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| Crochet Me : Email Interview with Kim, founder of Crochet Me : Feb 20, 2006 |
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1. When did Crochet Me launch? I first started the site in February of 2004, and re-launched it as an online magazine in October of that year. 2. What drives you to create and maintain Crochet Me? So many things! Crochet is seen by many people to be limited, tacky, ugly, dated and otherwise associated with small-mindedness. Aargh! So one of my main goals with the mag is to promote crochet as versatile, beautiful, stylish, cool, funky, daring, bold... I'm also passionate about encouraging people to try new things with crochet. So many crafters paralyze themselves by thinking they're not good enough, experienced enough, or "ready" to try new things. What's up with that? What are the terrifying consequences of screwing up when you craft? There are none. You make a mess or you make some yarn barf, or whatever. So you clean up and try again. I'm totally addicted to seeing what people create, and to being part of the infectious creativity that can come out of a bunch of people putting their heads together. There's a group of designers I'm in touch with fairly regularly, which is so much fun. But I also get random submissions from people all over the world who say, "I just learned to crochet, and I don't know how to read a pattern or anything, but I made this cool thing and maybe you'll want to publish it." So often, their designs blow me away. The slippers in our spring issue are like that -- the designer had only ever crocheted a couple of things before she made them. 3. Can you tell me a bit about your love for handmade goods? I love handmade things both as a crafter and as a consumer. I love making things that are tangible, and that are instantly gratifying. My "work" is either totally intangible 'cause it exists on the web, or it's in print, which takes months and months to produce. My "play," on the other hand, grows every minute, right before my eyes. As a consumer, I love to support people who are trying to support themselves by creating. I think it's entirely worthwhile to spend a few extra bucks to buy something that was made by a person, not by a machine. And I feel special when I own something that's one-of-a-kind. The ubiquity and convenience of mass production and distribution can sometimes confuse us into thinking it's terribly hard work to express ourselves uniquely. But it's not. 4. Are there other crafts you’re into in addition to crochet? I love to knit. And in my mind I'm a brilliant and prolific sewer, though in reality I rarely sew anything and when I do I'm terrible at it. 5. Tell us about the book! (and congrats) Thank you! My first book, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Crocheting (Wiley), came out in January. I wrote it with Cecily Keim ( My second book is called Get Hooked (Watson-Guptill Publications) -- it's an introduction to crochet for tweens and teens, with 16 wickedly fun patterns by designers who have also been published in Crochet me. This book will come out in August, and I'm planning to go on a mini book tour next fall with Shannon Okey, the author of the KnitGrrl books. 6. What are your long term goals for Crochet Me? I'll go for a rapid-fire wishlist: I want Crochet me to be *the* cool crochet resource on the web. I want to pay a lot of attention to building the Crochet me community. I want the site to spark people's creativity and imagination. I want people who feel intimidated or shy in the face of trying something new to become empowered by the amazing things their hands can create. I want indie designers to hook up with each other through their involvement with the site. Since the site launched, I've been wanting to find enough time to spearhead a charity event or series of events. It's great that I've been too busy, but I'd really like to start to prioritize that. Hey! If you're reading this and you want to help me plan a program to benefit kids, lemme know! 7. Where is your favorite spot to crochet? On the couch at my in-laws' place in Whistler, BC. They have this great, cozy condo in the mountains, and I listen to CBC radio and crochet for hours. 8. What are you working on right now? (crochet-wise) I'm working on designing an amigurumi doll for a book that should come out this coming fall. I'm obsessed with amigurumi -- Japanese-style crocheted stuffed toys. Our spring Crochet me issue has a feature on it, actually. I'm also working on a couple more book pitches, and I really need to get crackin' writing my next Knit.1 column... 9. If there was anything you’d like to talk about that I didn’t ask you, add it here. I just want to mention that although Crochet me started out as my pet project, it's too big for me to do all by myself now. Julie ( We like to ask everyone this one: List any 5 songs in your most current (last listened to) playlist. Kentucky Woman, Neil Diamond God of Love, MIDIval PunditZ Cradle of Love, Billy Idol The Mariner's Revenge Song, The Decemberists Beggar's Oil, Kelly Joe Phelps |