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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: Kristin Omdahl, Styled by Kristin | Mary Jane Hall, Positively Crochet! | Daily Giveaway | Kate Steinke, CGOA Board of Directors | Halos of Hope Hat Collection | Complete Designer Schedule
Kristin Omdahl, Styled by Kristin
Crochetville is very proud to have designer Kristin Omdahl with us today, March 30th, as one of the featured designers on our 2015 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo).

Kristin is wearing her own design, Sweet Clara Top.
Kristin’s Designs:
If you’re not familiar with her work already, we’d like to share two of Kristin’s designs with you.


Three Truths and a Lie:
- Kristin was a professional model as a teenager.
- Kristin plays guitar and piano.
- Kristin is really afraid of snakes and sharks.
- Kristin can’t swim.
About Kristin:
Crochet Beginnings
Kristin is a self-taught crocheter who has been crocheting for 13 years. She also taught herself to knit. She says, “I was living overseas, pregnant and homesick during the 9/11 catastrophe. Learning to knit and crochet baby things while waiting for the birth of my son was very comforting to me.”
Her first project was a baby bootie that was very large because she didn’t yet understand gauge. But she took it as a success because despite the size, it looked like the right shape. She tried again, using a smaller hook, and the bootie turned out the correct size.
Becoming a Designer
Kristin shares with us, “Designing gave me hope when I was in an abusive marriage overseas with a baby. I dreamed of supporting my son and myself if I could safely get back to US soil. We arrived with a suitcase of clothes, my knitting needles and crochet hooks, and a dream. I tried every angle I could think of! I made ready-to-wear for boutiques, and I sold patterns to magazines, yarn companies and book publishers.” Eleven years later, she’s working on her 12th and 13th books, she owns her own yarn company, has the experience of being on a crafting TV show for ten seasons, and more. Kristin adds, “I’ve had so many wonderful experiences so far, and I’m not done learning and exploring new ideas!”
On Designing
Kristin’s design signature is lightweight, figure flattering women’s wear with a focus on lace. But she likes to design a variety of things, including home decor, menswear, baby items, survival gear, and more.
Kristin says her designs just come from inside her. She tells us, “I get passionate bursts of energy with ideas that make me excited. It brings me a lot of joy. I’m grateful people find my designs special. It’s kept a roof over our heads and food on our table for 11 years. My son and I are very grateful.”
Kristin finds inspiration in textures. She says, “Whether it is the formation of the petals in a flower, the texture of bark or leaves, or the scales or feathers of an animal, nature is a driving force behind my inspiration.” She also says, “I like to watch fashion trends, but avoid knitting and crochet trends as much as possible. I prefer to be inspired by the silhouettes of cut-and-sewn fashion.”
Kristin’s design process depends on the project. She says, “I’m an experimental designer. Sometimes it makes more sense to write it down first and study the math and charts (theory). Other times, it makes more sense to see if it actually works (practice). And sometimes, it goes in the garbage and I start all over. That’s the nature of the beast. Designing is an experimental process. I love the challenge!”
Of all Kristin’s work, she is most proud of the pattern collections she’s designed for her books and the pattern e-books she self-publishes to support her beautiful yarns. She says, “I’m currently learning to dye my own yarn to create color changes perfect for the types of projects I like to design. Can’t wait to show you more!!!”
Other Crafts
In addition to crocheting, Kristin also knits, makes jewelry, and hand-dyes her own yarns. She has a new collection of hand-dyed yarns coming soon. Kristin also draws the fabric artwork for Erin Lane Bags‘ knit and crochet project bags.
Advice for New Crocheters:
Kristin recommends, “Watch videos, take classes, and find projects that excite you. Your brain is more receptive to learning when you are excited about the project you want to make.”
Advice for New Designers:
“Don’t quit your day job,” Kristin cautions. “It is a very time consuming, labor-intensive profession. Do your homework, ask a lot of questions from a variety of professionals in the industry, and see if there is a niche you can fill. Go slow, and it will grow. Quitting you day job should be the last step, not the first.”
Some of Kristin’s Favorites:
Favorite Hooks: Kristin loves Susan Bates Silvalume and Rosewood Hooks by Lantern Moon.
Favorite Yarn: Favorite animal fiber: alpaca. Favorite plant fiber: bamboo.
Kristin says, “I think there is a yarn for every project, and a project for every yarn. Sometimes I’m in the mood for lace and fingering, sometimes chunky. I probably lean towards the lighter yarns mostly, but chunky is fun, too!”
Favorite Thing to Crochet: “I think blankets are the best gift to make and receive, period. I make baby blankets for friends and family. My son requests blankets to fit his bed. We have an assortment of big blankets I’ve made over the years. My favorite was the Megalodon Blanket I Tunisian-crocheted for him after a trip to the Natural History Museum in Washington DC. The border was gigantic teeth to represent the enormous jaw we stood inside for a picture at the museum. I still haven’t published the pattern, but we love to take it to the park for picnics.”
Favorite Designers: “Drew Emborsky is my favorite person in the industry, but I love many wonderfully talented people in our industry, and I would hate to forget anyone.”
Visit Kristin’s Blog: NatCroMo Celebration Sneak Peek
You will definitely want to visit Krsitin’s blog post today to find out what she is going to share with us in celebration of National Crochet Month!
Find Kristin Online:
Website: styledbykristin.com
Blog: styledbykristin.com
Ravelry Designer Page: ravelry.com/designers/kristin-omdahl
Ravelry Profile: ravelry.com/people/KristinOmdahl (must be logged in to view profile)
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Styled-By-Kristin/193457893769
Twitter: twitter.com/kristinomdahl
Craftsy: craftsy.com/user/466221/pattern-store
Etsy: etsy.com/shop/KristinOmdahl
YouTube: youtube.com/user/KristinOmdahl
Patreon: patreon.com/KristinOmdahl
The Truth
The truth is that Kristin can indeed swim. If you are already a follower of Kristin, you will notice that she is often poolside in photographs.
Additional Blog Tour Information:
Links to All the Info
It’s so inspiring to see how successful you can be as a self-taught artist. Congratulations, and I love the designs!
I love Kristin’s use of lace in her designs!
I love her patterns!
I love your crocheted jewelry videos!
You are truly an inspiration to me. My next step is to start designing my own patterns, but after 35 years of following others patterns, it is a bit scary!
Beautiful patterns and fabric designs. Love her bead work, too.
What an inspiration! Thanks!
oooh, looking forward to seeing the color changing yarns! I love the Bamboo So Fine that I already have
Susan Bates Silvalume hooks are my favorite too, and I love to make blankets.
Love your tops!! I too really hate snakes
I love the adventurous take no prisioners approach to your designs!!! Bravo!
I love the Sunflower Cowl, Blue Lagoon Swirling Hexagon Shawl, and Sweet Clara Top…just to name a few!
I am familiar with Kristin’s designs and often use them from books.
Thanks for showcasing this designer and her beautiful work. I will be visiting her blog today. Thanks for sharing. I have entered, followed and shared. I would love to win this yarn, fingers crossed! I have learned a lot during #NatCroMo! Thanks again!
~Crystal
So true re advice for new crocheters! That advice really applies to everything in life–if you’re not excited about whatever it is, chances are you will not do a good job or drag it out.
My crochet library already contains Kristin’s books, Crochet So Fine, The Finer Edge, Seamless Crochet, and Wrapped in Crochet. Now I need to add Crochet So Lovely.
Love your designs!
Love seeing her work.
Love the tops so lacy looking
Love the Islamorada Amethyst Half-Hexagon Crochet Shawl!
I love your Athens Raspberry Shrug design!
I love the Sweet Clara Top!
I love your designs and I look forward to your hand dyed gradient yarns.
I love Kristin’s designs!
Pretty
Love the Raspberry Shrug especially.
Your Facbook page is so much fun to scroll through. You exude life and fun! Your designs are great for me, I’m a curvy girl!
Beautiful lacy tops!
So glad everything worked out for you! Beautiful patterns. 🙂
I love your airy & open designs.
light weight and lacy perfect
Great story! Thanks for sharing it.
Beatiful patterns
Kristin is so versatile…and she only lives about an hour from where I do! Her yarns and patterns (the Sweet Clara Top in particular) are lovely!
I love her patterns and her choice of colors are breathtaking!
Love your blog!
Kristin was a professional model as a teenager. I like her book Crochet So Fine, have made a few things in it.
What an encouraging story! Thanks for sharing.
Its been fun seeing all the designers this month. So many patterns, so much yummy yarn, so little time…..
Love your advice for new crocheters! I watch the videos and have a friend that helps! My problem it I’m over excited about prijects that my hands aren’t ready to do! I’m going to keep working at it though!
Took a bit of time for me to learn about gauge too