Knit and Crochet Design Week with Stacey Trock

Stacey Trock from FreshStitches is one of my favorite bloggers and designers to follow.  She shares some really great projects, tips, and photos on her blog, and she is hosting Knit and Crochet Design Week from March 12 – 17.  I’m really excited to participate and to share my introductory post!

Who am I?

Welcome to everyone visiting for the first time!  My name is Marie Segares and I’m a crochet and knitting teacher, blogger, and designer from New York City known as Underground Crafter.  I learned to crochet from my maternal grandmother when I was about 9 years old, and have been hooked ever since.  She tried to teach me to knit, but let’s just say that it never “stuck” – everything I tried to make ended up looking like a really oddly shaped trapezoid.   Since I was in college, I have always turned to crochet as a way to express my creativity, relax, and make gifts that I could afford (but which were worth much more than what I paid in supplies).

In 2008, I became a Craft Yarn Council Certified Crochet Instructor and Teacher, and I’ve been teaching crochet lessons on weekends and evenings around New York City.  About 18 months ago, I picked up knitting again with the help of an awesome video (reviewed here).  I started teaching knitting to beginners about a year ago.

My Goal for Design Week

I’m currently teaching a knitting class at my local union, and my students wanted to learn to use circular needles and design their own hats.  Although I generally teach crochet or knitting about 4-6 hours a week, I usually don’t make anything during class.  I often end up with little swatches that I rip out afterwards because it is pretty difficult to make a project while teaching!

I plan to use Design Week to get started on my own hat project using the steps for designing a beanie that I shared with my students.  (I make no guarantees that my actual beanie will be finished by the end of Design Week!)  If I like my hat, I’d like to write it up as my first knitting pattern.

Although Stacey has an outline for the week on her blog, my posting schedule will actually be based on the hat design process I’ve shared with my students.

 

Monday, March 12: Choose a stitch pattern and yarn.

Tuesday, March 13: Make a gauge swatch.

Wednesday, March 14: Take measurements.

Thursday, March 15: Design the hat by writing out a preliminary pattern.

Friday, March 16: Cast on and follow your pattern.

Saturday, March 17: Finish off the project and update your pattern.

 

Each day during Design Week, I’ll be sharing some of my thoughts about each stage of the process.  I’m looking forward to reading more about everyone else’s design process!

 

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