Creative Threads - Meet Kate from Make Me Roar

How did your crochet journey start?

It started about 15 years ago, when I was pregnant and had a very bad case of flu! I was visiting my parents over Christmas and couldn’t do much, so my mum got out her copy of ‘Good Housekeeping book of Needlecraft’ (published in 1979, the year I was born). We both learnt to crochet together. I crocheted all day, everyday for about a week. So much so, that I was dreaming about it! There has barely been a day go by where I haven’t crocheted since that week!

How did you discover Amigurumi?

Being new to crochet, I started, as I think most people do, with making blankets. The first one, for our baby boy. My husband has 3 siblings who were also having babies, so I made a lot of baby blankets! As the children grew older (we have 2), I naturally progressed into making toys, seeing them in magazines. One of the first things I made was Claude the Octopus by Kate Hancock. It was quite a bit more challenging than a blanket, but after making it inspired me to have a go at designing my own.

When did you realise you wanted to design patterns?

I was already selling patterns and kits for sock monsters. I opened my Etsy shop back in 2008 and sold ready-made toys made of (new) socks! I then started writing up the patterns and really enjoyed developing new designs. With a new skill under my belt, I reimagined my sock monster design in crochet and that was when my first design was born – a crocheted Ogre!

What does your design process look like?

I develop an idea with good old pencil and paper. If it’s based on a real animal, I research colours and head / body shapes. I think about the construction of the piece and how I can simplify shapes to be able to crochet in one piece (who likes sewing lots of pieces together? Not me!) When I’m happy with the shapes I draw it at 1:1 scale. I then get to the most exciting phase – choosing colours. I really love using Ricorumi because I love cotton and it has a great colour range. I have made myself colour samples on lollipop sticks so I can easily play with the colours. I might take the drawing into Procreate to finalise the colours. Next the crocheting begins. I keep offering it up to my drawing to check the shape is on track. I write down every stitch I do it, as clearly as possible so I can understand it later. Next comes typing up the pattern, getting testers to test the pattern, product photography, amends after feedback and finally uploading the pattern to my website. I will sell it as a digital pattern first, and if it’s popular will create it into a kit. I have done a whole series on my Instagram of the design process in detail – from drawing to finished uploaded pattern.

What do you think makes a great kit?

Good quality materials and exceptional instructions. There’s nothing more infuriating, especially for a beginner, when a kit has vague instructions and poor yarn. When writing instructions, I never assumed the person using them knows any more than the very basic crochet terms. I explain every special stitch in detail, with step-by-step photos.

What techniques should beginners focus on first?

Crochet can be very frustrating and difficult when you first pick up a hook. When I teach my taster classes, I focus on just the basic stitches, starting with a chain. Getting used to how to hold the hook and the yarn can be challenging, but if you practice often, it will eventually become muscle memory. Even if you just practice the chain over and over, it will help.

What inspires your designs?

I get inspiration form everywhere. Maybe an illustration in a book, or colours on an autumnal forest walk. My children can often spark my imagination with a drawing. I might come across a crochet stitch I haven’t used before and think how I can use it in a design. I usually come up with several new ideas while I’m in the middle of designing something else and have a very long list I need to create!

What does your typical day look like?

Since opening a craft shop last May, my day looks very different than it did a year ago! I drop my daughter at school and head down to the shop for about 8.30am. I open up and, depending
on what’s on for the day, I either prep for a class or try and get some designing done (which I have less time for these days). The best days are yarn delivery days but have to restrain myself not to use all the yarn!

What advice would you give to your younger creative self?

At risk of disrupting the space time continuum, I would say keep creating, believe in yourself and have more confidence in your talent. If I didn’t have my wonderful husband championing me every step of the way, I might have not given myself that extra push to do all the things I have achieved so far.

What is next for you?

Now that we have opened our shop, Maker Studio, that is my main focus. Everybody wants to learn to crochet which keeps me busy! I have met so many wonderful people since opening and have created a lovely community of regular customers / makers. Being so new, we have so much more potential to grow. The main aim to is grow the business to a point where we can employ staff which will give me more time to design more patterns! It’s really hard to juggle everything, but I thrive on it (even if it can be rather stressful). You can follow Kate on Instagram @makemeroardesign and see all the Make Me Roar kits on our website here.