Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #10

It’s time for another edition of Dear ELK Studio!  I love this column and look forward to writing the blog post every time.  Do you have crochet questions that you’d love to have answered? I asked the fans on my ELK Studio Facebook page did they have any Dear ELK Studio questions and hope you enjoy the edition this week as the questions were geared more along “my style” of crochet.

 

Dear ELK Studio,
How did you decide to make those gorgeous southern hats?

Dear Southern lover,
I was making a hat one day and wondered if I could actually make a brim.  I turned to Google and searched for “hat wire”.  It took me to Judith M. Inc. Supply and saw the term millinery wire.  I researched a little and found that you could use the millinery wire to hold the brim in place.  BINGO!  I ordered the wire and well…..they ya go.  After a few months of playing around with the hats, I saw a beautiful hat designed by the famous Philip Tracey.  I immediately ordered the Sinfonia yarn from Creative Yarn Source.

 

Dear ELK Studio,
How do you choose your color combinations? Color wheel? Yarn stash?

Dear Combo,
I can’t say that I’ve ever used a color wheel to decide on my projects.  I see them all over from other Facebook pages sharing but it’s not my first choice.  I have to say that I usually have specific colors in my mind for each project before they even get started. Sometimes I can use my stash but often times find myself either in JoAnn’s, Hobby Lobby or buying on-line from Creative Yarn Source.

 

Dear ELK Studio,
How many times do you test your own pattern before sending it out to other testers?

Dear Own Pattern,
It’s probably safe to say that I make the hat at least 3 times if not 4 before I have others test.  Some of my free patterns aren’t sent to testers unless I feel there are questions that may come up or if I need help in how to word a part of the pattern that I feel could give others trouble.  However, my paid patterns are tested just for my own reassurance and having different sets of eyes on a pattern before it’s release for purchase is always wise.

 

Dear ELK Studio,
From where do you get your inspiration?

Dear Inspired,
As you read in the first question, some of my inspiration comes from looking at hats designed by people like Philip Treacy.  I have several crochet dictionary books and will look through them and just sit down with some yarn and start playing around with different stitches and see what happens.  Sometimes it works while other times I sit and frog something that took me 3 hours to create.

 

Dear ELK Studio,
 Do you have a favorite type of yarn? Weight? Brand?

Dear Yarnie,
My summer time yarn is definitely Sinfonia Cotton Yarn.  It’s a mercerized cotton which is great for my hats because I use the millinery wire.  I didn’t want something that would stretch and the Sinfonia worked perfectly.  This past winter my “go-to” yarn was Red Heart Soft.  I love the shimmer of the yarn and it seemed to work great with all of the projects I had going on at the time.  I’m sure it will be used again on the upcoming winter projects.

I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s edition. Please feel free to ask a question!!

Have a great day. Be blessed.

Kathy