In this series of Behind the Stitches, crochet and knit designers are sharing their insights and experiences with us, offering a unique glimpse into their creative processes, inspirations, and personal journeys in the world of crochet and knitting.
Come and join me as I delve into the stories behind the stitches and discover what makes these designers truly exceptional.
In my hot seat today, I’m delighted to be welcoming Malena from Straight Hooked.
Malena is a talented crochet designer known for creating fashionable designs for the modern trendsetter.
I am excited to share with you her insights, experiences, and creative journey.
Meet the Crochet Designer Malena from Straight Hooked
Welcome to my hot seat, Malena! I’m thrilled to have you here today to share your journey and insights as a crochet designer.
- How did you get started with crochet?
I had wanted to learn to crochet ever since I was a little girl, and though I was raised among crafty people, none were crocheters. My mom sewed and did floral arrangements, my aunt was a painter and cross stitcher, and my grandmother was a knitter and embroiderer. They all taught me all of these crafts, but the one I really wanted to learn was crocheting. Eventually, when I was about 20 years old, I went to the craft store and purchased yarn, a set of hooks and a pamphlet on crocheting and just taught myself!
- What inspired you to become a crochet designer?
I joined the CBA (Crochetpreneur Business Academy) as a beta member in 2018. One of the first courses was the Get It Done Pattern Writing Challenge. I had never considered that I would be talented enough to design anything, and through the challenge not only did I write a pattern, but I also invented a new crochet stitch, which I named the Dolphin Stitch. My Stars and Stripes Head Wrap is the first pattern I used the stitch.
(If you’re looking to learn a new stitch you can download a free PDF tutorial for Malena’s Dolphin stitch)
- Do you prefer creating written patterns or video tutorials?
Oh, I MUCH prefer writing patterns! The position I need to sit in when I film tutorials puts such an ache in my back, so usually I keep the tutorial videos to “how to do ___ specific stitch” rather than “how to make this whole project”. Also, my dog is getting older and more mature, but Ruby Sue’s favorite thing to do when I am filming is find the loudest toys she can and then beat it against my leg. Editing those squeaks (and my yelling) out is a very tedious and time-consuming process!
- Can you share a bit about your creative process Malena?
That’s a loaded question, lol. But okay, here goes:
Typically, I start with my yarn and hook and an idea of what I want to do. I will work up a swatch, hate the stitch combination, rip it apart, rinse and repeat until I land on a stitch combination that I love, then rip it out and start over with the foundation size that I am aiming for.
Occasionally, that process doesn’t happen at all. I just start crocheting and immediately love what I am doing, so I work it up and write it down as I go.
My most recent design which I will be releasing in November was a different story entirely. I had 2 hanks of gorgeous hand-dyed yarn that just looked awful in every stitch combination I tried! I spent literally MONTHS trying to come up with a design that would complement the colors of this yarn, and everything I tried just made it look… muddy. I ended up learning a new-to-me technique and once I did, the pattern worked itself up like magic!
(Keep an eye out on Malena’s website, Straight Hooked for her newest release – you can see a sneak peek below!)
- Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
I have several books of crochet stitches, so when I am lacking inspiration, I often look through those and see what kind of stitch I could modify to make it my own.
- How do you decide on the materials for your projects?
I love to fondle the yarn every time I go to the Walmart. Sometimes I am able to resist it and no yarn enters my cart. Most of the time though, there are a few lonely skeins who need me to adopt them and turn them into something gorgeous!
- What are your favourite crochet techniques?
Oh, hands down it is the stacked single crochet. I love that I can use it to start a row or a round and not have that ugly gap from a starting chain!
- We often have a preferred type of hook (mine is Clover’s Amour), what’s yours Malena?
Wow, you are asking the BEST questions! I started my crocheting journey using tapered crochet hooks, mostly because they seem to be the most readily available and I didn’t know any different. In 2016, I was hired as a contract crocheter for the Made With a Twist viral messy bun hat. My 9mm hook was making the hats too small and my 10mm hook was making them too big. Pam, the owner of MWAT lent me her Susan Bates 9mm hook, which was an inline hook and my hats were the perfect size! At first, I absolutely hated using that hook. It grabbed the yarn funny and the head of the hook was fat and weird. 200 hats later, I had seriously bonded with that hook and regretfully returned it to its owner. I went back to my vast collection of tapered hooks and hated them all! I ended up purchasing a set of Susan Bates hooks and absolutely refuse to go back to tapered hooks now!
- Can you share any tips for mastering complex stitches?
Be patient with yourself. You can learn to master any technique with a bit of practice! As an example, I love the way the star stitch looks. I tried to learn it many years ago and just could NOT get the hang of it. At that time, I decided that I was too stupid to ever learn it and never tried again until last year when I was working on a design that I felt desperately needed the star stitch. I sat down to learn it and this time I took to it immediately! (It is now currently one of my favorite stitches to use.)
(I love it when something just clicks and feels right – gives such a feeling of satisfaction and pride doesn’t it!)
- What’s your favourite piece you’ve designed?
Pretty much my most recent design is my newest favorite, although occasionally I design something that I absolutely despise, yet my subscribers seem to love it! (I’m looking at you, every hat I’ve ever designed!).
My current favorite is my Lace Moon Handbag.
- How did you turn your crochet hobby into a business?
My husband is my biggest fan. For the first 10+ years of my crocheting obsession, I only made blankets. I have made literally hundreds of blankets over the years, and my husband loves them all. He urged me for years to sell my work, but I couldn’t see how anyone would be willing to pay me enough for my time. It wasn’t until 2012 when I discovered Pinterest that I realized one could do more with crochet than just make blankets, but still I wasn’t ready to start a business crocheting. In 2018 I finally decided to start a business and I had intended to be a product seller and go to craft fairs. While I was spending months working on my inventory, my husband lost the ability to walk and our dog went blind. The two of them needed me to be around the house instead of traveling the state selling my wares, so I pivoted and decided to design and sell patterns so I can be at home with my family. (Doggy passed away in 2022 at the age of 15)
(thank you for sharing your personal story Malena)
- What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own crochet business?
Absolutely join the Crochetpreneur Business Academy!
- What platforms do you use to sell your designs?
All of my patterns are available exclusively on my website, straighthooked.com
- How do you stay updated on crochet trends and techniques?
I don’t. I never want to take inspiration from someone else’s design, so I shy away from “trends” and just make what I love. My 23 year old daughter says that I design things for middle-aged ladies. Makes sense, seeing as I am a middle-aged lady!
- What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received about crochet?
Count, count, COUNT! My first blanket was SO unshapely because I had no idea about counting. This is not advice I have received, but over time I have given to myself I guess- if you have a lot of distractions around your home, invest in a huge supply of stitch markers. I typically add a stitch marker every 10-20 stitches so I don’t have to count very high and if someone interrupts me, I can easily get back to where I was in the project.
(great tip, saves a lot of frustration!)
- Do you organise crochet-alongs (CALs) or other community events? If so, how can crocheters sign up to take part?
I host about one event per year, as I am much too busy currently to commit to much more than that. However, I participate in multiple events each month, and I keep a page on my website updated with all of the links to each event that is currently running. You can visit https://www.straighthooked.com/straight-hooked-links/ each day to visit the various events and find out what patterns are being featured that day!
(I recently took part in Malena’s Awesome Autumn blog hop – very well organised and inclusive with lots of fab patterns).
- Finally Malena, what do you do when you’re not crocheting?
I am either working, taking care of my husband, doing chores and errands, walking our 2 year old ShihPoo, Ruby Sue or sleeping!
Thank you for sharing with us today Malena.
Crochet Designer Bio
I am a self- taught crocheter of over 20 years.
I currently live in Colorado with my husband and ShihPoo, Ruby Sue. We have an adult daughter who also designs crochet patterns on occasion, though much less frequently than I because she has something I do not- a social life.
I love to design accessories that look complex and grab tons of compliments, but are easy to make.
My favorite thing to see on the internet is photos of finished items made from my patterns!
