How long have you been crocheting/knitting?
I started crocheting when I was 19 (I am now 37), so 16 years!! I attempted knitting in my early 20s and though I loved how it looked (and the stretch!), I am simply not patient enough and ended up with too many unfinished projects. Maybe some day I will give it another try!
I learned from tutorials in books (there was no YouTube or internet resources at that time).
Like all things, you will just keep getting better with time. Be gentle on yourself when you are starting out or learning a new stitch or pattern. Practice makes perfect!
And, loosen up!! It has taken me YEARS to get my gauge down (and I still crochet fairly tight)!!
Being able to take it with me (its portability)! I love making things - I believe that a day without crafting/creating is not much of a day at all! So, as a Mom of busy little people (and someone who is often on the go), I love being able to take my projects and work on them while my kids are at gymnastics, karate, guitar…. As a bonus, I have made some amazing friends by crocheting at my kids activities and finding wonderful like-minded ladies!!
I love making hats because they are something that can be easily modified (size wise) and in the climate we live in, they are a necessity. They are also generally quick to work up, which is important for me, as I have “crochetDHD" (also known as NO project attention span)! ;) You don’t want to know how many single mittens and socks I have kicking around!!
I also REALLY love making newborn/baby items (I am a photographer as well and love creating sweet hats or rompers for photoshoots).
It depends on the season and what is going on in our lives, but rich textures and colors are usually how my designs begin. I have a crochet stitch encyclopedia that I spend hours looking through for texture inspiration as well.
The math!!! I love math and definitely have a knack for numbers, but calculating repeats and making sure stitch counts are correct can be very tricky at times. I am very fortunate to have an amazing group of testers who are thorough and help make sure that my patterns are clear, correct and easy to follow before I release them.
Make what you love and take pictures of your creations along the way! There is nothing more satisfying than looking back and seeing the wonderful creations you have made (and often, how much your work has improved over time). And if you start making something and you do not like - frog it! Life is too short to work on projects you do not enjoy!!
Thank you so much for sharing your crochet story and your gorgeous pictures with us, Julie! If you want to see more of her work, you can find her on Ravelry. And, if you want to purchase her patterns, Julie's generously offering a Ravelry coupon code for you all! If you use the code "cookie" (without the quotes) and add 2 or more patterns to your cart, you'll get 50% off of ALL patterns. Awesome, right? The coupon code expires Monday, March 12th so don't want to miss it. You can also follow Jules Loves Yarn on Facebook. She has a gorgeous new hat pattern that you'll definitely want to see.