Hooking With Lakeview Cottage Kids

Welcome back to Hooking with!  This week, we interviewed Christine Longe of Lakeview Cottage Kids.  She has some great things to say!

Introduction

My name is Christine Longe and I am the owner and designer/maker at “Lakeview Cottage Kids”. I have had my business since 2011 and I design and create “Cute and Cozy Items for Kids and Those Who Love Them”! The name of my business came about because we live on a beautiful lake in Wisconsin, we have named our home “Lakeview Cottage” and our grandsons have come to be known as the “Lakeview Cottage Kids”. Thus, my shop became “Lakeview Cottage Kids”, too!

A Little More…

My specialty is in items primarily for babies and children but also create lovely accessories for other members of the family.  I love designing and making hats and blankets for babies, hats and scarves for children, hats, scarves, cowls and shawls for women, and scarves and hats for men.  My focus is primarily on crochet but also have knitted items. I design patterns, teach crochet and knitting techniques online, in YouTube videos, and in person through courses at local
universities and community groups. I also sell items at local craft markets.

My blog  is www.lakeviewcottagekids.com, an Etsy Shop – Lakeview Cottage Kids, a YouTube channel where you will find all kinds of Stitch and Technique Tutorials, a Facebook page, a Facebook Group and an Instagram account. I have been crocheting ever since I was a teenager but it wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I thought I would become a business.

I love the creative world of fiber arts, particularly that of crochet and knit and I love teaching others about all of it. My lifelong career has been that of teaching. I was a Family and Consumer Education teacher for 33 years before retiring from that in 2009. So, creating lovely crochet and knit items and teaching others about the art of making them, has come very easily to me. And, I totally enjoy all aspects of my crochet business!!

When did you start designing?

I started designing patterns about 8 years ago. I featured them on my blog (still do).

Do you have a blog? If so, when did you start that up?

Yes. It can be found at www.lakeviewcottagekids.com I started it around 2012.

What was your initial plan with your blog and designs?

My plan was to share my designs and give people a look into my life as a designer/gardener at my lake home. And, to introduce them to finished items in my Etsy Shop.

How have your designs and designing process evolved?

I guess I would say that I started out creating patterns that are for the beginning/advanced crocheter. I continue to do that and have really begun to focus on the teaching side of crochet now.

 What designs do you specialize in?

The designs I have are mainly hats, blankets and accessories like cowls.

Do you have a favorite few stitches you like to use or do you always try to do new ones?

I like to try new stitches in my designs. It keeps things interesting and there are so many lovely individual stitches and when you combine them, projects are even more interesting! I often think, “So many stitches and yarn, so little time!”

When you come up with an idea, does it come first from yarn you have or do you find yarn to fit the idea?

I think I get my inspiration from beautiful yarns! I will see the yarn online or in a store and just have to have it. Then the design just kind of starts to take shape. I do have to say that I have much more yarn than inspiration but it all eventually works out. I do have a gorgeous, and very extensive, yarn stash!!

When did you start crocheting?

My story is much like many others. I started as a young teenager. My mom and grandma were quite prolific and accomplished crocheters and knitters. So as I saw them creating such beautiful, and useful, items for everyone in the family, I wanted to learn how to do that, too!

What made you decide to become a designer?

I wanted to try designing because I saw so many people online making and designing such lovely items. So, I thought to myself that I would like to try that, too. And so I did!!

Are there any patterns not your own that you just love?

I love so many designers and their work! A few of my favorite crochet designers/blogs are:
Heidi at The Velvet Acorn
Sarah at RepeatCrafterMe
Tamara at MooglyBlog
Christine at SweetPotato3
Michelle at TwoBrothersBlankets
Pam at Crochetpreneur

Who/what inspired you? Does this still inspire you? Why?

The women I have just mentioned above really inspire and motivate me to work hard, create and design. I am also inspired by just browsing through Etsy and magazines. For color combinations and ideas, I love to walk through my garden to see how nature goes about creating fabulous and interesting color combinations.

Of your patterns, which is your favorite and why?

My favorite is an easy baby afghan pattern that I feature on my blog and in my shop. It is easy and works up beautifully in almost any yarn, but I especially like it in a Bernat Softee Yarn in a color combination called, Baby Baby!

Are there any crochet techniques/stitches you wish to learn this year?

Oh, definitely! Not just one, but as many as I can try!!

What are your biggest crochet challenges and how do you plan on overcoming that?

My biggest crochet challenge is to stay focused on one project to completion!! I don’t know if any one else has had to conquer this, but I start a project and then think of or see another one, and another one, etc. that I want to work on. It get’s a little crazy because I just want to try so many different things!! Oh, well. Keeps my life very interesting and full!! 🙂

Have you ever lost your crojo and how did you overcome that?

No, not really. I sometimes have so many other things going on in my life, that I have to set my crochet projects aside for a bit, but I don’t think I ever lose my crojo.

What three tips can you offer to anyone that crochets?

Never stop learning!
Always be open to trying something new!
Don’t be afraid to ask others for their help!

Try Christine’s Free Pattern!

Turkey Ear Flap: sizes for the whole family!

In Case You Missed it…

Last time on Hooking With, we interviewed Ambassador Crochet.  Check out that post by clicking here.