Crazy Blanket ~ Show and Tell and becoming a designer

I was really interested to read a recent blog post by the crochet and knitting designer Joanne Scrace, Not so Granny. She listed all the signs of when you know you have made it as a designer. I am not sure I have made it as a designer – but there are a few things that have changed about my yarn filled life.

Firstly I do always try to encourage people I meet or teach to have the freedom to experiment with their crochet. Try different things – make up a stitch – alter a pattern if you think it might work better.

One of my close friends Mrs S, sent me a photo of a blanket she has just completed. Wow wee! She has used this project to practice, experiment and even invent some new square patterns. I love  that and this crazy blanket is I think in the spirit of creativity which crochet and the granny square so fabulously fulfils.

Coincidentally Mrs S is a really important part of my design work. During the writing of my book she painstakingly looked through all my patterns to see if they made sense. Did the maths add up, did the text take too much prior knowledge for granted. Such invaluable support. Even though I quite like the pattern writing part of being a designer – sometimes you can’t see for looking – and mistakes creep in. This is very frustrating for anyone making your patterns. So when it is appropriate I turn to Mrs S for a critical eye. She is an answer to prayer. But hopefully I have been an encouragement to her – if I can design – well anyone can.