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: Susan Heyn, Crafts & Things | Alessandra Hayden, Just Be Happy Patterns | Daily Giveaway | Halos of Hope Hat Collection | Complete Designer Schedule
.
Susan Heyn, Crafts & Things
Crochetville is very proud to have designer Susan Heyn of Crafts & Things with us today, March 22, as one of the featured designers on our 2015 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo).
Three Truths and a Lie:
Take a guess as to which of the following statements isn’t true. We’ll try to let you know which statement is “The Lie” somewhere in this post. If we just can’t work it in, we’ll post the truth at the bottom of the post!
- Susan is left-handed.
- She attended her first CGOA conference in Manchester, NH in July 2014.
- Susan loves to run and work out.
- Susan’s mom taught her to crochet when she was six years old.
Susan’s Designs:
If you’re not familiar with her work already, we’d like to share two of Susan’s designs with you.
“This stylish crocheted wrap has a tailored look you’ll love wearing! Designed with buttons, it won’t fall off your shoulders while keeping you cozy.”
This Santa pin is one of Susan’s most popular patterns. Super quick and easy to make, it is a good seller at bazaars, holiday sales, and flea markets. The pattern is also part of Susan’s new ebook, a collection of nine holiday pin patterns, which is also available on Ravelry for $9.99.
.
About Susan:
Getting Off to a Good Start
Susan has been crocheted for over 50 years, since her mother taught her to crochet when she was six years old and sick in bed. She and her mother were both left-handed and had many years in which they had fun crocheting together. Susan’s first project was a lopsided potholder that she still has around. After she had learned some basic stitches, she took her mother’s pattern books and tried to follow the directions. Since she was so young, things didn’t always turned out as planned in the beginning, but she quickly developed her skills. Susan says the first big project she can remember making was a granny square bedspread that she used for many years.
A Design Career Is Begun
Susan says, “I always seemed to be adjusting patterns and doing my own spin on them. I finally started to actually write down some of my ideas when I had my shop and people wanted to order more of something that I had made. I started to self-publish some of my designs on Ravelry and Etsy after taking Amy Shelton’s class on self-publishing your designs a few years ago.”
Susie’s Specialty
Susan says she is still developing her personal design style, so she doesn’t have a specialty quite yet. She enjoys using textured stitches like popcorns and post stitches. Some of her favorite things to design and make are towel toppers, lapel pins, and tote bags. Susan does have a number of designs that are fairly quick to make and that are good sellers at craft fairs.
Sources of Inspiration
Susan finds inspiration in home decor magazines, geometric patterns, fashion, fabrics, and even requests from customers.
Her Greatest Crochet Accomplishment
Susan attended her first Designer Meet and Greet at the CGOA conference held in Manchester, NH last July. She was thrilled to sell a design right then and there to Red Heart Yarns!
The Wider World of Fiber Arts
Susan currently does plastic canvas needlepoint. She is very interested in learning to spin and weave.
About Her Design Process:
I get design ideas from many places and keep a list of ideas that I want to do. I am often inspired by stitch patterns and even color combinations. I usually start out by making a sample piece, writing a rough draft of the pattern as I go, then remake it following my pattern to find errors before getting it tested and ready to either self publish or submit.
Advice for New Designers:
Keep trying: Every design will not be successful nor will every submission be accepted. If one publisher says no, it may not be a bad design, just not what they are looking for at the moment. Submit it somewhere else and you may get a yes.
….
Advice for New Crocheters:
If you are a visual learner, You Tube videos are a great way to learn new stitches and techniques. Get involved in groups such as Crochetville and Ravelry. There are always people willing to help answer questions.
….
Some of Susan’s Favorites:
[one_third]
[one_third]
[one_third_last]
- Favorite Crochet Books: Crochet Stitches VISUAL Encyclopedia by Robyn Chachula, The Big Book of Crochet Stitches by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss, and Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman.
- Favorite Hook: Boye
- Designers: Susan says, “There are many people in this industry that I admire and consider to be my mentors. I have to credit Amy Shelton and Pam Daley for encouraging me to attend my first conference, which led me to close my retail store and focus on my design career. Some of my favorite designers include Doris Chan, Tammy Hildebrand, Kathy White, and Tamara Kelly.”
- Favorite Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver and With Love for designing. “I have also begun to treat myself to some “better yarns” and am currently designing a vest with Microfiber Ribbon yarn from Tess’ Designer Yarns,” says Susan.
- Favorite Thing to Crochet: It varies from week to week, but right now Susan is on a “quick to make” kick since she’s getting ready for a Street Festival in April.
Visit Susan’s Blog: NatCroMo FREEBIE Sneak Peek
You will definitely want to visit Susan’s blog post today! She has just released a new ebook entitled Quick and Easy Christmas Lapel Pins, a collection of nine patterns, available for purchase on Ravelry. Susan will be offering one of the patterns from the ebook for FREE on her blog for a week. She will also have a COUPON CODE for a discount on the ebook.
Find Susan Online:
Crochetville: craftyone (must be logged in to see profile)
Ravelry: leftycrochets (must be logged in to see profile)
Crafts & Things Website: http://www.craftsandthings1.com/
Crafts & Things Blog: http://www.craftsandthings1.com/?page_id=21
Ravelry Designer Page: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/susan-lynn
Facebook: https://facebook.com/CraftsThings
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/craftsthingsdesigns
…
The Truth:
Susan does NOT enjoy either running or working out!
Additional Blog Tour Information:
Links to All the Info
Daily Giveaway Schedule
Daily Designer Schedule
Learn About CGOA
Halos of Hope: Make Hats
A new designer to me! Off to check out her patterns. I love that this has been giving exposure to some of my favorite designers (many whom I have tested for over the years) and also some new designers.
the holiday patterns are cute
I don’t enjoy running either! Loved the article. Thanks for showcasing such a great designer. I will be visiting her blog today. I entered, followed and shared. Fingers crossed, I have NO yarn stash. I need this! Thanks for sharing! I love #NatCroMo!
~Crystal
Crochet, A Day In The Life
http://krystlewv.blogspot.com
Great interview 🙂
Great go-to book for holiday designs. Glad to have found a new designer to follow on this blog tour.
Holiday designs make me smile any time of the year!
Thank you!
Thank you for the free pattern!
I love the patterns on your Ravelry page and already found a few I want to buy 🙂
Your quick success in the world of crochet is something to be inspired by. I cannot wait to see more things from you in the future!
great read
I need more of those quick to make ideas! Two craft fairs coming up in April and I have got to kick it in high gear. 🙂
I love her shawl. I’m going to have to reproduce it. I’ve been looking for a beautiful pattern, and I think I just found it.
Beautiful!
I love the holiday pattern ideas!
I love the button shawl design.
Hi Susan and Amy! I love the Buttoned Shawl and have already downloaded the pattern.
Susan, there’s a Fiber Fair every October in North Carolina. Just search SaffSite dot Org. My friend attends and I may be able to go this year. Great spinning workshops. I hear lots of fun, too.
I do not enjoy running or working out either. I decided however that crocheting all the time was not the healthiest activity for me either, so I joined Jazzercise. It’s fun, and easy to do! Happy crocheting!
I agree with the not like running me either. I too use Boye Hooks. I love her designs the are quick to work up great foe craft fairs. I love the buttoned Shawl nice idea for keeping it on.
Yay, a lefty!
Nice article!
Thank you for all the beautiful work.
Beautiful shawl…..
I love the designs of the holiday pins!
THE TRUTH: I guessed right! 🙂
I want to win this contest!
Thanks!
LOL! The only way you’ll get me running is to have something big and scary chasing me! Nice to read about this new designer. I need to go check out her art. Thanks!
I love the buttoned shawl
I’m with you! Running and/or working out are NOT fun!
Susan, don’t worry. You are not the only one who doesn’t like to workout 😉
Thanks for all the nice comments everyone. I hope some of you visit my Facebook page or Ravelry shop to take advantage of my coupon. Have lots of new design ideas I hope to share with everyone soon. 🙂
Love the Christmas items
Thank you for the Buttoned Shawl pattern! I first saw it on Facebook, and I downloaded it. I absolutely love it!
Cool designs. I especially like her Santa pin. And I’m with her — I don’t like running or working out either.
Susan is left-handed. Lefty’s rule.
I agree about running not being fun. And besides, any time spent running is time not spent crocheting!
I am glad to find this designer. I love her holiday designs.
thank you Susan, for being a part of the blog tour! Your lapel pins are cute!
The Christmas patterns are real cute. I would love them on my tree!
Very nice patterns! It’s always nice to have some quick and easy holiday patterns for gifts!
I too like to view YouTube videos to learn new stitches.
Stunning designs!
I just lovee the button wrap with the wonderful colors above.
The Buttoned Shawl looks so cozy! I really like the colors as well.
Those lapel pins are adorable! Great idea for craft fairs!
what a talented crocheter
I will get the buttoned shawl. Thank you, Susan.
I am loving this series.
Such a cute Santa pin!
Beautiful designs
Thank you for sharing your talents! 🙂
Has a vintage feel to work, nice.
The Christmas pins are adorable
Cute designs. I love the soap swan you have listed over on Ravelry–gorgeous!
Red Heart with Love is one of my faves too!
I adore Susan! I’ve learned so much from her and I continue to follow her. She’s on my favorites list on ravelry! She’s such an inspiration!
Congratulations on getting a pattern published on Red Heart! Very nice.