Interviewers often ask me about my crochet design process, and I tell them that I always start off with a sketch. Sketching my ideas in Photoshop helps me figure out the colors and basic shapes I want to use. Afterward, there is of course a lot of trial-and-error during the actual crocheting, but the sketches definitely help me start! I am not a graphic designer or artist by any means (I think I say this a lot), so these sketches aren’t amazing works of art. They are basically the stick-figures and smiley-faces of the art world, but that’s all that I need! The simpler, the better.

When I sold Crocheted Abode A La Mode, most of the patterns and projects didn’t even exist yet. They were figments of my imagination. Before I started the designing and writing of the book, my publisher asked me to send them sketches of everything. I saved them and thought it would be fun to share them with you!

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I originally wrote this pattern to appear in Craftseller Magazine out of the UK, but apparently the magazine doesn’t exist anymore, and neither does the link to my free pattern! Thanks to a reminder from one of my readers, I’m posting it here now. The pattern is super easy, great for beginners, and you’ll have a plate full of delicious sandwich cookies in no time!

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Earlier this week, I had dinner with Elysse in Oakland. I’d been feeling pretty dumpy and gross the previous week, so I decided to try to actually, like, WEAR some of my cute dresses this week. I tend to get lazy and just snap phone pics for Instagram instead of taking actual outfit photos, so maybe one day I will get some better quality pictures of this outfit BECAUSE I LOVE IT.

At first I was looking for fun dresses to wear to a wedding I went to last month in Hawaii. I ordered this flamingo wonder from Tallulah’s Threads, which is based in the UK, so I didn’t get it in time (no fault of theirs, just bad timing on my part!). Oddly, I decided to wear this on a totally gloomy day here in SF.

So once I got on this flamingo kick, I really super wanted A FLAMINGO PURSE. I googled around and found this gem on Etsy. I really loved it, but I didn’t know if I wanted to spend money on something I could probably make, since I actually have some lawn flamingoes leftover from an old craft fair display. I also thought about crocheting one. But knowing myself, I have a million crochet projects to finish, so I just went ahead and purchased this one to support the originator. It’s pretty terrific and also feels like a new friend. Now I want to hunt around for more cute flamingo stuff!

Dress: Tallulah’s Threads, Purse: EyeCandySugar

It’s……….. monthly blog sponsor giveaway time! Thank you so much to my lovely and generous sponsors for this month’s prizes. ONE winner will receive:

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When I was at Vogue Knitting Live last month, I got to have lunch with my friend Janice who blogs for Red Heart Yarns. We chatted about crocheting, the crafting life, and my new book. Thanks so much, Janice! Hope to see you soon! You can check out the interview here!