I'm excited to introduce a brand new feature on this blog: the Designer Spotlight! After a recent incident, I was trying to brainstorm ideas for how we can better support each other in the crafting community, even though we may live far apart. And I think one of the best things we can do is to respect and appreciate each other's work. It's easy to get utilitarian about crochet/knit pieces because, well, they're often functional. But we are fiber artists! In the words of Tinna (a yarn graffiti artist), "I don't think that the art should be valued any less, even though it is practical. That just makes it even better." So, as an homage to fiber artists everywhere, I decided to start this feature, spotlighting different crochet and knit designers; you can learn more about them, admire their work, and be inspired to create something original of your own! These designers are truly artists. 

To kick things off, I'm thrilled to feature the extremely talented Abigail of Prairie Things (http://prairiethings.weebly.com/). Her work is definitely proof that knitting and crochet is both functional and beautiful. So learn more about her in this interview and take a look at her gorgeous designs! She is a designer you'll want to keep your eye on. The images throughout the interview link to their respective patterns, so if you see something you like, just give the picture a click. 

After I finished redesigning my 3 mL beanie, I found myself thinking that something was still missing. And then it hit me: slouchy hat! Who doesn't love a good slouchy hat, right? So with a couple of quick changes, the beanie now has a slouchy BFF. I just love how it turned out! It gives the design such an effortless, chic feel. And I would say that it's a fairly unisex design, so it's perfect for all of the slouchy hat lovers out there. So grab your hooks, because this hat is calling your name!

Back in January, I shared a pattern for a crocheted copy cat version of a knitted copy cat version of those cute CC beanies, dubbed the 3mL Beanie (for nerdy reasons explained in the original post). This last week I decided to revisit the pattern and I was not happy with it. It was actually STRESSFUL to crochet it! Which is just plain wrong. So I went back to the drawing board to reinvent this hat. And I think I finally figured it out. This new version has a tighter band for a better fit, lovely drape, and (most importantly) it's actually easy to crochet. There are a couple subtle differences from the original inspiration, but the overall look is the same, so I'm going to call this one a huge win.