December 20

Designer Review ~ Pattern Paradise

Share this

Pattern Paradise!! What crochet enthusiast isn’t intrigued by that name?? If you don’t already know Maria, owner and designer behind the business, you’re in for a treat! With over 175 patterns, over 40 of them free, you’re sure to find many that you love!! If you follow along with the Community Link Party, you’ll know Maria co-hosts along with myself and two other wonderful ladies.Pattern Paradise

Want to see more of Pattern Paradise? Follow the links below!
Site ~ Facebook ~ Ravelry ~ Pinterest

 

profile IMG_4931Maria is a wonderful person, a delight to work with! So, let’s hear a little more about her!

I love to do many creative things, I’ve always done crafts of all kinds…pottery, floral design, sewing, painting, etc. Cooking is my other main love though and I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen as much as I do with my hooks and yarns. I also have a fetish for high quality cooking tools, so when I’m not collecting yarn, you guessed it, I’m collecting pots, pans and other goodies.

 

As for inspiration, it is all around me. I will see a garden and be inspired by the color combinations or it may trigger a stitch for me. I will see a fashion magazine or someone walking in a particular outfit and be inspired by the cut or design of the piece. Sometimes things will literally just pop into my head as a picture and will be the basis for a new design.Bags Galore

 

I was also was curious about how the name ‘Pattern Paradise’ came about. Here’s what she said:

Pattern Paradise was inspired by my love of the beach and in particular the Caribbean. The palm tree (which happens to be my favorite tree) became the logo because it represents that relaxed, peaceful and graceful feeling of sitting by the sea and enjoying sun and breeze.

How long have you been crocheting? What got you started?

I’ve been crocheting since I’m about 9 or 10. I was inspired by my mother’s friend who would come to visit and sit for hours talking with my mother, while she crocheted (usually with thread) and I was fascinated by how her hands moved. I watched and tried to mimic her moves with hooks and thread my mother had laying around. I was able to figure out how to do a chain and double crochet on my own and when she realized my interest she showed me a few more things.

Garden Party PurseWhere do you see your business going? Where would you like to be in 5 years?

I will continue to provide both paid and free quality patterns, I’d will be focusing more on adding additional content such as tutorials and tips and I hope to expand into teaching. I love to teach and when I was a kid I really wanted to be a teacher, so this is my opportunity! In 5 years I hope to still be learning and growing and fresh. I believe that a business is a constantly growing and evolving entity and that’s what makes them thrive. I hope to thrive!

Do you have any upcoming patterns you’d like to share with us?

I’m currently working on a beach collection and hope to have it released by end of June.

Pearl and Lace
What is your favorite design and why?

It’s so hard to choose one, but I’m especially pleased with my Pearls & Lace Layette collection. I love the contrast of the stitches and colors and the contrast of the border. It looks so sweet on a baby too!

What is your favorite item to make as a gift?

I love making baby gifts, layettes, dresses, sweaters, etc.

Where is the strangest place you’ve crocheted?

Oh my, I crochet everywhere – waiting for appointments, at the beach, planes even on trains when I used to commute into NYC for work!

Where is the craziest place you’ve hid yarn?

LOL, me hide yarn? Whatever do you mean? Well I must admit I was getting a bit obsessive about buying yarn and did start to hide it in one of the kitchen cabinets if the family was home so that I could sneak it into my basement later on.

Sea Breeze Houndstooth SlippersWhat is your favorite hook and why?

I love Clover Amour – hands down! It’s just so comfortable to hold and the shape of the hook itself works smoothly and makes my crochet go really fast with excellent, consistent results. My favorite size is an H!

If you had your own yarn line, what would it be called?

Paradise Yarns, of course!

What is your favorite color or color combination you like to work with? X Stitch Hugs & Kisses Cowl

 I love blues, greens, purples and greys…you know, colors that remind me of the Caribbean!!

What was the last stitch you learned?

Interestingly enough, it wasn’t the last stitch I learned, it was the last stitch I learned to do CORRECTLY! I’ve always been a fan of the “X” stitch but didn’t realize I’d been completing it incorrectly, until I did a bit of research and found the ‘error’ of my ways. It turns out I like my way of doing it too though, so now I use both methods for different looks!

Thank you, Maria! I’d love to see what Paradise Yarns would look like… with my love for blues and greens… I already know I’d be completely in love with your yarn, just like I am with your patterns!

Have a few Pattern Paradise’s patterns on your wishlist? Now’s the time to stock up! I’ve got an exclusive coupon for you to get 40% off your pattern purchase through July 4th using code: CRYSTALIZED in Maria’s Ravelry Store. Also, please stop by her Facebook Page and say hi, tell her I sent you!Hug Tell Smile png

Loved this? Spread the word


Related posts

Fable Fur ~ A Yarn Review
Lion Brand Hometown ~ A Yarn Review
City Tweed DK ~ A Yarn Review
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}