Interviews

Kathy Elkins, owner of WEBS

I spoke with Kathy earlier this summer.  Along with her husband Steve, she is owner of WEBS, one of the largest retail yarn shops in the US, and one of the largest online sellers of yarn.  It's no accident: both have business degrees, and Steve's family has been selling yarn for decades.  For anyone interested in the industry, this is a must listen! A lot to learn here.

Go to www.yarn.com to see WEBS online.

Read more

Sarah London's Granny Square Love

Australian designer Sarah London's new book Granny Square Love, is just in time for the trendiness of granny squares on the runway.  The book focuses on items for the home, and has a wonderful color palette.  Our new Assistant Editor, Ami Adler, interviewed Sarah by email.

AMI: How and when did you learn to crochet?

SARAH:  My Grandmother taught me to crochet at an early age, I first learnt to hook granny squares with scraps of brightly colored yarn and then progressed to crocheted roses.

AMI:  What are your favorite fibers and tools?

Read more

Kelley Petkun, Founder of Knit Picks

Interview of Kelley Petkun, founder of KnitPicks, June 2010

DORA:  Sorry for blowing out your eardrums with that feedback noise!  I'm trying to set up recording from the Speaker phone -- not ideal!

KELLEY:  Oh, I know, I interview people for my podcast.  This is so much fun for me, I never get interviewed. 

DORA:  Tell me about your background in knitting.

Read more

Yorali Berdov: Pamiri Man with a Vision

Khorog is the capital of the Gorno-Badakshan (GBAO) region of Tajikistan, a unique area in the northeast, six hundred kilometers from China, with distinct people, customs, and religion -- Ismaili, a very liberal branch of Islam. The GBAO is an area of very high altitude, part of the Himalaya range....

Read more

The Innovative Crochet of Vashti Braha

Many CI readers are already familiar with Vashti's name, as she's written thoughtful book reviews in these pages. You may have seen her outstanding work in books, magazines, and online. She's a true innovator -- check out how the designs on this page use Tunisian crochet or slip stitch in a totally new way!  Now, Vashti has launched her new website, http://www.designingvashti.com/.  She tells all about it, and the philosophy that got her there.

Read more

Pauline Turner: Way Ahead of Her Time

Pauline Turner, http://www.crochet.co.uk/, has developed numerous courses in crochet and design, published widely on crochet history and design, and brought together that immortal team of scrumblers, Sylvia Cosh and James Walters. Thanks for your marvelous contributions Pauline, and keep at it! 

________________________________________

Read more

Designer Kristin Omdahl

DORA:  How are you today?

KRISTIN: I'm a little sore, but I'm fine. 

DORA:  Why are you sore?

KRISTIN:  I ran a marathon on Sunday.

DORA:  Oh my God! I had no idea you did that!

KRISTIN: I didn't either, until seven months ago.  I started training seven months ago with the goal of running a marathon. 

DORA: That's fantastic!  What got you into that?

Read more

Teva Durham and the Art of Design

Teva Durham's innovative designs are very special, each one unique, beautiful, a perfect marriage of concept and style.  Her acclaimed first book of knits, Loop-d-Loop, was followed by Loop-d-Loop Crochet, a collection that reflects her equal love for the hook.  See more of Teva's work at http://www.loop-d-loop.com.  

Visit her also at  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Loop-d-Loop-by-Teva-Durham/310293308050.  

Read more

Barbara Hillery Van Elsen, Founder of the New York City chapter of CGOA

Interview with Barbara Hillery Van Elsen

Barbara is the founder of one of the largest and most active local crochet guilds, the New York City chapter of the CGOA.  She is also a gifted crocheter. Because the New York City Crochet Guild has been such a success, I interviewed Barbara to make the story of its founding available to anyone with a desire to start a local chapter.  

DORA: What was your impetus for starting the New York Guild?

Read more

Kathy Merrick

Kathy's wonderful crochet designs stand proudly on the cusp of art and fashion.  In this lively interview, she shares her background, influences and thoughts on crochet today.

DORA:  Tell me about how your interest in crochet first began.

Read more