NatCroMo 2015, March 27: Tamara Kelly

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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: Brenda Stratton, Brenda Stratton Designs | Tamara Kelly, Moogly Blog | Susan Lowman, CGOA Secretary | Daily Giveaway | Halos of Hope Hat Collection | Complete Designer Schedule

Tamara Kelly, Moogly

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Tamara Kelly with us today, March 27th, as one of the featured designers on our 2015 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo). Tamara is a member of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA).

Photo of Tamara Kelly
Tamara Kelly, Crochet Designer

Tamara’s Designs:

If you’re not familiar with her work already, we’d like to share two of Tamara’s designs with you.

Photo of Lucky Day Cowl
Lucky Day Cowl, free crochet pattern on Moogly

“We could all use a little extra luck once in a while – and the fun little clovers or shamrocks in the Lucky Day Cowl might just be the token you need! At the very least, it’ll decrease the odds of pinching!”

 

Photo of Artfully Simple Infiinity Scarf
Artfully Simple Infinity Scarf, free crochet pattern on Moogly

“The Artfully Simple Infinity Scarf pattern is super easy, hides a multitude of sins, and comes with just one rule: no stress allowed! This finished scarf is between 50 and 60 inches long, and twists and turns on itself naturally – perfect for wearing doubled as a cowl, as well as long, tied, anything you can come up with! The little button tie embellishment is a separate optional piece, and instructions for that are included as well!”

 

Three Truths and a Lie:

  1. Tamara has been crocheting for 13 years.
  2. Tamara collects salt and pepper shakers.
  3. Tamara lives in Iowa, USA.
  4. Tamara has a degree in Psychology.

About Tamara:

Crochet Beginnings

Tamara has been crocheting for 13 years. Her sister-in-law taught her how to single crochet, and she learned from books after that.

Her first project was a BLO (back loop only) single crochet scarf. Tamara says she quickly got bored with it, and turned into a simple pouch bag with a handle. She says, “Even with my first project I couldn’t resist making my own design! My daughter carried that bag for years!”

On Designing

Tamara tells us, “I’d always designed for myself and family  I just never wrote anything down. When my youngest went to preschool, I started a business selling finished items, but got bored making the same few designs over and over  and realized I’d rather share designs than make finished items for sale!”

Photo of Moroccan Market Tote Bag
Moroccan Market Tote, free pattern on Moogly

As far as designs go, Tamara is probably best known for her Artfully Simple Infinity Scarf, and her Moroccan line of patterns:

Tamara tells us about her design process: “I think the most important thing for me is writing down every little idea I have  not all of them become finished designs, but I have a notebook full of ideas! Beyond that, it’s just sitting down with yarn and hook, paper and pen, and playing!”

Tamara tries to make her designs unique and interesting, without being overly difficult. She says she finds inspiration everywhere: fashion, home decor, color trends  and her kids’ requests.

A Fun Crochet Story

Tamara shares, “At the 2014 Knit and Crochet Show, Jessie Rayot and I took Lily Chin’s class together, and decided the swatches we made in class looked like finger puppets. So we proceeded to dress them up, and then take them to Kim Guzman’s class the next day, so they could attend with us in the front row. I like to think they put a smile on Kim’s face  Jessie and I couldn’t stop giggling!”

Other Crafts

Tamara knits at a beginner/intermediate level, and spins with a drop spindle, though she says “not very well.” She also says, “I’ve tried dyeing and it was a lot of fun, and I hope to do it again sometime!”

 

Advice for New Crocheters:

“Don’t be afraid to frog what you’ve done, and ‘google’ it whenever you have a question  there’s so much great info out there at our fingertips now, it’s an amazing time to take up the craft!” says Tamara

 Advice for New Designers:

Tamara recommends, “Follow your bliss, know your market, and make what you love, not what you think will ‘sell.’ ”

Next Big Trend in Crochet

Tamara says, “I think there’s a real interest in new stitches and techniques, which is very exciting!”

Some of Tamara’s Favorites:

Favorite Books: Tamara reveals, “I’m addicted to stitch dictionaries  I can’t get enough! It’s like pages and pages of inspiration just waiting for me. If it has charts, I want it!”

Favorite Yarn: “Well, if I could only ever crochet with one fiber, it would be cashmere  it would be completely impractical, but it’s so delicious!” says Tamara.

Favorite Thing to Crochet: Tamara is enthusiastic, “I think I could design a new cowl or infinity scarf every day for a year if I wanted to! I love designing them  and wearing them!”

 

Visit Tamara’s Blog: NatCroMo FREEBIE Sneak Peek

Photo of NatCroMo Teaser

You will definitely want to visit Tamara’s blog post today! She’ll be sharing a new free crochet pattern  and donating it to a very special cause!

 

Find Tamara Online:

Blog: mooglyblog.com

Ravelry Designer Page: ravelry.com/designers/tamara-kelly

Ravelry Profileravelry.com/people/tamarairene (must be logged in to view profile)

Crochetville Profile: crochetville.com/community/user/61277-moogly (must be logged in to view profile)

Facebook: facebook.com/mooglystore

Twitter: twitter.com/mooglyblog

Craftsy: craftsy.com/instructors/tamara_kelly

 

The Truth

Tamara does not collect salt and pepper shakers. Although if she did, that would have been cool, and I would have asked her to share a photo!

 

Additional Blog Tour Information:

Credits: Icons via icons8.com and iconsmind.com.

60 thoughts on “NatCroMo 2015, March 27: Tamara Kelly”

  1. “I think I could design a new cowl or infinity scarf every day for a year if I wanted to! I love designing them — and wearing them!”

    Reply
  2. I found Tamara’s Scarlett Shrug through Lion Brand, made it to go with my Christmas dress, and have been following her blog ever since. Her designs are awesome and I’m really enjoying the afghan CAL she’s running!

    Reply
  3. ♥ the latest freebie & have queued it on raverly. think I will have to make it and have husband give to one of his troops ~ whoever has a baby with the nearest birth date to the 4th of July!

    Reply
  4. Congrats to Tamera! Love Moogly! It’s the best! Thanks for showcasing her today. I will be visiting her blog. I also need this yarn, fingers crossed! Thanks for sharing, and I would have liked to see S&P shakers too! 🙂
    ~Crystal

    Reply
  5. Just learning to crochet…your comment “don’t be afraid to frog it…”, what is “frog it”?? Thank you!

    I love the moroccan stitch! I’ll learn it one of these days after my first project is completed.

    Reply
  6. I love all your designs! I often find myself on your site looking through your patterns and using your videos as aids! Absolutely amazing.

    Reply
  7. I adore your Moroccan patterns! They are such a fun stitch. I really like combining 2 different yarns like this to create contrast & texture.

    Reply
  8. Tamara tries to make her designs unique and interesting, without being overly difficult. I made more then three Artfully Simple Infinity Scarf in different colors. Most of the time I don’t make things more then once but I like this yarn and pattern.

    Reply
  9. You are definitely one of my favorite designers. Printing the Artfully Simple Infinity Scarf and looking at my lovely blue, aqua & gold yarn. Guess what I’m making today?

    Reply
  10. I love stitch dictionaries too! I really just like knowing how it works before I try to make something with it. And in order to do different sizes of things, the _ + _, is a need to know!

    Reply
  11. Oh THIS gal! Always making me learn new stuff, and is incredibly patient with me. I want to be her when I grow up! (Yeah Tamara, wrap your head around that one, with me being older! LOL!)

    Reply
  12. I was already a fan, the artfully simple cowl was the first cowl I tried and then made tons of them cant wait to go check the other patterns out.

    Reply
  13. I’ve made a couple of the Artfully Simple Infinity Scarves as gifts and love that they can go together quickly. Sometimes a last-minute gift is handy to throw together.

    Reply
  14. I’ve made several of Tamara’s designs and love every one! I get excited about new stitches and techniques too 🙂

    Reply
  15. I have several of your pattterns saved to do later. I gave the infinity scarf to a friend and she wore it all last winter!

    Reply
  16. One of my go to designers when I need to find something amazing to make. I’ve made the Moroccan market tote, actually it’s my opus! It was an experiment that was a success! Ugh I went out of my comfort zone on this one and use different Torres of yarn and it was beautiful. The loopy love baby booties were so cute. Anywho, I can go on and on.. Moogly rocks!

    Reply

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