Kim Wiltfang
How, why & when did you begin designing?
I began designing shortly after learning to crochet. I wanted to make
a
doily and I was told that it would be too difficult for me. I
purchased a
ball of thread (in a hideous color *grins*) and a hook. I immediately
set to
work. From what I remember and my experience with patterns now, my
doily
looked like one big flower with many petals, again, in this hideous
shade of
blue---it looked like toothpaste, actually. I had never seen or heard
of
written patterns (and, in fact, didn't hear about them until four or
five
years' ago). My grandmother was amazed and asked where I got the
pattern.
And, I, 10 years old, told her I "just did it." Unfortuately, I no
longer
have that doily although I kept it for many years.....must have been
the
color! Yikes!
What types of things do you design?
I design just about anything, except free-standing thead pieces and
fashion
doll clothes. I've never tried either of those YET.
What has been your most favorite type of crochet/design work?
I *love* to design clothing. If only I could design one size of
clothing, I
could design all day, every day. But, when publishing, you need to
design at
least three sizes. It can be very difficult designing a crochet piece
and
trying to calculate the sizes for the increases and decreases. You
want to
have a design that "flows" well for the other sizes so you can say
increase
___blank___ stitches for this size and ____blank____ stitches for this
size,
without re-writing the entire pattern for the other size. I think it's
the
challenge that intrigues me so much.
I am currently working on a website for selling my clothing designs
directly
from my website. It is still in its early stages and won't be ready
until
July.
To be honest, I have always loved the look and texture of knitted
garments.
To me, crocheted garments can be so big and bulky. The stitches are so
tight
sometimes that the arms cannot be moved. So, my goal in designing is
to
produce items that look and feel more like knitted garments. Even my
ribbed
and cabled sweaters aren't any thicker than your standard single
crochet, and
they drape so much more nicely---no more of the big bulky, and
sometimes
difficult, post stitches. The technique is something I've never seen
before,
so I hope to have many either sold to a publisher or self-published on
my
website. I've got a dozen being reviewed by publishers right now.
It's very
exciting!
What motivates you to design?
I have to admit that it's the color and texture of the yarns. I just
love
them all and when I see them, I immediately imagine them into
something.
What do you feel is your greatest achievement thus far?
My greatest achievement in my crochet designing is finishing the thread
bedspread last year in five months. It was such a big project and I
had
never done anything that took me longer than two weeks. The bedspread
came
out beautifully and it should be published this summer, which means
that I
can finally show pictures of it very soon!
Where do you see your designing going?
I would like to pursue the clothing designs, although there doesn't
seem to
be a big market with the publishers. So, I have plans to self-publish
via my
computer and my website. I would also like to pursue a book from a
large
publishing company. The book would entail a lot more work than I have
time
right now, so I either would like to partner with another designer or
wait a
couple of years.
Do you have avenues which you would like to explore craft wise?
Yes, I am very interested in teaming with other designers to produce
designs.
A quarterly magazine would be great. Leaflets would be great. There
are a
lot of avenues that I'd like to pursue in the coming years.
I am also currently working on graphs for latch hook rugs, a new
venture for
me. My son is helping me on that project. It's a lot of fun for both
of us.
How do you think the internet has affected your designing efforts?
To be honest, I never would have had the confidence to pursue a
designing
career if it hadn't been for the response I've received on the
internet.
How do you see the internet in your designing future?
It will always be a part of my designing. I use mediums such as
surveys to
allow my visitors to make choices in my designing. I offer online
tutorial
sessions and I'll soon have an online pattern store. So, the internet
is a
big part of my designing future.
Kim
Don't forget to bookmark this page with over 800 sites: Kim's Links
Priscilla and Melissa's Picks
Chenille Stripes Sweater and skirt set
Don't forget to check out all of Kims wonderful patterns at her site. And also check out those patterns that she has published.
Thank you Kim!