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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: Karen McKenna, I Hook Design | Rohn Strong, Rohn Strong Designs | Daily Giveaway | Halos of Hope Hat Collection | Complete Designer Schedule
Rohn Strong, Rohn Strong Designs
Crochetville is very proud to have designer Rohn Strong with us today, March 23rd, as one of the featured designers on our 2015 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo).
Rohn’s Designs:
If you’re not familiar with his work already, we’d like to share two of Rohn’s designs with you.
Candied Crossbones is also available in Rohn’s 2014 Holiday Crochet Sock Club (3 patterns), now on special for a limited time for just 99 cents! (Regularly $15.00)
Three Truths and a Lie:
- Rohn’s favorite television show ever is Roseanne.
- Rohn loves the cold!
- Rohn has a secret obsession with loom knitting.
- Rohn has a big black fluffy dog named Chase.
About Rohn:
Rohn crochets and knits and also spins a bit. When asked for a fun crochet story he says, “Listen, I love to have fun all the time! What’s life without a bunch of laughter!”
Crochet Beginnings
Rohn taught himself to crochet the chain stitch at the age of seven. He remembers, “After that I bought a book from everyone’s first yarn shop, that big box store, and learned how to do the rest! My father made quite the fuss because ‘boys don’t do that’! I did anyway.”
Rohn’s first project was a chain scarf made with some hand-dyed super bulky wool.
On Designing
Rohn shares with us, “My design career started with a push and $100 investment from my now-husband. I’ve not stopped designing since that day!”
Rohn’s designs include a lot of garments, crochet socks, and Tunisian crochet. “The truth is, though,” Rohn says, “I love to design whatever I can whenever I can. If I have the time and inspiration strikes I will go for it.”
Rohn’s design process and inspiration is different every time. He says, “I get an idea from somewhere and go for it. Sometimes it works… sometimes it doesn’t.”
Tunisian Crochet
A year or so ago Rohn developed a technique for doing Tunisian crochet colorwork. He got the idea from doing a Tunisian knit swatch. Rohn thought, “hmmm… this might be cool to do Fair isle with… and it was!”
Rohn teaches Learn Tunisian Crochet Colorwork online at Annie’s. About teaching classes at Annie’s, Rohn says, “It was a huge accomplishment and has really made me proud to work with such an amazing company.” You can take Rohn’s class online ($24.99) or order a DVD (Reg. $24.99, On Sale $19.99).
Advice for New Crocheters:
Rohn suggests, “Practice and don’t take it too seriously!”
Advice for New Designers:
Rohn recommends, “Do a lot of research and know that just because you don’t see it out there doesn’t mean that it’s meant to be. Crochet design is a tough job that requires a lot of patience and hard work for little money.”
The Next Big Crochet Trend:
When asked for predictions about the next big crochet trend, Rohn tells us, “Can I say paid patterns? It’s kind of heartbreaking to see designers dropping out and quitting because all of these other designers are offering free patterns. I’m really advocating designers to work with each other to bring the industry to a better place where designers are appreciated and paid for their hard work.”
Some of Rohn’s Favorites:
Favorite books: Rohn doesn’t really have any favorite books, but he says, “Does YouTube count? I think it is a wonderful way for crocheters to have their questions answered!”
Favorite Hooks: Rohn doesn’t have any particular favorite hooks. He says, “I will use any hook I have on hand.”
Favorite Yarn: “I love fingering weight wool yarns. The more expensive and soft the better!”
Favorite Thing to Crochet: “Socks. I love to make feet pretty!”
Favorite Designers: “Four people immediately come to mind: Rebecca Velasquez, Marly Bird, Ellen Gormley and Kristin Omdahl. But there are so many others who are gray at what they do!”
Visit Rohn’s Blog: NatCroMo FREEBIE Sneak Peek
You will definitely want to visit Rohn’s blog today! Rohn will be giving away a nice little beginners crochet set: a skein of yarn, hook, stitch markers, wool wash, and a free pattern of their choosing by Rohn.
Bonus Secret! Rohn is having a 99 cent special on some of his crochet e-books/collections. All nine books together are a $160 value at regular prices, and for a limited time they are just $0.99 each. The sale started March 16th, so grab ’em while you still can!
Find Rohn Online:
Website: rohnstrongdesigns.wordpress.com
Blog: rohnstrongdesigns.wordpress.com
Ravelry Designer Page: ravelry.com/designers/rohn-strong
Ravelry Profile: ravelry.com/people/rohnstrong (must be logged in to view profile)
Facebook: facebook.com/rohnstrong
Twitter: twitter.com/strongandstone
The Truth
The truth is that Rohn hates the cold. He says, “I live in hot and muggy central NC and love it. Although I will get some flack for saying it…60 degrees is too cold for me. HAHA!”
Additional Blog Tour Information:
Links to All the Info
Daily Giveaway Schedule
Daily Designer Schedule
Learn About CGOA
Halos of Hope: Make Hats
Pretty socks! I have a sock loom and will get up the nerve to try it soon.
Great patterns
I love the texture on those crochet socks, beautiful design work!
Its so great to see some male hookers getting some spotlight! Its not just women that crochet! Some of my favorite designers are men. Love this article!
I have always wanted to try to make socks! Your patterns are amazing.
Rohn hates the cold weather, me too, Rohn! WV is chilly! Thanks for showcasing Rohn Strong as one of #NatCroMo designers. His work is amazing. Love seeing men crochet, I love it. I need the yarn, as I have not worked with the Boutique before, my stash needs it! I have followed, shared and entered. Thanks for sharing!
~Crystal
http://krystlewv.blogspot.com
Crochet, A Day In The Life
I love to loom knit too, although I only know the most basic of stitches to make hats and scarves. But I still have a lot of fun with that. I love your sock designs, and I hope to check them out in some of your ebooks.
Nice to see a male crochet designer. There aren’t enough men crocheting.
I love Rohn’s enthusiasm for crochet! And such great patterns!
I ♥ the crossbone socks and the moose sock shaper is beyond cute!
I have seen some of Rohn’s designs all over Ravelry.
love the cuffs on the socks
Love love love your designs! Thank you!
Wow! All of these patterns for .99 is a terrific deal. Love his sock patterns.
I love Rohn’s crocheted socks! This pattern inspires me!
Love the socks!
The Chogolisa cardigan is really pretty!
Love your stuff!! That Tunisian technique looks amazing!!
The crossbones socks are awesome and I love, love, love your sense of humor. Let’s be friends!
The crossbones socks are awesome and I love, love, love your sense of humor. Let’s be friends
Chogolisa is a great looking sweater!
HI! I absolutely love that Rohn is shamelessly leading the male participation in the Crochet Industry! I’m so thrilled to see someone so passionate and willing to share his expertise! 🙂
learned about a new designer today
Lovely sock colors!
Beautiful patterns!! And a great creativity
Crazy about the socks!!!
I want to learn how to make socks!
I love, love, LOVE that you are a male crocheter/designer. Thank you for being you.
I love Rohn’s work! Especially the colorway and socks!
Cute socks……
great socks
Wow that Tunisian Crochet is really cool
Love NC. Great place to live.
I hope you are wrong about the trend. I am very thankful for free patterns! I do splurge occasionally and buy a pattern if it is something I really want and especially if I find it on sale. But if it weren’t for free patterns many of us on a tight budget would be lost. Sometimes we have to scrimp and save and sacrifice to buy yarn, if we have to buy patterns also that is just more expense we sometimes can’t afford. I know designers are trying to make money but honestly most of my favorite designers are the ones who offer free patterns also, even if it is free for a limited time and then listed for sale. Just my two cents..
Thank you for sharing your talents with us! 🙂
Loved reading about you! Great socks too!
I love the candied crossbones pattern
Wow, I love these sock patterns, thank you for offering the ebooks at such a discount for NatCroMo!
What a sense of style in Rohn’s designs! I love the socks and cardigan shown on this blog post.
Thanks
I also posted on Rohn’s blog because I am so excited to start his Eagle Vest project. That pattern really called to me so I bought very nice yarn for it and purchased Rohn’s class on Tunisian colorwork. I, too, like seeing male designers getting the spotlight.
I like Candied Crossbones they look fun to make, maybe I will try to make socks again. My son wants some socks.
I would love to take Rohn’s Tunisian colorwork class!
The world needs more crocheting men!! You do beautiful work Rohn!
I have watched a couple of videos with Rohn and find him very easy to follow. It is nice to see men making themselves known in a predominately female craft, it is very refreshing. I look forward to more things from him in the future. Keep it up!
Socks are awesome. But, even better is the Chogolisa–I’m a beginner and was looking for sweaters like in knitting but I prefer crochet and Chogolisa is a perfect example of a knit style sweater but using crochet that I’ve been looking for! Thank you!!
I hate the cold too, but love me some pretty socks 🙂
I love the hats in the e books.. great designs
Gorgeous socks! Loom knitting is on my list of things to learn. I have the looms and yarn, just haven’t found the time yet.
Love your designs!
Oh, socks…. I hope to tackle them soon!