Let\'s Knit - UK (2019-12)

secret with only two items listed. After

just a couple of weeks, I made my irst

sale and it was an incredible feeling. For

anyone thinking of following a similar

path, my advice would be to just go for it!

If you focus on sharing your passion, the

rest will fall into place.

Over the years, the most valuable

lesson I’ve learnt has nothing to do

with stitches. I've had to accept the fact

that projects don’t always go to plan.

I frog my pieces constantly to get them

right. That's just how I learn and

innovate, it’s all part of the process.

Crochet is such a unique craft and I love

it because there is always something

new to try.

Now I mostly crochet at home, sitting on

my couch, while binge watching my

current guilty pleasure on Netlix.

There’s so much hustle and bustle in

my day-to-day life, so having time to

myself where I can create is extremely

therapeutic. To me, crochet is the

perfect balance of focus, creativity,

and relaxation.

I

f you are searching for pretty and

playful designs to warm your heart

this winter, MELANIE MORITA has

plenty of fantastic projects for you to

choose from. In celebration of her exciting

new book Hooked on Amigurumi, Melanie

very kindly ofered to explain her love of

crochet, outline her creative process and

of course, share her life in patterns...

I irst learned to crochet at daycare. We

made bright neon doilies that were just

awful, but I absolutely loved them.

Unfortunately, I was too young to

comprehend what I was doing, so I quickly

forgot the stitches and techniques.

My passion for crafting continued, but I

didn’t pick up a crochet hook again until

college. During a girls' night in, with a glass

of wine in hand, my friend showed me how

to make a magic ring, single crochet and

increase. We worked through the night and

after a lot of trial and error, I inally made a

little blue bird. We didn’t have any of the

right tools, so I stufed my bird with cotton

balls, embroidered on his eyes and did the

best I could. I still have him to this day.

In November 2016, I oicially launched my

Knot Too Shabby crochet shop on etsy.

I was incredibly nervous, so I opened it in

98

Macy the Macaron is worked

in continuous rounds

Inky the Octopus can be

made in any shade of yarn

MY LIFE

IN PATTERNS

Hooked on

Amigurumi by

Melanie Morita is

published by Page

Street Publishing

Co. You can

purchase your

copy for £16.99

from amazon.co.uk

When I'm designing crochet patterns,

I draw inspiration from my life, loves, and

passions. This explains why so many of

my projects are recreations of edible

treats! One of my favourite designs from

Hooked on Amigurumi is Sam the Spam

Musubi. He is a classic Hawaiian snack

that pays homage to my heritage.

I remember my siblings and I would

always form an assembly line before

family gatherings in preparation for the

grilled spam, rice and seaweed. As with all

of my creations, Sam involves techniques

that minimize sewing up. I've found that

sewing up is the number one project killer,

so I try to avoid it at all costs!

Sam the Spam Musubi is

a classic Hawaiian snack

“When I'm designing

crochet patterns, I

draw inspiration from

my life, loves, and

passions."

Pippa the
Princess is
smart, sassy
and dreams
of adventure

PHOTO CREDIT: Melanie Morita