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 April Garwood from Banana Moon Studio.
I am excited to share with you her insights, experiences, and creative journey.
Meet the Crochet Designer April Garwood from Banana Moon Studio
Welcome to my hot seat, April! I’m thrilled to have you here today to share your journey and insights as a knit and crochet designer.
- How did you get started with crochet and knitting?
My oldest sister taught me to crochet when I was around 10 years old. I remember being excited about crocheting elaborate period dresses for my Barbies from pamphlets by Annie’s Attic. My sister and I bought several of the patterns, but never even finished one of them, LOL.
I began knitting in my 20s. I had a few false starts and then finally really set my mind to getting the hang of it. I’m still no expert, but can do most intermediate level skills.
- How did you turn your crochet hobby into a business?
In the early 2000s I saw a copy of Interweave Crochet at a book store. The cover photo was a woman wearing a beautiful lace top with a Mandarin style collar. I was blown away by how beautiful it was. Up to that point, any crochet clothing patterns I had seen were terribly old fashioned and unattractive to me.
I got a copy of the magazine and that led me down a rabbit hole of learning about current designers. To be honest, I’d never even thought before about who and how crochet patterns were developed.
When pregnant with my youngest in 2009 I decided to design a blessing dress for her. I was successful, and submitted the design to Interweave Crochet. I was over the moon to receive an email that they wanted to publish the design! I published with magazines and yarn companies for the first 7 years or so, and now I publish my own patterns on my website, with an occasional design for the yarn companies that have supported me.
Learning to run my own business, build and manage a website, marketing, photography, videography…all of that has taken quite a bit of learning in order to make a business out of a hobby.
- Can you share with us your design process, from idea to finished product?
The first thing is coming up with the idea.
Sometimes I am given yarn and asked to design something with it. In that case, I often have it on my desk for a few days or weeks just hanging out while I work on other things. I will look at it and imagine different things I could make with it until one of them really jumps to the forefront.
Other times, I start with a technique that I’m enjoying, so I consider all the things I might do with the technique. Once I’ve settled on an idea that I like I start researching my yarn options. There are so many fibers, yarn constructions, and colors to choose from! That part might take a while.
The leg of the Swink Socks uses butterfly stitch to create the pretty texture. The pattern for child sizes are free on the Banana Moon Studio website. The paid PDF includes adult sizes.
A few things that narrow the search include the yarn company that makes it and how expensive the yarn is. There are certain companies that I already have relationships with and I know are happy to provide me with the yarn for the design. And I know that my followers are more likely to want to make the piece if the yarn is something they can afford.
Once I have the yarn in hand, I start swatching. If I haven’t already started with a stitch pattern in mind, I might browse through stitch dictionaries for ideas. I try out stitch patterns and hook sizes that seem like they might be a good fit. I will see what that fabric is like.
I consider how the fabric drapes, or doesn’t. I look at what the holes in the fabric are like. I consider the texture. Different types of projects need different things from the fabric we create when we crochet. I may have found the stitch pattern I want but further adjust the hook size or vice versa.
Swatching and math won’t be necessary if it’s something small and simple. But for projects that need to fit or have multiple sizes, the next step is swatching.
For these I create a swatch that’s 6 to 8 inches square. Then I wash and dry the swatch according to the instructions on the yarn label, and block the swatch. Then I write down the gauge that I have.
Next comes the math. I often use Google Sheets to help with this part. I work out how many stitches and rows will be needed to get the sizes that I want. I figure out the rates of increase or decrease needed for shaping. I work out how much yarn I will need for each size.
Sometimes I start stitching the item before all of the math is complete. If I’ve done enough math to get started, I might go ahead and start stitching. Obviously, that’s the fun part!
Then there’s sometimes a lot of trial and error. Sometimes you are stitching along, having a great time, and then you realize that for some reason, it’s not working. I might have to go back to spreadsheet to work something out. I will rip it out and try again. And maybe I will rip it out and try again and again.
The spreadsheet has all the numbers I need. Actually writing the pattern is a combination of using these numbers and some writing as I make it.
Once the thing is made and the pattern is written, I will make parts of other sizes to check my work. Self-testing, if you will. If it is a complicated pattern, I will often hire a tech editor to check my work.
Then it’s all about getting the pattern out into the world. Taking photos, editing photos, making a PDF file, writing a blog post, creating listings on Ravelry and Etsy, and writing and scheduling social media posts and emails to tell everyone about this wonderful new thing. Sometimes I also create promotional or tutorial videos to go with it.
It’s a lot of work to design a new pattern!
(thank you for sharing your process in such a clear way – your experience will help others)
- What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own crochet business?
Have confidence in yourself! Don’t listen to the critics. Others have done it. You can too.
Be open to learning new things. Research the things you don’t know how to do. Maybe take a course or a class. There is SO much to think about, but you don’t have to have it all figured out at the get go. Make a to-do list, and just tackle one task at a time. As you can afford it, improve needed equipment.
Be prepared to frog projects and try again. There will be a lot of that.
Become a finisher. As crafters, we all tend to really enjoy starting new projects. We all know about how WIPs tend to pile up and not get finished. You will need to become someone who works projects straight through to the finish.
(brilliant advice – I especially like the last tip)
- What are your favorite crochet techniques and why?
I really like post stitches. You can make some fantastic and beautiful textures with post stitches. Cables and Alpine stitch both come to mine.
Another technique I’ve really enjoyed playing with is surface crochet. I still have a lot of things I want to do with this technique, so there will be more of this to come for sure.
- How do you balance your crochet work with other aspects of your life?
Knowing what my priorities are is key. I love what I do for work and it is important, but my faith and family come first. I also know that if I don’t take care of myself, I won’t have the energy and wellness to continue, so I make time for the other things that I need.
I write down a to-do list every day and I focus on tasks that relate to those three priorities before the work tasks.
When my husband gets home in the evening, if I’m still working, I take my computer or project out to the living room so that I can interact with my family while I’m working.
- How do you promote your work?
I have a list of tasks to accomplish when I release a new pattern. There are pictures to take and edit, graphics to make, blog posts to write, emails to write, social media posts to write, and videos to record and edit.
I have the blog post, which hopefully turns up in your search results when you are searing for something that way.
I am very active on Pinterest and see a lot of people find my website through my pins or those of others.
I share photos and videos on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok (see bio for links).
I have an email list that you can join by signing up on my website. I always share my newest designs and other content with my email list.
I also list all of my designs on Ravelry and Etsy, so a lot of crafters find me that way.
- Finally April, what do you do when you’re not crocheting or knitting?
I am married and have four daughters, so they get a lot of my time. I also do most of the work of caring for our cat and two dogs.
My other hobbies are spinning yarn, baking with a sourdough starter, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, hiking, and kayaking.
We are also active in our church and that takes up a big chunk of my Sundays along with a few other hours here and there.
Thank you for being my guest today April. I’m sure my readers have gained a lot of knowledge to help them on their crochet adventures.
Crochet Designer Bio
I grew up in a military family and moved around a lot in my young years, but Oklahoma is home. I live in the suburbs outside of Oklahoma City, OK, USA. I have my parents and three sisters, and we all still live close together and see each other fairly often. My mom and two older sisters are also yarn crafters, so we enjoy doing that together.
I am married to the most generous man on the planet and we have four daughters. They are all teens and young adults now. We have a cranky cat and two needy dogs.
I started designing crochet patterns in 2009 and then took up knitting a few years later, and spinning a few years after that. Down the rabbit hole, as they say.
I started out designing for magazines and yarn companies, which was a great education in learning to write crochet patterns well!
Now I almost exclusively publish my work on my own website. I love designing garments, accessories, and home decor pieces that are modern and lovely.
In addition to yarn crafting, I enjoy listening to audiobooks and podcasts, baking with sourdough, hiking, kayaking, and traveling.
You can find me in all the places listed below: