Crochet Society Box 26 – Zoe Potrac

Hi! What are you up to today?

It’s Friday, so I’ve just done my trip to the post office this morning to drop off my latest creations, had a spot of lunch and this afternoon I can put my creative hat on drawing up some new sketches with a bit of Radio 2 in the background.

What is your favourite type of project to crochet?

I enjoy making homewares, particularly cushions.  I like that they are reasonably quick projects, but have enough space to do interesting things with stitches and textures.  I never get bored of them!

Where’s your favourite place to crochet?

I’m very lucky to have my own craft room, which we’ve just redecorated with a lovely bright yellow wall and a new comfy daybed, so I can put my feet up and it feels like I’m sitting in the sunshine no matter what the weather is like outside.  Heaven!

Which of your crochet projects are you proudest of?

I think I take something new from each project.  I’m proud when I’ve learned a new technique and used it to good effect so that hopefully the people who use my patterns can learn something different too.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced with your crochet?

Early on I learned a lesson about sewing in ends as you go;  I made a huge double bed sized blanket (The Kaleidoscope blanket which has appeared in Crochet Now) but didn’t weave in the ends until I’d finished.  I was sat up the night before the deadline sewing in about 500 ends.  I even had to rope my husband in to help me finish on time.  I’ve never made that mistake again!

What’s the best piece of crochet advice you’ve ever received?

Completed is better than perfect!  I think this applies to a lot of life, actually.  Sometimes trying to make something perfect can hold you back from learning how to do something new.  Quite often you’ll be fretting over mistakes that no-one else can even see!

It’s been a difficult year for many of us – what would you say to any crocheters out there who are having a hard time?

Hasn’t it just!  I don’t think I’ve anything particularly wise to share, but just knowing that you’re not alone helps.  There are loads of supportive crochet communities online if you fancy a chat or a giggle, and maybe talking crochet can take your mind off the challenges of life at the moment.

Do you have any big crochet plans coming up?

It’s been so hard to plan ahead this last year!  There are, of course, always new designs in the pipeline.  I’ve missed being able to run in-person workshops over the last year, so I’m starting to think about that again, hopefully later in the summer I’ll be able to offer something.

Where can people find out more about you?

I pop pictures of what I’m working on over on my Instagram @zoepotrac.  I’ve just learned how to make videos too, so there are a few little how-to videos popping up to help out with some of my new patterns.

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