My Crochet Design Aesthetic

In a previous post, I began indirectly talking about my design aesthetic. Knowing your design aesthetic is a very important part of being a designer. I believe that sometimes people who follow your design work often can tell you what makes one of your designs uniquely yours, even before you can yourself! Often, a significant amount of designs need to be in your portfolio before your aesthetic becomes apparent.

I have had several people tell me that they knew a design was mine in magazines, even before they knew I had designed it! This makes me very happy. It reassures me that I do have a recognizable style, even though I feel I can't always put my finger on what that style is. I do know that there are certain design elements/ details that I like to include in my work.

In my last post, I mentioned that chain links have been a popular theme in my work. That got me thinking about what other themes/ techniques I often use in my work.

I love to mix techniques, and embroidery embellishment often finishes off my designs. My all time favorite embroidery stitch is the Lazy Daisy. It is the stitch I most often use to embellish my designs.

I put together a collage of some of my designs that feature this stitch.

Beginning from the top row, from left to right:

En Fleur Cowl - Ruffles Wristlet - Antoinette Ring

Middle row, from left to right:

Little Genevieve's Belt - Mademoiselle Necklace - Monarch Necklace - Chinois Scarf

Bottom row, from left to right:

Sunny Day Skirt - Festival Hairband Stand - Caravan Kerchief

Purses to match

My daughter is a purse collector, so everytime she gets a new dress I like to make her a matching purse.  I pick out an element of the fabric print and use that as my inspiration.  I usually use a combination of crochet and embroidery.  For the green floral basket purse, I used a large tapestry needle to do a buttonhole stitch around the top edge, so I would have a base to crochet into.  I traced some of the flowers from the dress and cut them out of felt and added embroidery and sequin details and stitched them with invisible thread to the basket.  I also stitched one of the felt flowers to a clip for her hair.

The black purse is the newest addition to her collection.  It is entirely crocheted with embroidered accents to emulate the fabric print. 

These are fun small projects that make the outfit special and I love that she really appreciates it when I make her something.

This is the first chapter!

I have been wanting to start a blog for a long time, and I think now is the time! I think the first post is the most difficult, as it is an introduction. I am a definite "newbie" to the blogging world. I love reading them, and I am hoping to love writing one!

In the past 2 months, I have decided that it is my desire to become a professional crochet designer and have been taking steps toward achieving this goal.

I joined Crochet Guild of America, (CGOA) last year just to be able to enter the design contest and renewed my membership this year to enter this year's contest. I just realized how much I have been missing out on! I just found out about the mentor program for aspiring professionals. It is a perk of being a member, so there is no additional fee and after being accepted as an "associate professional" you have the benefit of being assigned a mentor who is a crochet professional. This mentor is a generous person who is giving their time to help others reach their goal of becoming a professional and hopefully elevate the crochet industry as a whole.

I was notified by the professional development chairperson, Robyn Chachula last week that I have been granted "associate professional" status and that I will be assigned a mentor. The same day, I got an email from the coordinator, Ellen Gormley, with a questionnaire about my experience and goals. I sent it back to her and am patiently waiting to be assigned a mentor. It is extremely exciting! I can't wait to "meet" my mentor! I am jotting down things I want to ask my mentor and am anxious to start on the path to reach my goal.