Welcome to the new blog series - Maker Mondays. Grab a cuppa and sit down for our first ever interview! This will be an ongoing series. I will be interviewing 'Makers' from around the world, who have turned or turning their hobby into a business.
Today's Maker is Jennifer Percival from Crochet to Play
Please introduce yourself, and tell us what you create?
I am Jennifer Percival and I'm from the Pacific Northwest in the USA. I am a wife, mom to 3 little people, and a reading teacher. And since all that is not enough, I am also an avid crocheter and pattern designer. I used to create mostly garments - hats, dresses, scarves - but I've spent the past year designing amigurumi and home décor items. I think it's having kids that made me change lanes a bit. I like to make toys and little plush things that can't break and that my kids use for imaginary play. My favorite design in the past year were ornaments for my kids to hang on their own little Christmas tree. My designs are published under my name on Ravelry and on Etsy with my shop Crochet to Play.
How long have you been Designing?
I knew the basics of crochet when I was younger but really got into it after my first baby was born, seven years ago. I started experimenting with my own designs right away but I've only been publishing the patterns for about a year.
Do you start with ideas or materials?
I start with ideas for my business. I have more ideas than time, a notebook full at this point. I like having a mental stockpile of things I want to create so that when time and inspiration strike, I can just go for it. I've got a pretty respectable stash of my favorite yarns so I tend to get my ideas fully formed, work with the yarn I have, and then add colors as I need to.
However, when I stumble upon an especially lovely fiber I tend to let it inspire the project, but often those are just personal garments or gifts.
How relevant is social media to you?
Well I'm just so silly because it should be incredibly relevant to me, but I'm not taking advantage of it at all. I talk myself out of investing time in Facebook or Instagram because I'm publishing patterns so slowly and I think that I can't build up a following without more regular content. But I really need to just get on it.
Anything else to add?
Thank you for the platform to share my work, Emma!
You can find Jennifer on as Crochet to Play on Etsy and Ravelry
Links here:
http://www.ravelry.com/designers/jennifer-percival
If you would like to be a 'Monday Maker' email me a [email protected]
If you would like to be a 'Monday Maker' email me a [email protected]
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