Interview with Alexa about crocheting
Let Me Introduce Myself
Hi! I'm Alexa from Amilishly. I'm a creative person with a passion for Japanese culture. I absolutely love drawing, running, cooking, crocheting, and knitting. Under the name Amilishly, I design Amigurumi dolls and knitting and crochet patterns for clothing and accessories.
I learned to crochet when I was five years old, to knit when I was six, and I’ve continued to do both crafts to a greater or lesser extent ever since. When I was sixteen, I developed a fascination with Japanese culture and often drew in the manga style. I did this for a very long time, until I realized that I could also turn all my drawings into three-dimensional crocheted dolls. I’ve now created over 50 different characters, each with their own personality.
What spring project do you have planned?
Lately, I’ve mostly been working on commissions and big projects, like the Komorebi skirt in collaboration with Durable, but now my schedule is pretty clear. That means I can do whatever I want, and my head is bursting with ideas. I recently made a little spring doll in a cherry blossom dress: Chibi Girl Sakura. I’d love to crochet her in a different color scheme or give her a friend based on another spring flower—plum blossom (Ume), for example.
What spring colors do you like?
In the spring, I tend to go for ivory white and vintage pink. These colors also show up often on my Instagram feed. But bright colors like Coral, bright yellow, and Turquoise always cheer me up, too. Sometimes I venture into pastels, but when I do, I usually pair them with a bright color as a contrast.
What's your favorite material to work with in the spring?
In the spring, I crochet more than I knit, and for my dolls, I prefer to work with Crochet Cotton. I prefer to use 100% cotton suitable for a 2–3 mm hook. I often choose mercerized cotton because it has a nice sheen, the yarn decreases the number of fibers while crocheting, and the colors are rich and deep.
What technique would you like to learn this season?
I’m delving into more complex edge and patent knitting patterns. That’s quite different from what people are used to seeing from me. A lot of people don’t even know that I knit, because I mainly share my dolls on social media. Spring is the perfect season to learn a new technique because the days are a little longer, and I have more energy to get started on new techniques.
What's your ultimate crafting tip for our followers?
Don't let the complexity of a knitting or crochet pattern scare you off! If you've never knitted a sweater or a pair of socks, or crocheted a complex Amigurumi, it can be pretty intimidating. But most patterns are written to guide you through the process. Just follow the pattern step by step, and you'll see that things are often easier than they seem.
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Interview with Hanne about knitting
Let Me Introduce Myself
Hi, I’m Hanne—just Hanne. I love being creative and I’m a big fan of hobbies. It always makes me sad to hear people say they can’t think of any hobbies besides “watching Netflix” or “going out for drinks with friends,” because there are so many fun hobbies you can do to clear your head and keep your hands busy.
I might have gone a little overboard with that myself, because I have too many hobbies to list. Every time I see something new on Pinterest or Instagram, I think, “Hey, I can do that, too!” My favorite hobbies right now are cooking, knitting, crocheting, macramé, and working with clay. I share the results of all these hobbies on my Instagram account, occasionally including patterns I’ve written myself.
What spring project do you have planned?
Right now, I’m still working on finishing up a winter project. I’m actually knitting a Babette cardigan using the popcorn stitch. But in the meantime, I’ve also started a little spring project: a cotton-knit top in a beautiful lilac color. Just seeing that color alone gets me in the mood for spring.
What spring colors do you like?
I’ve already hinted at the answer a bit above, but this spring I really like Lilac. But ochre yellow, green, and plain white are also favorites. A combination of those four would also be really nice for a knitting or crochet project, by the way.
What's your favorite material to work with in the spring?
In the spring, I like to work with lighter materials, like Cotton. I also tend to gravitate toward crochet projects in the spring. I’m not exactly sure why, but knitting always feels like a winter activity to me. In the spring, I often put my Knitting Needles away and take my Crochet Hooks out of the closet. With the knitted top I’m working on now, I wanted to change that, because of course you can also knit really cute things for warmer weather.
What technique would you like to learn this season?
I'm not sure if I'm spelling it right, but I'm seeing more and more beautiful things made using the Punch Needle technique. It's a kind of embroidery, but a little different. I think that would be really fun to learn.
What's your ultimate crafting tip for our followers?
Oh, that’s a tough one! Of course, there are so many tips and tricks when it comes to crafts. One tip that has given me a lot of joy in crafting is: “Always choose a pattern that includes a technique you haven’t tried yet.” That way, you keep challenging yourself and it never gets boring. I always enjoy working toward that kind of challenge, and it’s very satisfying once you’ve mastered the technique. Unfortunately, this does lead to some frustration now and then—at which point a knitted piece might just fly across the room ;)
Want to try this technique yourself? Shop for some handy tools & supplies below:
Interview with Miranda about macramé
Let Me Introduce Myself
Hi, I’m Miranda from lomiah.creations. Mom, flight attendant, and creative person. During the first lockdown, it took a lot of getting used to being home so much and no longer flying, so I went looking for something to do for myself and discovered macramé. This art of knotting quickly became an integral part of my life. I watched tutorials to learn the basic knots and made some keychains. Pretty soon, I started making my first wall hangings, plant hangers, and jewelry. For me, macramé is a bit like meditating. When I’m knotting something, I’m in my own little world. When the weather’s nice, I love to do macramé outside. Knotting a spring project in the sunshine really feels a bit like a vacation.
What spring project do you have planned?
I think my list of projects is much longer than spring itself, haha. At the top of the list, anyway, are some cute macramé lanterns for outside with little lights inside. I also want to give my daughter’s bike basket a little spring makeover with knotted boho flags or flowers. I’m definitely going to make a wall hanging with soft colors and seashells, too. I love the ocean and the beach, so I enjoy giving my creations a bit of a beach vibe during the warmer months of the year.
What spring colors do you like?
I love so many colors. I find pastel colors especially beautiful in the spring. Actually, I like all soft colors—from Old Pink to Mint Green and from a soft yellow to Salmon. But I also enjoy working with bold colors like orange, Turquoise, and Mustard. For bags and jewelry, I go for more vibrant colors, and for tapestries, I prefer softer and more natural tones.
What's your favorite material to work with in the spring?
I prefer to work with natural materials. When it comes to yarn, I like to choose 100% Cotton, preferably recycled. I also love Bamboo yarn. It has a lovely sheen. I also enjoy incorporating fabric scraps into wall hangings. My youngest daughter and I regularly collect seashells and driftwood on the beach. I then incorporate those into my projects, and my daughter uses them for her crafts. I also prefer to collect and prepare the sticks for the wall hangings myself, though unfortunately I don’t always have the time to do so.
What technique would you like to learn this season?
I’d really love to learn how to make pixel macramé. Preferably in person, at a workshop, for example. So, I’d like to learn the technique of how to tie the knots, but especially how to design the patterns myself and sketch them out on paper so I can then start tying them. I think a sunset by the sea would be a wonderful design to make. For example, I find pixel macramé wall hangings where you can clearly recognize a movie star or singer to be very impressive. To me, those are true works of art.
What's your ultimate crafting tip for our followers?
Be patient! That’s definitely not my strong suit, but patience is really important. Learn a new knot step by step, one at a time. The great thing about macramé is that you can make incredibly beautiful things with just a few basic knots. For example, napkin rings, keychains, or a mini wall hanging. Check out tutorials and choose an easy step-by-step guide for beginners. Don’t give up if you don’t get it right away—just try again. You’ll see how quickly you pick it up, and that’s a real motivation boost. Another handy tip: stick a piece of tape on the end of the yarn so it doesn’t fray while you’re buttoning.
Want to try this technique yourself? Shop for some handy tools & supplies below:
