Interview | robyn chachula
A fun crocheted mobile to
brighten up your baby’s room!
In practical terms, I decided to go full-time as a crochet designer when I was pregnant with my daughter. I had a difficult pregnancy and birth, and could not effectively do my engineering job. My specialty was historic renovations and daily, I would be literally hanging off the sides of buildings inspecting the façade – not practical to do at eight months pregnant! So for the foreseeable future, I’m home with my daughter designing and I couldn’t be happier.
IC: How do you normally go about your design process? RC: I am very methodical in my design process. The only organic step is in conception. Once I’ve decided on a style of construction, I just let my hook do the talking. I will spend hours swatching, not exactly sure where I am going until I stumble on the right stitch for the project. I save all my swatches, in case one of them will be right for another project later. Once I have my swatch and style, I move on to building my schematic. I will design out every last detail before I ever start crocheting. I like having the pattern all mapped out so that if I decide to change something, it’s a quick fix on my pattern, instead of having to recreate all my steps after I am finished crocheting. My design process is exactly how I approach designing buildings as well – I just can’t get that structural engineer out of me!
IC: What’s your favourite and least favourite crochet design? RC: My favourite designs are always what I am designing right now. I get very involved in all my designs, so much so that most of the time, I hate seeing them being sent out the door. For me, it’s always fresh and new coming up with an original style or stitch pattern and that could not be more exciting. My least favourite experience is when I have just finished a project and sent it out, then realise afterwards how I could have made it easier or more fun. That always annoys me. So I just write it in my notebook for later, in the hope that the next design can benefit.
IC: Crocheting has become an increasingly popular medium, used in art, fashion and just for the fun of it. Why do you think this is?
RC: I think crochet is so popular because it is pretty easy to learn and very fast to complete a project. For me, I love crochet for the lace it can make – if I tried to create it in knitting, it would take me forever. The same holds true for the sculptural nature of crochet, too. Making three- dimensional projects in knitting can be difficult with all the extra needles you need, but in crochet, you can go in any direction with just one hook.
IC: Which designers do you admire most in the crochet world?
RC: Boy that is tough – every person I meet inspires me! I love Julia Vaconsin’s work for her ability to make such beautiful wearable garments, or Linda Permann for her colour combinations. I also admire Drew Emborsky for his cables, Kristin Omdahl for her lace, Doris Chan for her shell patterns, Candi Jensen for her baby projects – the list could go on and on. For every new person I meet (or see their work), they inspire me to keep working more.
IC: You’ve championed crochet through your designs, teaching, books and website. Do you do any other crafts? RC: Oh yeah, anything I can get my hands on: knitting, embroidery,
BELOW: Robyn also designs for Inside Crochet – this gorgeous Floating Wrap is from issue 6.
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