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 Hortense from Knitting with Chopsticks.
Hortense is a talented knit and crochet designer known for her easy and beginner friendly patterns for everyday life.
I am excited to share with you her insights, experiences, and creative journey.
Meet the Knit and Crochet Designer Hortense from Knitting with Chopsticks
Welcome to my hot seat, Hortense! I’m thrilled to have you here today to share your journey and insights as a knit and crochet designer.
- Can you share with us how you got started with knitting and crochet?
My mom taught me when I was 10, bored on the beach (apparently that’s possible) and I never stopped stitching. I spent the next 15 years doing mostly garter stitch blankets until I dove into the online knitting community and taught myself everything else I know.
I taught myself to crochet years later when I got tricked by a knit elephant stuffy. The ears, the last piece, were crocheted and of course I didn’t read through the pattern before starting. Once it was 95% done I just had to order some hooks to finish it.
- What inspired you to become a designer?
I started making up my own designs when I was living in Malaysia. There are no yarn shops there so I had a very hard time finding the patterns I wanted that matched the yarn I could get so I started adapting patterns until I just gave up on them and made my own designs from scratch.
One day, my husband looked over my shoulder while I was scrolling on Pinterest and reading a blog post about a designer sharing how she turned her makes into patterns, a blog and her full-time job. And he just looked at me and said: But, Hortense, you can do just the same. You just need to put your designs on a website and you can make a full-time income!
The seed of the idea was planted in my head and there was no going back.
Now I know how much more goes into publishing and marketing your designs but I love every part of it.
- Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
My inspiration usually comes from a detail and I build the piece around it. Sometimes it’s a stitch, the shape of a piece, it can be a color combination or the fit of a storebought item.
- Can you tell us your favourite knitting and crochet techniques?
I love to keep things simple. Give me endless stockinette in the round or garter stitch flat and I’m happy. But I love the look of easy lace or fun knit/purl combo textured stitches.
Same goes for crochet, my go to is alternating rows of double crochet and single crochet.
As long as I can get away without needing to count and can do it in front of Netflix. Otherwise, I won’t do it.
- I’m sure my readers would love to know how you turned your hobby into a business.
It was kind of by accident actually.
When I started my blog, I had one condition: it had to look professional. I never intended to launch a business but I’m not a social media person. I’ve never had any kind of social media or online presence before starting Knitting with Chopsticks so it was important for me that my website looked like a professional business and not a teenager sharing her life online.
- What platforms do you use to sell your designs?
Most of my designs are free on my website with an ad-free PDF version available on Etsy and Ravelry. I’m working on getting a shop setup on my website directly so hopefully in a couple of months you’ll be able to grab all my PDFs from the website.
Some are also available on some other platforms such as LoveCrafts, Hobbii and WeCrochet depending on the partnerships I have with different yarn companies etc.
Visit Knitting with Chopsticks on Etsy.
Visit Knitting with Chopsticks on Ravelry.
- Do you have any advice for someone wanting to start their own knitting or crochet business?
Just start. Write up that first pattern and publish it. Don’t let doubt and hesitation hold you back. Learning, thinking and strategizing is great but it’s only once you start doing it that it will make sense and you’ll be able to figure out what works for you.
Nothing you do is set in stone. That first pattern won’t be perfect, but that’s ok. You can always remake it or scrap it later when you’ve learned more.
(Great advice!)
- Do you organise knit-alongs (KALs) / crochet-alongs (CALs) or other community events? If so, how can knitters sign up to take part?
Yes! I host 2 yearly summits. One for knitters, one for crocheters.
The Crochet Blanket Summit is happening in September (19-22 in 2024) while the next knitter’s summit will be in February 2025.
The best place to keep updated is to join my email list.
I also host other types of events such as KAL/CALs. My last CAL was the Blossoming Blanket.
My next KAL will be a beautiful knit blanket in November 2024.
- Do you have a preferred type of yarn or hook brand? Why is that your favourite?
I love testing new yarns and playing around with fiber types. I love working with anything from sport weight to chunky weight but I will always go back to my true love, worsted weight.
For my tools, I’m not difficult. For knitting, I make everything with my interchangeable circulars. I have a set from KnitPicks that has been doing the job very well for years.
For crochet, I’ve tried several brands and fancier types of hooks but I always go back to my basic Amazon set. I just received a new set from Hobbii that is working out very nicely though so they’re my current go-to.
- How do you stay updated on knitting and crochet trends and techniques?
I don’t. I make what I like and what I want to make first and then share that with the world. I’m pretty classic. Simple, timeless classics will never go out of trend.
Sure, I could do better business wise with jumping on trends but that’s just not me. I prefer to build a business to last than jump from one hit to another.
(I agree with you Hortense – jumping on trends doesn’t make for a sustainable business)
- What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received that you can share with my readers?
It’s a hell yes or it’s no.
When you hesitate about a design or part of it, scrap it. Only take the time to write out and market a pattern for something you love and are 100% enthusiastic about (that doesn’t mean it’s perfect, because nothing ever is) but if you’re not 100% into your item, people will feel it and it won’t do well.
- Can you share a tip or trick that makes a big difference in knitting projects?
There is no right or wrong, EVER.
If you like the result, it’s right. If you don’t, it’s wrong. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Sure, there is a usual way to do things but if you like the look of what you did, go for it!
Usually you’ve just done another technique without even knowing it 🙂
- How do you balance your knitting and crochet work with other aspects of your life?
Balance? Never heard of it 😉
Jokes aside, I keep a pretty classic work schedule. I do what I call work (computer work, pattern writing, photos, marketing etc) during classic working hours when my boys are in school/daycare. Since I live in Europe and my audience is mostly in US / Canada I do tend to have regular calls/lives etc in the evening. I try to limit is as much as I can but when hosting my summits or KAL/CAL I have more.
But I don’t count any knitting or crochet as work… so that happens anytime and anywhere outside of my “work hours”.
- Do you prefer creating written patterns or video tutorials?
Written patterns with photos. Since that’s how I learn and consume content it makes the most sense to me and comes the easiest.
I’ve always done all my knitting/crochet on the go or in the evening while watching tv with my hubby so I can’t really follow video tutorials. For the same reason filming tutorials is not practical for me.
(I so identify with this! My crocheting is always in the evening when there’s no natural light and I’m sat comfy on the sofa watching the tv).
- What’s the one knitting or crochet project you’ve always wanted to make but haven’t yet?
So many! As I like simple things, I’m not an advanced knitter/crocheter.
Knitting: Brioche knitting, different techniques for socks, nops (bobbles), Latvian braids, double knitting …
Crochet: Cables, Christmas baubles, Tunisian crochet, …
- How do you stay motivated during long or complicated projects?
Knitting and crochet are still my hobby’s so I only make things I enjoy.
I enjoy the mindless, mind emptying and calming part of knitting/crochet most so I never make complicated projects.
Of course there are some projects I need motivation to finish, usually because I get excited for the next one(s). What I do then is a 30-minute challenge until it’s done. Every day I work on it for 30 min then switch to something else. 30 min isn’t too long to hold but enough to get some progress done.
(Love this tip)
- Finally Hortense, can you share the impact knitting and crochet has had on your life?
It saved my life. I know that sounds cliché but still it is so true.
I started my blog for fun about a year before my eldest son’s birth. He was born sick, in the middle of the pandemic, half way across the world from my home and family (we were living in Malaysia at the time). Through all these struggles and everything that followed, knitting and crochet was my go-to. My work was and still is my escape, my happy place and my self-care.
Thank you for your honesty and sharing with us Hortense.
Knit & Crochet Designer Bio
Hi there!
I’m Hortense, a passionate knitter, crocheter and hoarder of yarn.
My mom taught me the basics of knitting when I was young. Believe it or not, we were at the beach and I was bored (who knew that was possible at 10 years old?). I took those basic skills and added to them over the years thanks to blogs like this one and the wonderful community of online knitters and crocheters. Knitting with Chopsticks was created as a way to give back to that community and share my easy knitting and crochet patterns with beginners everywhere who want to take the next step.
My goal is to break down knitting and crochet patterns so they’re simple enough for you to create exactly what you want, the way you want it. I’m an engineer by trade, and a crafter by passion, which means all of my patterns have an extreme attention to detail, thorough explanations and step by step pictures.
When I’m not working on a yarn project, you might find me diving at the beach, or rewatching Grey’s Anatomy for the 100th time and snacking on chocolate (I am from Belgium, after all).
You can find me through the links below:
Join my email list (and get your free Yarn Jargon Cheatsheets): https://programs.knittingwithchopsticks.com/cheatsheets