Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Designer Interview with Katie Hanken from Optimistic By Nature

Today I bring you an interview and giveaway with crochet designer Katie Hanken from Optimistic by Nature.  You can find her on her blog, on Etsy, on Ravelry and on Facebook.


She has a number of adorable crochet patterns that I just love.  I was lucky enough to be able to test the Baby Bunting pattern that she has just published!!! 



It works up quickly and has an ingenious seatbelt hole design that I think is just brilliant.


See what I mean about that seatbelt hole!  This is the granny square bunting pattern that is available now too.



And look at this adorable pattern for a baby bear suit!!  This one is still under test right now, but I can't wait till it is published.  So cute.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I live in Northern Norway on the coast with my husband Øystein and our 2 year old son Oliver.  I work as a culture administrator and freelance musician and spend a good chunk of my free time crocheting.  :-)  Optimistic by Nature is my little life philosophy - where appreciation, being positive, enjoying life and the beauty around me are kind of what I am about.  Crochet design is one of the ways that I love expressing my creativity.  

2. How did a good mid-western girl like yourself end up in a place like Norway?

I met a Norwegian flutist who inspired me when I was a student and I ended up moving to Norway to study with her at a music conservatory, the Grieg Academy in Bergen.  I ended up taking my whole degree there and then got a job, another job, met my husband etc etc...and the rest is history! :-)  Now, after 12 years, I can't imagine living anywhere else - I love it here!

3. What is on your hook right now?

Oi, I am a bit scattered.  I have many hooks going at a time.  I think I am in the middle of about 10 different projects/ideas!  It is a small miracle everytime I finish something!  :-)  

4. How did you get interested in crochet design?

 Hmmm.  Good question!  I wanted to make a balaclava hat for Oliver because I thought it would be really practical but I couldn't find a pattern.  So I just jumped in and tried to figure it out.  It was a huge success on the first try (Oliver's winter hat) and then I was hooked!  Not all of my patterns have been that successful as far as figuring them out but I have learned a ton in each new process.  So I think it is just a really fun challenge with each new idea.  :-)  I love the feeling I get when I get a new idea or figure out how to make it.  It is such a kick!

5. What kinds of patterns can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?

 I have so many ideas!  Mostly baby/toddler clothes and accessories.  I also have a couple amigurumi ideas but those are trickier to work out for me!  I have started and given up on several!  Right now Oliver is my main inspiration, so I suspect that my patterns will grow with him! :-) 

Thank you Katie!  And now for the giveaway!  Katie is offering the Baby Bunting pattern to one lucky winner.  To enter, please leave a comment below with your email address before March 28, 2012.   Good luck!!!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Knee-High Boot Socks!

Here's a fun free pattern for a chunky knee-high sock. These are crocheted with heavy worsted to aran yarn and work up quickly in a few short hours.  I've included tips on how to get a custom fit for your foot and calf.  Enjoy!  Please let me know if you have any questions or see any errors. 


Size: One Size Fits Most Adult Women

Stitches Used:

Sc – Single Crochet
Sc 2 tog – Single Crochet 2 Together (Pull up a loop in the next stitch, pull up a loop in the following stitch, yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook)

Dc – Double Crochet

Fsc – Foundation Single Crochet (ch 2, insert hook into 2nd ch from hook, pull up loop, yo, pull through one loop, [foundation chain made] yo, pull through two loops, [fsc made]).  To make the next fsc, insert hook into the foundation chain of the previous fsc, pull up a loop, yo, pull through one loop, yo, pull through two loops.


Yarn:  5 ounces of heavy worsted to bulky yarn.  Sample made using less than 1 skein of Cascade Ecological Wool in Charcoal.

Hook: J hook or hook needed to get gauge.

Gauge: 10.5 dc and 8 rows is a 4 inch square.

Pattern:

Note:  The yellow sample made is just for illustrative purposes only in order to show the steps.  I did not do the full foot, leg or cuff just to save a bit of time and so it would fit my 4 year old.

Make Toe and Foot:
Rd 1: Ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next 3 st, 3 sc in last st.  Rotate your work and continue to crochet down the other side of the ch.  1 sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in first worked ch, sl st in first sc of round to join. (Right side). (12)





Rd 2: Ch 1 turn, 2 sc in next 2 st, 1 sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next 3 st, 1 sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st, sl st in first sc of round to join. (18)

Rd 3: Ch 1 turn, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 3 st, (1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) 3 times, 1 sc in next 3 st, (1sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) twice, sl st in first sc of round to join. (24)


Rd 4-5: Ch 1 turn, sc around, sl st in first sc of round to join. (24)


Rd 6-15: Ch 1 turn, dc around, sl st in first dc of round to join. (24) To adjust length of foot, you can add or subtract rows here, but make sure to end on an odd-numbered row.

Make Heel Opening:

Rd 16: Ch 1 turn, 9 fsc, sk 9 st, 1 dc in next 15 st, sl st in first fsc of round to join. (24)


Shortened foot (to fit my 4 year old)

Make Leg:

Rd 17-27: Ch 1 turn, dc around, sl st in first dc of round to join. (24)

For illustrative purposes only, I did not do the full leg for this sock.
Rd 28: Ch 1 turn, (1 dc in next 5 st, 2 dc in next st) 4 times, sl st in first dc of round to join. (28) To increase width, you can do one or more increase rows here by repeating row 28, adding one more dc before the increase with each subsequent row.

Rd 29-38: Ch 1 turn, dc around, sl st in first dc of round to join. (28)

Make Cuff:

Rd 39: Ch 1 turn, ((dc, sc) in next st, sk next st) 14 times, sl st in first dc of round to join. (28)

Shows (dc, sc) in same stitch.

Skip next stitch, (dc, sc) in next stitch.

Rd 40-48: Ch 1 turn, ((dc, sc) in next sc, sk next dc) 14 times, sl st in first dc of round to join. (28) Fasten off.

Make Heel:

Rd 1: With wrong side facing, join yarn in first fsc of Rd 16.  Work 22 sc evenly around heel opening, sl st in first sc of round to join. (22)



Rd 2: Ch 1 turn, 1 sc in next 9 st, sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 9 st, sc 2 tog, sl st to first sc of round to join. (20)

Rd 3: Ch 1 turn, 1 sc in next 8 st, sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 8 st, sc 2 tog, sl st to first sc of round to join. (18)

Rd 4: Ch 1 turn, 1 sc in next 7 st, sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 7 st, sc 2 tog, sl st to first sc of round to join. (16)

Rd 5: Ch 1 turn, 1 sc in next 6 st, sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 6 st, sc 2 tog, sl st to first sc of round to join. (14)

Rd 6: Ch 1 turn, 1 sc in next 5 st, sc 2 tog, 1 sc in next 5, sc 2 tog, sl st to first sc of round to join. (12)


Do not fasten.

Finishing:

With sock inside out, sc the heel opening closed. 


Just weave in your ends!!! 


Fasten off and weave in all your ends.


Thursday, March 8, 2012

Lots of Fun New Stuff!

I have been working my tush off these last few weeks to get a few more of my patterns out.  I'm so excited to show you what I've got cooking.

First I completed this easy pattern for kids loafer style booties.  Super simple to whip up.

Kids House Slippers

I love them because they have such a clean fresh look but they are so easy to make and really do stay put!

Next I worked on bigger sizes for men and was so pleased with the reaction from  my testers.  They absolutely loved the pattern saying:  "What an amazing pattern! Loved it -it worked up so quickly and the directions are so clear! I HIGHLY recommend this pattern!"  and "LOVE this Slipper."  I was on cloud nine for like a week after hearing from my testers on this one!

Mens House Slippers


While I was working up these samples for the photographer (whose name is Amanda Tipton and who is absolutely fabulous and who I highly recommend if you ever find yourself in need of a product photographer - you can find her here), I tried them on and said to myself WOWIE ZOWIE these are comfy!  They feel like a cloud is hugging your feet. 


Although I thought of this design almost a year ago, it took me this long to perfect the pattern.  I finally got it exactly right!  Tons of trial and error and testing and sampling and trial and error . . . but in the end so dang worth it.

And finally I whipped up this really very easy felted kids slipper pattern, and got it tested too.  So easy peasy to do!  Just a few short rounds and a couple of washes and you're done! 

 
Kids Felted Slipper Pattern
Phew!!  The funny thing is I honestly feel like I've only scratched the surface.  I have way too many ideas and so little time to get them all done. . . . I will have another free pattern available very soon - I've been working on a knee high boot sock that I think everyone will like and will be super easy to make. 

Let me know what you think!
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