Interview with crochet designer, Leah Feild from Creative Threads by Leah

Welcome to my themed blog series, Crochet Specialty of the Month! Each month in 2015, I’ll feature a specialized crochet technique, stitch pattern, or project type through several posts.

As I was researching tapestry online, I discovered the work of an emerging crochet designer, Leah Feild. She was kind enough to agree to an interview, which I’m excited to share with you today, along with a roundup of my favorite six patterns from her collection.

Leah started sharing her patterns last March, and since then, she has released 99 designs! She has several patterns that feature tapestry crochet. You can find Leah online on her blog, Creative Threads by Leah, as well as on Facebook, G+, Pinterest, Twitter, and Ravelry (as ThreadsLF and on her designer page). She is also a contributor on Cre8tion Crochet.

All images are copyright Creative Threads by Leah and are used with Leah’s permission.

This post contains affiliate links.

Underground Crafter (UC): How did you first learn to crochet?

Leah: I grew up watching my Memaw crochet. Some of my earliest memories are of her with a hook and yarn in hand. When I decided I wanted to learn, we didn’t live close enough for her to teach me. So, I took my allowance one month and got the Boye I Taught Myself Crochet book. I sat down and figured it out and have been teaching myself ever since. I still love learning new stitches, methods, anything that is crochet related.

UC: What inspired you to start designing?

Leah: I had been making up patterns for myself from the time I started crocheting even though I didn’t realize that was what I was doing. In the last couple years, I got to know and work with several designers who started encouraging me to write down what I was doing. From that came my first released pattern in March of 2014.

UC: Many of your patterns use the tapestry crochet technique. How were you introduced to tapestry crochet, and what do you enjoy about designing with it?

Leah: My first introduction to tapestry crochet was from Kelli with Sick ‘Lil Monkeys. I test patterns for her, and she started doing graphed sack hats. I think the thing that I enjoy most about tapestry crochet is the versatility and endless possibilities. I love the process of graphing out a design (I hand plot all my grids) and seeing where it takes me. I also really enjoy that I can do this in Tunisian.

UC: What are your favorite projects to design?

Leah: My favorite projects are accessories but I am starting to branch out to clothing and am finding that I love doing that as well. Part of my plans for this year are to expand my horizons and try new things in crochet. I cannot wait to see what this year holds.

UC: What is your favorite thing about designing?

Leah: I think that the thing I have come to enjoy most about designing is the community that I am in with other designers. So many people outside of designing seem to think that we are all rivals but that isn’t true. Some of the people that I most consider to be my friends I have never met face to face and are fellow designers. Our love of creating pulls us together. I wouldn’t be where I am without the wonderful friendships that I have made along this journey.

UC: What are your favorite crochet books in your collection?

Leah: My favorite books in my collection are my books that are just full of stitches. My current favorites are Crochet Stitch Dictionary, The Big Book of Crochet Stitches, and Crochet Stitches VISUAL Encyclopedia. (UC comment: Check out my review of Crochet Stitch Dictionary on the CGOA blog here, and of the VISUAL Encyclopedia here.)