Tell us all about your specific passion and talent for crocheting and how you got started with it?

I started crocheting when I was younger, doing it on and off. I was always very into crafts, I love expressing myself through different mediums. I grew up crocheting, doing latch hooks to create little yarn creations, and embroidery. Now I knit, crochet, needle felt, and I tried weaving for a bit.

My mom tried to teach me to crochet when I was little, but she was left-handed, and I am right handed and she had trouble explaining it to me. She wanted me to learn so she tried buying me instructional books and I really mastered the basics by reading those. I only made scarfs for years, and then life got busy and I stopped.

I moved to the West Coast and I picked it back up with a vengeance. Before I left my grandma got really back into crocheting too and she made me a blanket. I still have and love that blanket, it's got character! The ends are all uneven and some strings poke out, but it's super soft and cute because she made it, and it was her first blanket! I love the idea that a blanket can be kept and passed on to loved ones and it was really inspiring for me.

What are some things you’ve knitted and crocheted?

I got more creative about 5 years ago with my work. I started making my own blankets, hats, bags and now I'm making my own clothes! I have made a bunch of skirts, cardigan/jackets, shirts, leg warmers, hats, scarfs, cowls, and hoods. I have an embarrassingly large yarn collection so when inspiration strikes I just get to work!

Do you find it relaxing, many people seem to find it soothing?

I like that it keeps my hands busy! I'm often antsy and it's a good way to chill me out. The only time it wasn't relaxing was when I was working on trying to knit a pleated skirt, I worked for two weeks with ultra-fine yarn and only got about a fourth of it done had to undo it because I messed up and couldn't save it. I honestly wasn't even too mad at that point because it happens! It was after I worked two more weeks trying to redo it that I messed up beyond fixing again and had to undo it that I was slightly enraged!

Sometimes you can put in a month of work and still not come out with a finished product. It's a good lesson in patience, that's for sure. I feel socially awkward a lot and so I often bring along projects to keep me busy and my mind focused to help me though, it's pretty dorky. I always joke about being a "grandma" because I like getting to bed early and crocheting in my spare moments.

Do you think this hobby and talent is sexy, or is it a break from the sexiness of your life?

I think the physical act is kinda dorky, but dorky is sexy to me! I think that making clothes can result in something sexy! I love lounging around and just binge crocheting on Sundays. I have tried to crochet while live camming before, it was not a hit!

I like that I can wear sometimes full outfits in only clothes I've made. I love the feeling of someone complimenting my clothes and then getting to say, I MADE IT EEEEE! That's a good feeling. It's nice because I can make my look a lot more original and expressing myself means a lot to me.

I see a lot of people knitting on the subway, it seems knitting and crocheting are “in” are you happy your hobby is popular, or do you hate to see people hop on a trend you feel something for?

I don't mind that it is popular, it doesn't take away what it does for me. If more people start crocheting I have more people I can draw inspiration from. We can all learn something from someone else. Plus. it makes me up my game to make more original items. I usually start with an idea on Pinterest and read the pattern to see how it's technically made and then I'll transform the idea into my own creation and use my own pattern.

Do you have any goals or ways you want to grow with this hobby and talent?

I want to eventually sell some items I make. The problem with that right now is that I have so little time and everything I make I fall in love with. It's hard to part with something you spent creative energy on and you created stitch by stitch. I would love to eventually open up a shop on Etsy. There's so much you can do with yarn art it's insane! I've made a few commission items for friends before, and I always to help friends out when they ask for something they want created. Once a year I make a blanket to give away in a raffle online.

KawaiiKushii