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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: Susan Heyn, Crafts & Things | Alessandra Hayden, Just Be Happy Patterns | Daily Giveaway | Halos of Hope Hat Collection | Complete Designer Schedule
Alessandra Hayden, Just Be Happy Patterns
Crochetville is very proud to have designer Alessandra Hayden with us today, March 22nd, as one of the featured designers on our 2015 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo). Alessandra is an Associate Professional member of The Crochet Guild of America (CGOA).
Alessandra’s Designs:
If you’re not familiar with her work already, we’d like to share two of Alessandra’s designs with you.
About Alessandra:
Crochet Beginnings
Alessandra has been been crocheting since she was eight years old. She learned to crochet from her Grandma Dirce, her father’s mom. Her first project was a clothes hanger cozy. Alessandra says, “My grandma taught me how to do it using a tiny hook and silk thread. Let me tell you, silk is slippery!”
Becoming a Designer
Alessandra shares with us, “My dreams were shattered in 2008, when it turned out that my first son was a stillborn. I started crocheting like a mad lady; counting stitches kept my mind busy. After awhile, I had tons of items made and decided to open an online shop to sell them and people were inquiring me about where I got the patterns, so I decided to start writing them and here I am now.” Alessandra continues, “I would like to add that I am a very happy mom of a 6-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl now.”
Being a Designer
When asked about her design process, Alessandra replies, “Sometimes I make a sketch (nothing fancy) of my idea, sometimes I write it down, other times I just grab my hook and yarn and go for it, but I always take notes along the way. Once I have a design I am happy with, I grab my notes, type it up and send them to my group of testers.”
On design inspiration, Alessandra says, “If I am in a good mood, inspiration comes from a lot of places! My kids, nature, colors… they all inspire me.”
Alessandra is proud of her accomplishments of having her work published by Crochet World Magazine, Happily Hooked Magazine, and Red Heart Yarns as well as self-publishing her book Just Be Happy – Crochet Hats for Babies and Toddlers. She says, “I have a lot of work going on behind the scenes, but I can’t spill the beans just yet, so follow me to see all the wonderful things that this year will bring!”
Advice for New Crocheters:
Alessandra says, “Don’t be afraid to try new stitches and techniques, but try taking classes and learning them correctly the first time so you don’t have to re-learn the correct way later.”
Advice for New Designers:
“If you are thinking about selling your patterns, please make sure you ALWAYS have them tested. It is crucial to have each pattern checked for errors before being published,” Alessandra cautions.
Some of Alessandra’s Favorites:
Favorite Hooks: “Plain wooden and aluminum hooks are my favorites with no pads on them.”
Favorite Yarn: “I would have to say DK and Worsted Weight are my favorite weight and merino and alpaca are my top favorite fibers.”
Favorite Thing to Crochet: “Hats!”
Favorite Designers: “I have too many favorites! I am so glad that the crochet community has so many talented professionals!”
Visit Alessandra’s Blog: NatCroMo FREEBIE Sneak Peek
You will definitely want to visit Alessandra’s blog today! She will be offering the following in her Ravelry store:
- 40% off her new pattern release, Twisting Colors Throw, no coupon needed.
- Coupon code for 30% off any pattern from her Ravelry store (excludes Twisting Colors Throw). Visit her blog to get the code!
Find Ida Online:
Website: justbehappycrochet.com
Blog: justbehappylife.com
Ravelry Designer Page: ravelry.com/stores/alessandra-hayden-designs
Ravelry Profile: ravelry.com/people/justbehappy (must be logged in to view profile)
Facebook: facebook.com/JustBeHappyPatterns
Twitter: twitter.com/JBHCrochet
Etsy: justbehappy.etsy.com
Craftsy: craftsy.com/user/176719/pattern-store
Pinterest: pinterest.com/JBHcrochet
Instagram: instagram.com/justbehappycrochet
Additional Blog Tour Information:
Links to All the Info
Daily Giveaway Schedule
Daily Designer Schedule
Learn About CGOA
Halos of Hope: Make Hats
I actually just *met* her yesterday on Raverly, so was pleased to see her this morning on the designer spotlight for crochetville today!
the Elizabeth hat and uptown scarf are too cute
Love the designer showcased today! One of my favorites! I will be visiting her blog. I have followed, entered and shared. I need the yarn, fingers crossed! I have entered every day during #NatCroMo! I love using crochet to heal. It works. Thanks for sharing!
Crystal
http://krystlewv.blogspot.com
Crochet, A Day In The LIfe
New designer to me, great designs! 🙂
ove the Twisting Colors throw! Her other designs are beautiful.
Love love love your Elizabeth Hat design!!!!
Love your designs. Thank you!
Love the afghan!
The afghan is beautiful and so is the aztec scarf. I can’t wit to try them!
Thank you for sharing
I love how we share a love of plain hooks with no padding on them.
Your new pattern design makes me very happy! I love the colors.
Beautiful designs.
Such a tragic story. 🙁 Everything really does happen for a reason though. I am glad your circumstances led you to crocheting and designing. You are obviously great at it and you have wonderful designs! Thank you for reminding us all to Just Be Happy! 🙂
Hi Alessandra and Donna! Good advice for new designers. I too, just grab my hook and crochet, but forget to take notes. I have to go back and count. LOL Very cute baby hats.
I have seen her things before and love them so much. Love her book just be happy.
Your Elizabeth hat is soo precious! And, the Twisted Colors Throw is something I definitely want to try. Thank you for being part of the tour.
Cute baby hat!
Beautiful designs!
The Aztec scarf is beautiful. I love the color combo for it.
Love that scarf…..
I like the hat designs & I love the colors in the Dream Catcher Ottoman.
She learned to crochet the hard way!
Love the scarf!
I like your spunk! Good designs are spunky!
I *love* your Twisted Colors Throw! I’ll have to add it to my list of to dos.
The Elizabeth hat is adorable
I love crocheting blankets and your Twisting Colors Throw is gorgeous!
Love ur patterns
I love how you take the ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary!
She seems so upbeat and her designs convey that too. Looking forward to seeing more of her work.
Alessandra has been been crocheting since she was eight years old. Wow!
The Aztec Scarf is so visually striking!
I also found crochet very therapeutic when my 3 year-old daughter with Down Syndrome was diagnosed with Leukemia. I am happy to say that she is now 31 years old, and I still crochet.
It makes me happy to hear that! <3
My first great granddaughter is due this June and I will be making the Elizabeth Hat for her. It is so adorable. So glad I got to “meet” the designer behind this pattern.
I love your patters, Allesandra! The Elizabeth hat is precious!
I like quite a few of her designs, hard to choose a favorite!
Such fun designs! The Aztec scarf is fantastic!
I see you like metal hooks. I do too.
Beautiful designs!
I just love the Aztec scraf above. I love Native American items
The Elizabeth Hat is absolutely adorable! Alessandra’s patterns are all really pretty.
Love the crochet hook mustache!
I like meeting all of the featured designers.
Thank you for sharing with us Alessandra. I have a friend who lives in Gig Harbor too!! 🙂
small world!
The Elizabeth Hat is adorable! So many cute hats!
Love the designs
Thank you for sharing your talents! 🙂
The Elizabeth hat is cute & really like the Alessandra blanket, beautiful
Such pretty designs
That picture with the baby in it is the cutest things I’ve ever seen. Reminds me of Anne Geddes!
Love, love that baby hat!
I just love her!! Her designs are absolutely gorgeous!
Love the Elizabeth hat (nicely named!) and the Twisting Colors throw.
I enjo what you guys tend to be up too. Such lever work and
exposure! Keep up the good works guys I’ve added you guys to
my own blogroll.