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Special Post + Giveaway: Knit and Crochet Now!



On today's post, we have a special interview with Ellen Gormley, renowned crochet designer and resident expert on the Knit and Crochet Now! show. There is also an opportunity for one of our lucky readers to win Season 4 of the Knit and Crochet Now! series on DVD and a set of Knitter's Pride Waves crochet hooks - read on for more information! 

What inspired you to try crochet? Do you do any other crafts? 
Crafting and crochet in particular was part of the culture of my family. My mom dabbled in many crafts but crochet was perhaps most dominant. My Great-Aunt lived next door and was an avid thread crocheter. I have practiced sewing, knitting, embroidery, quilting, latch-hooking but have found to crochet to be the most portable and compelling. I currently have a few knit projects in progress as well as crochet.

What are your 3 essential tools for your preferred craft? 
My three preferred tools (besides hook and scissors) are my digital camera, for taking process photos and visual note-taking, a blunt tip tapestry needle, and locking stitch markers. I wish locking stitch markers were sold by the hundred and included at least 5 colors. 

Have you ever had a project go horribly wrong? When disaster strikes, do you try to make the best of it, or do you prefer to frog and start over again? 
Yes! I have had many projects go horribly wrong!  I learned a real lesson in gauge early on when I crocheted a sweater that was probably 6 sizes too big...why didn't I try it on as I went?  I try to "harvest" the yarn and frog out projects that didn't work to re-use the yarn. Sometimes when I have a horrible project, I put it in the back of the closet until I can get enough time and space to deal with it later.

What is one tip you learned way too late in your crafting career? 
Something I wish I had learned earlier in my crafting life would be that it is ok to break the rules. Generally there are accepted ways of joining yarn, beginning a row, or joining a round, but just because the pattern describes the traditional methods, the crafter can switch to her preferred method. As a designer, I'm allowed to change it as long as I can adequately describe how it was completed.

What do you see as the next big trend in crochet?
The next big trend in crochet might be simple lace paired with DK weight yarns. I think crocheters yearn to make showstopping wearable accessories that are worthy of quality yarn.


Giveaway
One lucky reader will be randomly selected to win a DVD copy of Knit and Crochet Now Season 4 and a Waves Crochet Set! To be eligible, simply leave a comment on this post telling us what Knitter's Pride products are on your wish list this year. Be sure to also include a Ravelry ID or email address so that we can contact you if you win! 

We'll randomly select one lucky winner to announce on our next blog post on December 27. Good luck! 

Many thanks to Ellen Gormley and the folks at Annie's Publishing for making this interview and DVD giveaway possible.

57 comments:

  1. Oh my, I would love to win some Knitter's Pride items! I really want to try their products because they look well made and fabulous to use!! Rav Id: Karey64

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  2. My knitter pride item on my Christmas list is knitting needle and all kinds of yarn to keep making things for people to buy

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  3. That crochet set would be on my list for sure (I'm tired of the hard metal crochet hooks without the padded handles, they hurt my hands), also the Dreamz interchangeables...they are awesome looking! RavID : vidar42

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  4. I am in love with the Symfonie Rose IC Set!
    Ravelry ID: JVMu1999

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  5. I love the bright colors of the Waves set. rav: tigerbeat

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  6. Top of my list is the karbonz interchangeable set. I have been eyeballing and drooling over them.

    Merry Christmas all!

    tlovedowd on Ravelry.

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  7. On my list is a set of large Cubics Special tips. Merry Christmas!

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  8. On my right name is chaotichooker sh list this year are a set of crochet hooks and some more cables for my dreams set. My ravelry

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  9. I love the knitting needles but those crochet hooks are looking pretty interesting. whidbeyjeannie on Ravelry

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  10. Karbonz look the tools of a knitting surgeon. My rav ID: wordnerdian

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  11. I'd really love to try the double pointed needle sets in bamboo, the Single Pointed needles in Bamboo or the Deluxe Interchangeable Circular Needles in Bamboo. But more than that I need lotssa stitch markers, point protectors, a clicky row counter, and a pom pom maker set and if I get DPN's then the Sock blockers and the tube thingys.
    My RAV id is: MippyFoofalina
    Thank you for the chance! :)

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  12. I'd love to have the DPN's as well as the circular as the interchangable ones. My income goes for all my bills and can't afford to buy one.

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  13. Alll of the products! But Im mostly curious about the cubics.

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  14. Set of interchangeable needles!!!

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  15. knitters pride stuff are always on my wishlist, there is just so much versatility in the products. right now im mostly wanting to expand on my interchangeable circulars collection. rav id webpixies

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  16. let's see, on my Christmas list i have your:

    Knitter's Pride Dreamz Single Pointed 10" (25cm) Knitting Needle Set; 2 needles of 9 Sizes

    and

    Knitter's Pride Dreamz Double Pointed 6-inch (15cm) Knitting Needle Set; 5 needles of 6 Sizes

    and

    Knitter-s Pride Crochet Hooks Sets, Waves with Green Case

    love knitters pride!

    wesben (ravelry id)

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  17. Karbonz Interchangeable Box of joy is on my wish list!

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  18. Karbonz dpn set, crochet hook set and tunisian hook set are all on my wish list!

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  19. Ma wishlist actually includes a Waves crochet set and since I already have the special edition Dreamz interchangeable circular needles, I would also like to add with a few more sizes. Rav ID: linedeschenes@videotron.ca

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  20. Karbonz dpns are definitely on my list. Rav amchart

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  21. I would love the Karbonz Interchangeable Circular needle set.

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  22. I just bought the Karbonz box of Joy and now I would love to have the crochet set.

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  23. I want more Karbonz needles. I have 2 sizes of dpns but need them in all the sizes. : )
    wahoomerryf on Rav

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  24. Love the Knitter's Pride products....use them for knitting, but no crochet hooks yet from them.....I do both...I'm a swinger:)

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  25. I would love a set of your crochet hooks. a friend of mine has a few and she loves them

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  26. I'd love a set of crochet hooks for Christmas for sure! SoulSearching on Rav

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  27. I've had the Waves crochet hooks on my wish list since they were introduced. I have several sizes of Dreamz DPNs and hope to get more. I also want the 16 inch Dreamz fixed circulars. Ravelry ID: Margostitches

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  28. I'd really love the Symfonie interchangeable knitting needle set, but I doubt my budget is going to allow it. More realistically, I'd like to get some of the really small metal crochet hooks for knitting with beads. SheilaOKeefe on Rav

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  29. A set of the Karbonz needles. alcbrooks on Ravelry

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  30. A set of interchangeable Nova's. Or the Tree Box of wonderfulness.
    Laurie521 - Ravelry

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  31. Karbonz seem to be the hit item this Holiday! I'd like a set too. knitpurlhooked on Raverly

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  32. The Waves crochet hooks! They look like they would be so comfortable to use. :)

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  33. Any IC knitting needle set would be on my list.
    Rav ID Maja-san

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  34. The crochet Hooks cant get my local yarn shop to interested in crochet they are all about knitting and crochet is my first craft passion of choice

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  35. any of the interchangeable knitting needles...luv the Karbonz especially :)

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  36. I have the Symfonie Dreamz chunky set and the Symfonie Dreamz special interchangeable set on my wishlist :)

    Pineymtncrochet on Ravelry

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  37. I really want some Karbonz circulars or dpns! or an interchangeable set!

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  38. These crochet hooks are on my list! iluvmygrlz at yahoo dot com

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  39. I would love to try the Nova Cubics!

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  40. Would love to win this and be a proud owner of those hooks ..

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  41. Wow, I would love to win those! Those crochet hooks are actually on my wish list, as well as the Karbonz interchangeable needles set. mikiejr on Ravelry :)

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  42. Love to win those Waves Crochet sets, since I am going back to crocheting after learning how to knit for a while and there are few wearable projects such as lacy vest, dress and skirt that I have lined up to make for future projects... Would also like the Afghan /Tunisian interchangeable sets too, since there is a couple of things that i would like to make using Tunisian crochet. Thanks. My Ravelry is riyuuhi

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  43. I would love to receive the nova cubics interchangeable circular needle set. Are you listening Santa? But these hooks also sound super!
    RavID: newwitch

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  44. If everyone spun, knit or crocheted, the world would be a peaceful place, wouldn't it? Happy Holidays to all.

    RavID: woodstockcate

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  45. Hoping for Nova Cubics. Great needles. ;-)

    sherryglover1 on Ravelry

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  46. I am hoping to find the Box of Joy Karbonz interchangable needle set under my Christmas tree this year from Santa. I have been a really good girl this year.
    knittingdancer on Ravelry

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  47. WOW WOW WOW, YES PLEASE

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  48. i like the the Symfonie Rose IC Set

    Anna

    anna_k67@yahoo.com

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  49. Liz I would love to win this perfect for me

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  50. Every size of Cubix interchangeable (better duplicate that) and lots of spare cords! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  51. Interchangeable circular needle set. nsk917

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  52. I would love the Waves set, but the bamboo crochet hooks are definitely on my list! Ravelry: buddyollie

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  53. Dreams Interchangeables - they sound wonderful! (asimplehomestd on Rav)

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  54. My wish list is for only one thing: a set of circular knitting needles...my husbands gift to me is just that, but I need to make the choice...which brand, which type, bamboo, brass, or the new space-age materials? It's not easy and is a significant investment so I want to get it right.

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