5.18.2012

Getting to Know You #8: Kristin Omdahl

Oh boy, I'm so excited to introduce you guys to a crochet designer! This week I'm interviewing Kristin Omdahl, as part of her blog tour for her newly released Complements Collection, designed for Bijou Basin Ranch.


This collection features 6 knit designs and 4 crochet designs
  
TSK: Kristin, you are such a prolific designer! The Ravelry database currently shows a whopping 266 patterns created by you in just the last seven years. That's an incredible 38 patterns per year! As a fellow designer, I've just gotta ask: How do you find TIME for it all? What's your secret to staying efficient with you design time?

Starry Night Wrap and Blue Skies Chunky Cowl show off the wearability of Kristin's crochet designs. 

KO: Thank you for sharing my pattern statistics with me! I never figured an annual average before. Wow, it makes me tired just thinking about it. But if averages around 3 per month, that sounds about right, I guess. I am a single mom whose only source of household income is designing knit and crochet patterns. While this is a labor intensive job, you can imagine the hours I put in. BUT, I have the freedom and luxury of being a mom who works from home, gets my son ready for school every morning, picks him up at the school bus stop every afternoon, makes & eats dinner together, and tuck him into bed at night. HOWEVER, that also means I work from the time he leaves for school in the morning. Stop when he gets home from school to do homework, make dinner, clean up, play outside with him, get him ready for bed, THEN go back to work until midnight or 1 AM most nights. It is the only way I can keep up with the hours requires to produce enough patterns to keep the roof over our heads! I love what I do and feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful creative outlet for my income and it absolutely thrills me that my schedule is so flexible for my mommy time.

Willow Bag and Petals Wrap Cardigan, both from Kristin's book, Crochet So Fine

TSK: Many knitters are biased against crochet, because crocheted fabrics can often be bulkier and less fluid than knitted fabrics. You, however, have managed to breathe new life into crochet, designing relevant, fashionable garments and accessories for today's woman, many with exquisite draping. Do you have any words for knitters who are interested in crochet, but still hesitant to take the leap and try it out?

KO:
I think crochet has an incredibly easier learning curve when it comes to fixing mistakes. A beginner at anything is going to make mistakes, and lots of them, and crochet is far easier to fix than knitting. Also it is about 30% quicker if you compare apples to apples (yarn, hook & gauge, of course). There are things I prefer to do in knitting more than crochet, and vice versa, and many things I think can be equally beautiful in either craft. I have done a lot of exploring in lacework and tiered edgings in both crafts. The secret to many mysteries is BLOCKING! I believe in blocking your swatches to get accurate gauge. Also very important is blocking lace to get the most beautiful drape and blossoming of your stitch patterns.


TSK: With so many hours in the day devoted to working, do you ever have time to do anything else? What do you enjoy doing when you're not slaving away with the pattern-writing math?

KO:
Oh boy, this is a tough one! My hobbies (because although knitting and crochet are hobbies, they aren't mine because I work in them) are piano, guitar, weight lifting, kayaking, barefoot running (sometimes in the rain), reading historical fiction and non-fiction and creating my own healthy recipes.

My two favorites from Kristin's Complements Collection, Tulip Tiered Crochet Cowl and Aster Tiered Knit Cowl

Kristin has generously offered a digital copy of her new Complements Collection to one lucky commenter! To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment stating which of the patterns in the collection is your favorite. That's it! If you're on Twitter, you can gain an extra entry by tweeting the following (but note that you must also leave a comment):

I just entered to win a copy of @KristinOmdahl's Complements Collection! Stop by @TheSexyKnitter's blog for more info: http://tinyurl.com/gtkykristin

I'll announce a winner on  June 1st! See you then!

_________________________________________________

Picks of the Day:

Want your Etsy Mini in this spot? Click here!

33 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi ladies, just a reminder that in order to be eligible to win a copy of Kristin's new collection, your comment must state your favorite design from the Complements Collection. Be sure to click the link above to look at them all!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm with you, the tulip-tiered cowl is just stunning and unique!!! Love it, and this would be a great collection to inspire me back to crocheting :0)
    meppybn on Rav

    ReplyDelete
  5. I liked the Anthurium Knit Ascot, mostly because really small projects appeal to me.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My fave is the Amaryllis knit Hourglass capelet. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the Tulip Tiered Cowl. It's a scarf, it's a wrap. It's awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the chance to win. I really love the Tulip Tiered Crochet Cowl!!! I crochet more than I knit but looking at these patterns really makes me want to learn more about knitting!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would love to knit the Apple Blossom Knit Shawl.
    Her other patterns are wonderful The Starry Night is beautiful. As well as the Willow bag.

    lotsofhermies on Ravelry

    ReplyDelete
  12. The Aster Tiered Knit Cowl is so pretty! Thx for the chance to win!

    (goodstuff on Rav)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like the Apple Blossom Knit Shawl pattern. Thanks for the chance to win Krisin's book.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Tweeted:

    https://twitter.com/trhfox/status/205087433757429761

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love Lily of the Incas . . . gorgeous! I cannot imagine being a single mom and trying to earn a living as a designer!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the Lily of the Incas shawl. Thank you for an awesome interview and a chance to win this great book.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I like the Amaryllis Capelet. Would definitly come in handy in my winter wardrobe.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love the Apple Blossom Knit Shawl...Thanks for the fun!
    Yhime407 on Ravelry

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have to say my favorite in this book is the Camellia Crochet Shawl. It was hard to chose just one though. :o) Thank you for this opportunity to win such a wonderful book!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I LOVE the starry night wrap! I love them all but that would be my fav.
    Thanks so much for the chance to win an awesome book!

    kittycatheart on Rav

    ReplyDelete
  21. It would have to be the Apple Blossom Shawl. It looks so soft and girly.
    Fingers crossed :)

    Kek5772 on Ravelry

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love the Amaryllis Knit Hourglass Capelet, it's just so spectacular.

    Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this great book.

    linnalark on Rav

    ReplyDelete
  23. My favorite pattern is Aster Tiered Knit Cowl. The texture is fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love the Amaryllis Knit Hourglass Capelet. Gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Tweeted at http://twitter.com/cc_almon/status/205400806852280322

    ReplyDelete
  26. Amanda - EditorABCMay 23, 2012 at 11:14 PM

    I *aaddoorree* that Petals Wrap Cardigan! Would be gorgeous in a steel gray I have in my stash... just sayin :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hands down, Apple Blossom is my favorite. It's fabulous!

    FelicityS on Ravelry

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love the Aster Tiered Knit Cowl. I have a toffee colored wool cashmere blend that i have been lusting after that I want to buy for something.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh my the Petals Wrap Cardigan looks absolutely beautiful. This would be my favourite for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  30. my favorite pattern has to be the APPLE BLOOSOM KNIT SHAWL! I'm already thinking of colors to make this gorgeous shawl.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love the Amaryllis Knit Hourglass Capelet!

    ReplyDelete
  32. It's the Amaryllis Capelet for me. What a great way to make low-neckline summer shirts wearable over fall...

    ReplyDelete