Looking for a fresh, beginner-friendly home decor crochet pattern? Look no further! Dogwood Crochet's new Color Block C2C Pillow crochet pattern is one of many in her extensive catalogue of modern, minimalist patterns.
Without further ado, meet the maker behind Dogwood Crochet - Shannon!
MacKenzie: Hi, Shannon! I am so excited to get to know you! I have been a big fan of your patterns ever since I started crocheting. You are such a pro, and have an extensive catalogue of patterns! How did your crochet journey begin?
Shannon: Hi, my name is Shannon and I am the designer behind Dogwood Crochet! My grandma taught me to knit when I was young. Three years ago, I found some scrap yarn and a project I had started knitting many years before. I decided I wanted to use up the yarn by finishing the panel I had been knitting. By the time I ran out of yarn I had a long rectangle that I decided to make into a pillow. I bought a crochet hook so that I could slip stitch the edges of the pillow together. I’ve been hooked ever since!
MacK: To say the least! You've built a successful crochet business with a huge following and booming Etsy shop! Why crochet design?
S: I love designing crochet patterns because each design is like a puzzle. I enjoy the creative challenge of bringing a vision to life. On top of that, it is so rewarding to see my designs being a source of inspiration and joy for other crocheters.
MacK: I have crocheted your Sunflower Granny Square and most recently, your Puffy Pumpkin pattern! I can attest that
you are 100% bringing joy to the crochet community, because I have experienced it firsthand! How do you find the focus and drive to release as many patterns as you do, as consistently as you do?
S: I would have to say the biggest contributor to my success is my focus on the process and not the end result. I started Dogwood Crochet when I was lacking fulfillment in my life. By showing up every day on social media, I am rewarded with a wonderful sense of community. I also have found fulfillment through the creative process of designing patterns, learning new stitches, and navigating the many challenges and rewards of running a business. I enjoy every step of the process, from designing patterns, to recording content, to editing videos and reels, to thinking of new ways to engage with my community. I feel very lucky to have found something that I am passionate about and that I truly enjoy. I have learned so much since I started!
MacK: Are there any specific crochet businesses in our community that you particularly admire?
S: Since starting my business, I have had the chance to connect with many other designers that inspire me daily, including Bags by Bento, Camryn’s Cute Creations, Blooming Dogwood Designs, LCK Crochet, and Simply Made by Erin, among so many others.
MacK: Let's talk about your most recent pattern design - The Color Block C2C Pillow! It's modern, minimalist... a great representation of your home decor brand as a whole! What was your inspiration for this design?
S: I am notorious for finding a stitch or theme that I like and then making multiple designs around that stitch or theme. This pillow is no exception! First, I designed the Color Block C2C Blanket pattern, and I loved the look of the stitches and texture so much that I decided to make a matching pillow to go with it.
In terms of the original inspiration for the Color Block C2C Blanket, it actually came from my husband. My husband is my biggest supporter, and we often joke that he is part of the "executive board" of my business. He has great ideas and input and when I told him I was thinking about designing a blanket with three colors, he thought having the colors in diagonal blocks would look good. So, I decided to make the blanket C2C to achieve that diagonal block look. I still had leftover yarn after making the blanket, and decided to use up some of those scraps by designing the pillow.
MacK: Any tips or tricks for someone that's ready to get started on this pattern?
S: This pattern is beginner-friendly because it uses a combination of double crochet stitches and chains. The pattern also links to two of my YouTube tutorials to walk through the basics for how to crochet corner to corner (C2C) and how to make yarn tassels. For anyone who’s interested in the pattern, I would recommend practicing tension/meeting gauge and practicing double crochet stitches and working into chain spaces.
MacK: Any advice for aspiring crochet designers?
S: Focus on the process, not the outcomes, and be consistent. It can be really difficult to keep going when the outcomes don’t reflect the work you’re putting in, but stay consistent and focus on why you want to design patterns and run a business. I find that when I feel frustrated or discouraged, I take a step back and remind myself of why I started in the first place. I have learned something from every reel, every crochet pattern, every YouTube video, and it’s incredible to see how far I have come since the first crochet pattern that I published.
MacK: Thank you so much for chatting with me! You are such an inspiration to our community! Where can readers find you and your patterns?
S: All of my crochet patterns are available on my Etsy shop! The Color Block C2C Pillow PDF is available now for $5. There are also two accompanying YouTube tutorials that are available for free on the Dogwood Crochet YouTube channel. My Puffy Pumpkin pattern is available here, and also has a full Youtube tutorial! You can find me on Instagram and Pinterest. I also have an email list where I announce pattern tester calls and new pattern releases.
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