How I started my crochet pattern designing journey

It is probably not unique story, but it’s my story. And I want to tell it to you.

I always loved creative activities. As a kid I would constantly draw, cut up paper or fabric, write, paint and so on. No one in my family really did any yarn crafts. My grandmother had attended household school as a girl, so in theory she could both knit and crochet. But I never saw her do it.

So while I loved spending my free time doodling, it was never something I gave much serious thought.

Doodle drawing of a girl with an umbrella

Nest building

Fast forward to 2013 when I was expecting my first baby. I was suddenly struck with the urge to nest build.

I got my hands on a book called ‘Nest building for beginners’ (it’s in Danish and out of print, but it had a bunch of easy, approachable craft ideas for expecting parents). I made cute little felt owls and a mobile with superheroes. And I saw a pattern for a decorative chain of crochet spheres to hang on the baby carriage.

So I went to buy yarn and a hook.

Not gonna lie, it was maybe the most frustrating thing I had ever tried to do. My mother in law (who I absolutely love!) thought it was hilarious how many times she had to try and explain to me where to stick the needle in. But eventually, I got it.

For much longer than I care to admit, I only crocheted in the back-loops. I just thought that was how to do things. I made a whole dachshound with back-loop only stitching.

crochet dachshound

Lock-down

Fast-forward once again to a time most people would probably rather just forget. I know I would.

Covid lockdowns.

My kids were small at the time, so they were mostly happy to stay home and have near unlimited parental access. I was getting antsy though, and the house was filling up with yarn and random craft projects.

I painted several walls blue. I dyed my hair blue. And then my kids asked me to make a pokeball they could throw around.

I did, and I wrote the pattern down. People were telling me I should start selling crochet pokeballs, but I don’t really have the patience to create the same item again and again. I love the designing part much more, the frustrating trial-and-error over and over and over again until suddenly it makes sense and comes together.

So I created my Etsy shop in 2021, to sell patterns rather than products, and since then I continued adding more and more patterns to it.

Each one is the result of hours and hours of painstaking crocheting, noting down, frogging, crocheting again. And I am proud of each and every one. Even now years later, I feel immense joy each time someone decides to buy one of my patterns. I like to think I am contributing to someone else’s love of crafting, and thereby making the world as a whole just a teeny bit happier.

And that’s really all I can ask for.

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Magic circle
Sc Single crochet
Inc Increase
Dec Decrease
Fsc Foundation single crochet