As part of the Indie Designers KAL, which is soon coming to a close, various designers have been interviewing each other about their projects and designs. Sarah Jane is from Australia and makes some of the most innovative and textually interesting hats and accessories I’ve seen. The way she works her hats in crochet is facinating, and I have to admit I got distracted looking at the construction of her patterns as I was preparing to interview her. You’ve got to take a look at her Frostberry Hat, which nearly looks like two different hats depending on the perspective. Without further ado, Sarah Jane:
How/why did you begin designing? I’m not really sure, I’ve always designed my own stuff and when I
stumbled across Ravelry it just seemed to be a good fit.
stumbled across Ravelry it just seemed to be a good fit.
What’s your design process like? My design process is pretty organic really, I usually
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| Frostberry Hat, from one side. |
have some idea of what I’m after ie…a textured hat.
Then I just play around until I come up with something. Although sometimes I
have a stitch pattern I really like and want to use and I work from there, this
was how I came up with my Frostberry Hat pattern. Other times it is a yarn I have that I know I want to
use……. so it really depends on my starting point.
You like to specialize in accessories.
What pulls you to that form? I mainly make
accessories at the moment because I am time poor and they don’t take as long as
garments. I am hoping that as the kids grow up and take less of my time I’ll be
able to incorporate more garments into my collection. Also I love hats and am
actually able to wear them from time to time here in Brisbane J
What pulls you to that form? I mainly make
accessories at the moment because I am time poor and they don’t take as long as
garments. I am hoping that as the kids grow up and take less of my time I’ll be
able to incorporate more garments into my collection. Also I love hats and am
actually able to wear them from time to time here in Brisbane J
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| Frostberry Hat from the other side. |
Why indie patterns? Why do you publish them,
and why should crafters buy them? Indie patterns
because at the moment it suits me to be able to structure my own time and not
to have too many deadlines other than the ones I impose on myself. I also like
to be able to be involved in the entire process from start to finish, that way
I am responsible for the quality of the finished pattern.
and why should crafters buy them? Indie patterns
because at the moment it suits me to be able to structure my own time and not
to have too many deadlines other than the ones I impose on myself. I also like
to be able to be involved in the entire process from start to finish, that way
I am responsible for the quality of the finished pattern.
Crafters should buy
indie patterns and support the designers because it means that there will be
more diversity in the market place if small designers are able to continue to
create and support themselves. It also gives crafters access to patterns that
you may not see in the usual range of books/magazines etc due to some of the limitations
faced by publishing in those formats. I personally think that there is room for
everyone in the market.
indie patterns and support the designers because it means that there will be
more diversity in the market place if small designers are able to continue to
create and support themselves. It also gives crafters access to patterns that
you may not see in the usual range of books/magazines etc due to some of the limitations
faced by publishing in those formats. I personally think that there is room for
everyone in the market.
Do you have a favorite tool or yarn? I may be weird but I love my cheapo aluminium hooks that I bought in
China! As for yarn I love most yarns and can find a use for them all but I am
particularly fond of working with Colourmart Yarns
from the UK.
China! As for yarn I love most yarns and can find a use for them all but I am
particularly fond of working with Colourmart Yarns
from the UK.
What’s your favorite thing you’ve designed? So far my favorite is Frostberry Hat
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| Asperous Hat and Cowl |
but I also love Asperous Hat
and Cowl they both have lots of texture which
I love.
What has been the highlight of the GAL for
you? The highlight has been meeting and
working with so many other designers to make this happen. As you can imagine
there are only a few crochet designers here in Australia and I don’t know any
so it is wonderful to be able to meet others through Ravelry.
you? The highlight has been meeting and
working with so many other designers to make this happen. As you can imagine
there are only a few crochet designers here in Australia and I don’t know any
so it is wonderful to be able to meet others through Ravelry.
Quick, you’re an animal, what are you? A cat
What’s one skill in crochet that you are
really proud of? No idea at the moment.
really proud of? No idea at the moment.
Do you favor inline or fathead hooks?
Are you a knife holder or a pencil holder, or something different? The hooks I use are inline hooks…although I have used both and don’t
really have a preference. I don’t like hooks with handles though as my
movements are too ‘big’ and the handle tends to pull me up short.
Are you a knife holder or a pencil holder, or something different? The hooks I use are inline hooks…although I have used both and don’t
really have a preference. I don’t like hooks with handles though as my
movements are too ‘big’ and the handle tends to pull me up short.
Who taught you to crochet? I was taught a few very basic stitches when I was maybe 4 or 5 by a great
Aunt who was blind….amazingly enough she did the most wonderful crochet work
that I was completely fascinated with and she was patient enough to show me a
couple of things at a family gathering. I only ever met her once or twice
though, the rest was self taught.
Aunt who was blind….amazingly enough she did the most wonderful crochet work
that I was completely fascinated with and she was patient enough to show me a
couple of things at a family gathering. I only ever met her once or twice
though, the rest was self taught.
What’s something you like to do when you
aren’t stitching? I love to read and bake.
aren’t stitching? I love to read and bake.
