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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: Michele Maks, Mainly Crochet | Angelia Robinson, Quaternity Design Studios | Kim Guzman, Crochet Kim | Daily Giveaway | Halos of Hope Hat Collection | Complete Designer Schedule
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Michele Maks, Mainly Crochet
Crochetville is very proud to have designer Michele Maks of Mainly Crochet with us today, March 24, as one of the featured designers on our 2015 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo). Michele has been an Associate Professional Member of the Crochet Guild of America since 208.
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!
- Making things has been the driving force of Michele’s life.
- Crochet has been her primary choice of creation for the past 30 years.
- Michele has been diagnosed with MS, but she doesn’t let it define her.
- Michele doesn’t have enough yarn.
Michele’s Designs:
If you’re not familiar with her work already, we’d like to share two of Michele’s designs with you.
“Reminiscent of ruffled pants, this round baby blanket is perfect for your little girl.”
“The joy of quick stitching will let you decorate your home quickly with our simple pillows and throw. ”
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About Michele:
Getting Off to a Good Start
Michele has been crocheting since she was about 9, when she also learned how to knit. She started crocheting professionally in 1985, when an editor wanted a knit design in crochet. Up until this time, she had played with the craft, but this made it serious business. Michele designed a hat and boa scarf combination for Woman’s World magazine.
A Design Career Is Begun
Michele was a full-time freelance crochet designer from 1985 to 2008, designing for magazines and yarn companies. In 2008, she became the editor at Crochet World magazine.
Michele’s Specialty
Michele is best-known for simple designs that look good, but that a beginner could feel comfortable tacking, and mixed techniques.
Her Greatest Crochet Accomplishment
Michele’s most satisfying project to date is the creation of www.mainlycrochet.com. The mainly crochet website offers a subscription service for digital patterns. The concept is similar to that of an ezine, except patterns are published as soon as they are ready for publication. You no longer have to wait for the next issue of a magazine to be published. In addition to having access to all patterns published within their one-year term of membership, subscribers also have access to all patterns ever published by mainly crochet.
Michele greatly enjoys the freedom the mainly crochet online-only format gives her. She says, “I can produce patterns the way I think they should be produced.” With no space constraints as in a print magazine, complicated patterns can devote as much space to full explanation of details as necessary. Michele also takes pride in providing complete photos of larger items such as afghans, allowing crocheters to see the entire item laid out flat.
Visit Michele’s Blog: NatCroMo FREEBIE Sneak Peek
You will definitely want to visit Michele’s blog post today! She will be giving away a free subscription ($24 value) to the person who provides the best answer to this question: “What was your favorite crochet project of all time?” Remember, you have to enter on HER site!
Find Michele Online:
Mainly Crochet Website: http://www.mainlycrochet.com
Mainly Crochet Blog: http://mainlycrochet-theblog.blogspot.com
Ravelry Designer Page: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/michele-maks
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mainlycrochet
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1374298556131379/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mainlycrochet/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mainlycrochet
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The Truth:
After this many years in the business, Michele really does have enough yarn!
Additional Blog Tour Information:
Links to All the Info
Daily Giveaway Schedule
Daily Designer Schedule
Learn About CGOA
Halos of Hope: Make Hats
I’m a big fan of Crochet World magazine!
WoW! I have never heard anyone ever say they had enough yarn!
Thanks for showcasing this designer. Love her patterns and her work. Fingers crossed, I need this yarn too! Never worked with it before. I would love to have her yarn stash. Thanks for sharing!
~Crystal
http://krystlewv.blogspot.com
Crochet, A Day In The Life
I love the treble circle afghan!
Loving these Design Blog Tours…so many great designers to check out!
Christmas Quickie sounds like a great project to do while I’m traveling at Christmas!
i like the circle afghan. i may just try your pattern because I rarely work with trebles.
I like the treble circle afghan
Quick afghans are my favorite!
Thanks for introducing us to another great designer. Love the Mainly Crochet site.
Thanks
Thanks for the biography, fascinating!
No way! There can never be enough yarn!
Interesting idea. Since I don’t get extremely emotional over my crochet, I’ll be skipping her giveaway as I’m highly unlikely to win, but if I could ever get a decent feel for what kind of patterns show up in the ezine (as in, how often would something I’m likely to be interested in show up), it might be worth it.
Love the treble circle afghan!
But, but, but… you can never have enough yarn! 🙂
I really think the Treble Circle Afghan is gorgeous!
I just started following you on Facebook. Thanks for sharing so much with the crochet community.
I would have to disagree with the “truth” that she has enough yarn. That treble circle afghan is super cute. I love circle blankets.
Cool circle afghan……
Beautiful work!
You have a lot of unique designs! I like the variety!
Crochet has been her primary choice of creation for the past 30 years. There are some cool patterns on http://www.mainlycrochet.com., I have seen some designers post photo and say their pattern is there. Perhaps I will be able to get a subscription in the future. But first I need to get a new stove/oven.
Love this stuff!! And I don’t think you could ever have enough yarn
The afghans are very lovely. Thank you.
Love the designs I’ve seen here. I’m not new to crochet, but I’m new to so many stitches and ideas and patterns. I love my craft and I love expanding my repertoire. I will look for more of your designs in the future
>Michele doesn’t have enough yarn
this has got to be the *lie* as nobody ever has enough yarn in their stash!
The Treble Circle Afghan is super cute!
I don’t believe that there is any way that ANYONE can ever have enough yarn, lol!
I have been a big fan of Crochet World magazine since the late 80’s. I actually used the stitch guide’s to teach myself new stitches back in the day. 🙂
I would like to thank you for the blog and the giveaways first of all. I will be entering Michele’s giveaway with an essay. The lie is #4 Michele doesn’t have enough yarn.
No one can EVER have too much yarn! Right?!
It would be fun to have Michele’s job and creative allowance with the online magazine!
Lovely, simple and yet so beautiful patterns! There are some amazing blankets in her designs!
P.S. The yarn is never enough, hehe 🙂
You can never have enough yarn silly!!!
Michele is a senior designer at this point. Good to hear her perspective.
Is it even possible to have “enough” yarn? If it is I don’t think I will ever get there. I have two tall, double door cabinets full, plus several of those plastic storage boxes full, and more still in bags that was bought over the weekend and I don’t have “enough”! Every time I go shopping something catches my eye and I have to have it. No, I don’t have enough. Just don’t ask my husband! 😉
I love the treble circle afghan
The subscription site sounds cool. Will have to check it out!
i think not having enough yarn is a lie
you can never have enough yarn
With as much yarn as I have, it’s never enough! LOL!
So many great designs!
I am enjoying meeting the designers.
I think the idea of Crochetville.com is genius! I’m definitely going to enter, but if I don’t win I’ll probably buy a subscription anyway! Thanks so much for the giveaway 🙂
The Mainly Crochet subscription sounds like such a good idea – it has the benefits of a magazine without the drawbacks of not enough space to show patterns to best advantage or not being published often enough.
Wish I had enough yarn like you do! Nice to meet the face behind the inspiration.
My favorite thing was actually the little girl’s skirt!! So cute! I was disappointed there was not a “advice for beginners” section because I’ve been reading that since I’ve discovered crochet having landed in the middle of crochet month 🙁
I admire those that can make something out of nothing. I are amazing
I love simple designs. I am involved with a woman’s group. Once a month, we get together for a Girls Night IN, to play bingo and socialize – and eat. Each month, we have a special joyful generosity game to raise funds for a cause close to our hearts. As a special prize, I make something special, usually crochet, such as a scarf or a wall decoration. Sometimes, when in a pinch, I look for simple and quick projects I can knock out in an evening or two. I will keep you in mind for such inspiration.
I have had a subscription to Mainly Crochet almost since the beginning. OMG, so many patterns, such awesome variety!! I love the format of the designs, and how we get so many more pictures than you would in a print magazine. Michele Maks rocks!!!
Love your designs, I never have enough yarn either! I see we share the love of Maltese, I have two!
I hope to one day feel like I have enough yarn!!
You can really NEVER have enough yarn, lol 😉
I love the circle afghan. I constantly have at least 2 going in my WIP pile.
Love your eye for colour!