other into our addiction with their beauty.”
Visit Kathy’s Blog: NatCroMo Sneak Peek
You will definitely want to visit Kathy’s blog post today! Kathy will be releasing the pattern for her prize-winning Secret Garden Doily today. (Isn’t it beautiful?) She will also be sharing her Poinsettia Pincushion Patatern on her blog today.
Find Kathy Online:
Crochetville: katchkan (must be logged in to see profile)
Ravelry: katchkan (must be logged in to see profile)
CrochetNBeads website: http://www.crochetnbeads.com
CrochetNBeads blog: http://crochetnbeads.blogspot.com/
Ravelry Designer Page: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kathryn-white
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CrochetNBeads/140697969307645
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrochetNBeads
…
Additional Blog Tour Information:
Links to All the Info
Daily Giveaway Schedule
Daily Designer Schedule
Learn About CGOA
Halos of Hope: Make Hats
i am not one for making doilies, but yours are exquisite
Beautiful designs…I love the Eolande Shawlette.
Love the flower doily…..
Thanks for showcasing such an amazing designer and her work. The doily’s are so beautiful, and that shawl is gorgeous! I am learning so much from #NatCroMo! I have entered, followed and shared. I need this yarn, I have never had the opportunity to use it before. Thanks for sharing, fingers crossed!
~Crystal
http://krystlewv.blogspot.com
Crochet, A Day In The Life
Your designs are so beautiful!
Kathy’s patterns are beautiful–I especially love the shawl! I’ve never made anything with crochet thread yet (though I have several balls of it waiting for time for a project with them), but she definitely inspires me!
Very elegant patterns.
All of her designs are so delicate and beautiful! I was surprised by the filigree sunshield! It is so beautiful!
So many gorgeous designs! Wish my eyes tolerated thread better!
Very interesting, love the designs!
I love your designs! They are so intricate and beautiful.
Love the doilies!
Wow! Beautiful work!
Beautiful & inspiring work!
I like your patterns, keep designing, how did you know I need some pincushions for girl scouts.
Love your designs!
beautiful designs!!
Your designs are amazing!
Your crochet is art!
Beautiful beautiful work!
Your designs are so delicate and romantic!
I appreciate two of Kathy’s comments! Where she gets her inspiration: “Our world is filled with shapes, rhythms, patterns if you just look.” And her encouraging words to new crocheters: Challenge yourself to do new things such as stitch patterns, garments, or whatever you really want to do. Challenges will help your skills grow. I so very much agree!
Very elegant designs!
I’ve always been in awe of doilies, and her designs are beautiful. Her mythical creatures designs tempt me. ; )
The shawlette and the doily definitely show your love for thread crochet. They are very delicate and beautiful!
Amazing designs — definitely going to be browsing her blog and ravelry more.
Your purse designs are beautiful. I leaned to crochet from both my mother and grandmother. Both crocheted in fine thread and I am lucky to have many of their items including hand crocheted gloves and a bedspread that my grandmother crocheted.
The shawlette is GORGEOUS!
I love the shawlette.
My grandmother loves Filet crochet. She would love the shawlette.
The shawlette is gorgeous. The shawl and the model made me think of Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables. It is a lovely piece.
The Secret Garden Doily is gorgeous! I wish I had the patience for that delicate work.
inspiring
Her work is amazing! I wish I had the patience for that. My grandmother did stuff like that too. All freehand.
I am working on the Eolande Shawlette and it is quite the project. I hope it turns out somewhat similar to the picture – it’s so beautiful.
Did you make the necklace in your photo?
Yes I did. It is in my book Irish Crochet.
Wow, what beautiful work! I’ve yet to try thread crochet yet, but I’m feeling inspired now!
That’s great that you got to cross an item off my bucket list 🙂
Love the shawlette..would do to help our teens go on annual mission trip to repair home destroyed in hurricane…it opens their eyes beyond themselves and opens their hearts to those beyond themselves….something sorely needed these days
very delicate doilies
I think I will be checking her out a lot in the future.
Your designs are very elegant!
I love the shawl!
Her designs are so pretty
Woot!! Go Mom. And since I am left handed, too. I learned it all from her. I have always known how to crochet and read a pattern, because of her. Every time one of her patterns appears in one of the magazines at the store I work at, I have to share it with all my co-workers.
Lovely work. Am struck by the beautiful garments!
I want to thank everyone for such lovely comments, you all made me feel good about myself. Thank you again.