Here at Crochet Foundry, we LOVE working with all the talented crochet designers that we have the privilege to showcase in our magazine. In this Designer Interview series, we'll get to know some of this month's issue's designers. Today we're talking to crochet designer Faith Schwinger, who contributed the Tree Stacking Toy crochet pattern featured in our December 2023 issue.
How did you learn to crochet?
My grandma taught me how to make a chain stitch flower when I was about 10. Over the next few months I got more yarn and learned how to make a pig from a YouTube video. Since then I've learned everything else I know on YouTube and Pinterest!
Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired your design for this month?
I came up with this design when my little boy was a year old. I saw how much he loved our Christmas tree and wanted him to have his own! So I came up with a design for a crochet Christmas tree that was interactive, fun, and safe for little ones!
What were some challenges about designing this piece?
Making sure that the inside of each ring would fit flush to the cone was probably the trickiest part. I wanted to make sure each ring would stop where it's supposed to sit while the overall stacker still looked like a Christmas tree so finding that balance was tricky! I had to redo the highest ring 3 times to find that sweet spot.
What is your favorite crochet technique or stitch pattern?
I tend to like just a basic single crochet, increase, and decrease stitch - you can do so much with just those 3! But lately I've been trying out some designs with puff stitches and bobbles and I love the fun effects they add!
How do you hold your crochet hook?
I hold it in a knife grip, the pencil grip hurts my hand too much.
What are a couple of fun facts about you?
Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year, I really enjoy making treats and candy, and this next year I want to try the 1000 hours outside challenge!
How can our readers find you on social media?
On Instagram! @lifewithbubbins
Anything else you'd like to add?
Just a little repurposing tip - you can use old pillows to stuff amigurumi projects! I just made a GIANT tree stacking toy with some super bulky chenille yarn so I needed a LOT of stuffing. So I used an unused pillow we had for the stuffing! Then I didn't have to buy any poly-fil and the old pillow didn't get tossed out!
Are you a crochet designer (or would you like to be)? Crochet Foundry works with independent crochet designers to produce the gorgeous designs featured in our magazine. To find out more, visit our Submit a Design page and be sure to sign up for our Designer Email list to be notified of design opportunities.