It All Started With Crochet…

Amy Crocheting

Me crocheting; when I crochet using dark-colored yarns, I often use a light-up crochet hook like the one you see pictured. It helps me see my stitches better.

Crochet was the craft that first sparked my interest in textile design.

When I first learned to crochet, it wasn’t because I specifically set out to do so. No, it was because my Aunt Nancy enjoyed crocheting, and she decided to teach me how to crochet too. It was her idea, but I went along with it, and I am glad I did!

In the 1980s, I used to go to the library in search of interesting crochet books. Unfortunately, the library’s selection was limited, and most of the library’s available crochet books did not appeal to me. I am sure that, in hindsight, all those books would now appeal to me. But at the time, I wanted new books, and the available selection consisted mostly of books from the 1970s. I appreciate the 1970s aesthetic more now than I did at the time.

Anyway, the knitting books and crochet books were shelved together, and the library’s selection of knitting books was more up-to-date and appealing than the selection of crochet books. So, I kept taking home knitting books. As a result of that, I taught myself how to knit.

Later, when I decided to make textile design my career, I learned how to machine knit. I later went on to design circular knits – mostly t-shirt weight fabrics – for public consumption through big-box retailers. I also designed prints (many of which were printed on top of my circular knits) and then later wovens.

But it all started with crochet…

It’s interesting that I’ve come full circle as a textile designer. I’ve designed just about every type of fabric there is to design, and I love them all. But crochet was my first love, and I couldn’t be more excited to be focusing my full-time efforts on crocheting, writing about crocheting, and designing crochet patterns.

Free Knitting and Crochet Stuff for You

About the Author: Amy Solovay is a freelance writer with a background in textile design. She has been crocheting and crafting since childhood, and knitting since she was a teenager. Her work also appears at ArtsWithCrafts.com, KnittingandCrochet.net and Crochet-Books.com. Amy sends out a free knitting and crochet newsletter so interested crafters can easily keep up with her new patterns and tutorials. If you’re already an Instagram user, Amy also invites you to follow her on Instagram.

This page was last updated on 7-3-2019.