NatCroMo 2016, March 28: Susie Allen

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The Crochet Express National Crochet Month Blog Tour

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Welcome to Crochetville’s fourth annual National Crochet Month (NatCroMo) blog tour, taking place each day of March 2016. Join us as we take a virtual tour on our passenger steam train, The Crochet Express, visiting crochet designers, crochet-friendly local yarn stores, and yarn companies, and offer some fun giveaways.

Today’s Posts: Susie Allen | Cylinda Mathews | Lindsey Stephens | Common Threads Yarn Shop | Daily Giveaway

Want to Chat about the Tour?

Part of the fun of taking a passenger steam train trip is talking with your fellow passengers. This year, we’re providing two locations where our passengers can get to know each other. We’d love to hear about your favorite things you’ve discovered on the tour and see photos of your current crochet projects. You’re invited to join us daily for virtual cocktails/appetizers and dinner. (We’ll be sharing links to some fabulous recipes!)

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Susie Allen, East End Design Company

Susie Allen

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Susie Allen with us today, March 28, as one of the featured designers on our 2016 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo). If you’d like to know even more about Susie, check out our post from last year’s blog tour.

About Susie:

I am a physical therapist by day and a knit and crochet wear designer by night; I often marry my two professions into one. I am inspired by the natural world around me, especially by its texture and color, which I often take and translate into my designs. When not knitting or crocheting, I can be found being a mom and wife or indulging my passions for hiking and running.

Tell us about your favorite travel destination.

I absolutely love traveling, especially within the United States. My favorite within the states is the North East, especially Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Tell us about a “dream” travel location that you’d like to visit one day.

My dream travel location is to bring my daughter back to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. The scenery is not only gorgeous, but it is like going on a safari in the United States. There are bison, antelope, elk, moose, and bears, oh my!

Do you visit yarn stores when traveling? If so, tell us about one of your favorite finds.

Absolutely! How can you not? I usually Google the area first and then plot my trip around them. My favorite yarn destination to visit is The Green Mountain Spinnery in Putney, Vermont. It is home to gorgeous local New England Yarns, spun in an ecologically-friendly way. They give tours of the mill so you can see up close and personal how their fabulous yarns are made.

Packing: Tell us about any crochet clothing or accessories you pack when traveling. Do you have any really cool packing tips to share?

When packing for a trip, I always lay out my outfits on my bed and pair them with my favorite crochet accessories. I travel most in the summer, so I have my favorite maxi dresses and a collection of boleros that I like to wear over the top of my dresses. They are also a great blank canvas for photo shoots and great to wear with cowls as well.

Tell us about any crochet projects you take with you when traveling: How many projects do you take? How do you decide which ones to take?

Lol . . . If I told youm I would have to shoot you. Just kidding! I usually plan my projects to go with the type of travel I’ll be doing. If I am riding in the car, I make sure it’s one I don’t have to look down on a lot. I also try to keep them small if traveling with others so I don’t take up too much space. As far as how many: I chronically over plan and have delusions of grandeur on how many I can get done. I also make sure each project has its own bag complete with my hook, pattern, and any notions I may need. I also always bring a spare set of crochet hooks because you never know when one may slip between the seats.

Visit Susie’s Site: NatCroMo Specials

I will be writing some posts that will help encourage your passion for crocheting. You’ll have to come visit my site to see what I have to say!

Susie’s Designs:

If you’re not familiar with my work already, I’d like to share three of my designs with you.

Sea Shore Shrug | Susie Allen

1. Sea Shore Shrug, $5.00

This shrug is the perfect accessory to your favorite summer dress. It helps to tale the chill away as you watch the sunset with your sweetheart. A must have for every summer wardrobe!

Wedgewood Apron | Susie Allen

2. Wedgewood Apron, $1.99

Looking for a great way to put a handmade twist on something store bought! This apron is a great mixture of both. The great place mat provides a great canvas for gorgeous stitching. Placemats with blanket stitch edging and attached a great border to make these extraordinary aprons. Make on for your best friend or hostess!

Autumn Sunset Shawl | Susie Allen

3. Autumn Sunset Shawl, $4.00

The colors of fall are represented in this gorgeous shawl that is
perfect for those crisp fall evenings watching the sun set. The yarn
is a pleasure to work with and is a work of art in and of itself. The
self-striping characteristics of the yarn add to the pleasure of
working this self-striping yarn.