My First Crochet Pattern
Spring of 2022 I decided the 50 art mediums I already work in were not enough and started knitting.
My first sweater- flat panels seamed together.
I had my reasons. Knitting is portable, and the materials can be used indefinitely until the design is right. It became obvious the internet would never stop assaulting me with inspiration until I took action. Not to mention my wardrobe looked like that of a depressed Costco faring millennial. I kept all these thoughts in mind as I spent my dollar bills on copious amounts of yarn and seemingly necessary paraphernalia.
A sweater with arms that are too long in a good way.
I even took up crocheting because as far as I’m concerned it is the same medium with a different shaped stick. Variations on each stitch combined in limitless ways form grids of textural ripeness. Everyone would see my work and say: “You could totally sell that!” Compared to hefty yet fragile ceramics that require ample studio space and many firings to complete- fiber art did seem like a good product to sell.
But after making documents, lists, and content calendars I panicked at the idea of this new thing I discovered becoming a chore. I was spending copious amounts of time dying yarn and shopping for finicky little parts to finish an ever expanding list of projects I still did not know how to sell. Stuff was piling up. The idea of being bound to a specific location forcing myself to churn out hats that I would be underpaid for literally sounded insane. So I put the idea of starting a fiber art business on pause.
“Tundra hat”
It took several months of tortured pondering to have two key realizations:
I don’t need to start a whole business around crochet. I can just post PDF patterns on Etsy once in a while. The all or nothing mentality is a detriment to my creative spirit so once again I am deleting rogue, neglected accounts and consolidating all my projects to this site.
I don’t need to use the finest painstakingly kitchen dyed delicacies of yarn to make really cool crochet. Significance comes from what is done with the material.
In September 2024 I made my first crochet pattern! It took that final stretch of time to gain the skills I needed to confidently write one. This seemed like an overwhelming prospect since the instructions must be clear down to the stitch. But once I started making diagrams it was super satisfying, like solving a puzzle whilst feeling hours spent learning illustrator in 2016 were not wasted.
My first crochet pattern is this top Grandpa described as “handsome”
I call it the Diamond Baby doll! I was going for a Y2k inspired lacey spring/summer fit. This pattern was kindly tested by Jade Seraphina, Rosemary (@therosemaryrooster on TikTok), and Michelle Maze (@aMMAZEingly_Handmade on Instagram and aMMAZEingly Handmade on Facebook).
With Coziest Babe I want to promote slow fashion, learning a mindful craft for relaxation, and confidently rocking unique fluffy outfits! I have a second pattern in the works and some wonderful new fiber art friends.
The Diamond Baby-doll pattern is now in my shop:
Thanks for reading!