My design journey started back in the early 2000s, shortly after learning how to crochet.
I had made all the things for our home; blankets, doilies, place mats and dish cloths. Now what?
My husband saw an article about knitting for charity. Could I crochet for charity? Turns out that the answer is “yes”.
I contacted CareWear and got on the their mailing list. This was still snail mail, I didn’t even have an email address at the time or internet access for that matter.
They sent out a quarterly newsletter. It had all kinds of helpful info about what to make and ideas as to where to donate it. I wanted to keep it local so I started contacting, again by snail mail, hospitals in my area that might like to have the items I was making. Turns out the Labor and Delivery ward where I delivered both of our sons was in need of preemie clothes. Not just any preemie clothes though. These were clothes for babies who lived were very short or who were stillborn. These clothes were provided to the families so that they could have a picture of their child not wrapped in a hospital blanket.
These clothes has to fit little bodies from 16-40 weeks gestation. There were no patterns for this crocheted or knitted.
I went to the library to get on the internet and see what I could learn and find. I found a sewing pattern to make baby dolls that are realistic in size of the different weeks of gestation. Thankfully I know how to sew well enough that I was able to make these dolls; I still have them.
I used these dolls and some basic crochet know how to design outfits for these precious little ones. I then swatched and tested and learned that if I change the yarn weight and/or hook size I can use the same pattern and it will fit a different size baby. I got all this worked out for 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 and 40 weeks of gestation. Each set that I made included hat, booties, blanket and some sort of outfit; dress, pants and shirt, onesie…
I started designing out of necessity. I then had the opportunity through CareWear to write these designs down and share them with others. An outlet I didn’t know I would want. The above link will take you to one of the issues I have a design in. Scroll down to page 25.
Designing and teaching have continued as a way to share what I know with others and it have a practical application. These are two of my most favorite things to do.
That is why now the designs that I publish and re-publish are fully supported with video tutorials and I am always available to help if you email or message me.
Technology has changed tremendously in the time I have been designing. The publishing programs that I now have I could only dream existed for the home publisher before. Not only do I have internet now but I have it on a phone in my pocket, all the time. The photos I take of my finished designs I don’t have to go get developed, tape or glue onto my paper and scan it or pay extra to have it put on a disc, I just pull out my phone, snap and drop it in to the file. It’s crazy!
I design to share my love of stitching with others, to be able to more fully understand a concept and so that I can help others level up on their stitching journey along the way.
Happy Making!
Azariahs Fibre Arts 