August 6, 2025 • 43 mins
In this episode of the SweetGeorgia Show, Felicia Lo speaks with Britt Garber, a designer and advocate in the crochet community. They discuss Britt's journey into crochet, her design philosophy, the importance of community, and her initiatives like the Makers of Color Collective. Britt shares her experiences with Tunisian crochet, the challenges of designing patterns, and her commitment to inclusivity in the craft. The conversation highlights the significance of representation and support within the crafting community, as well as Britt's future plans for teaching and expanding her reach.
Takeaways
- Britt started crocheting in 2015 and founded the Makers of Color Collective in 2019.
- She is self-taught and initially struggled with crochet before finding her passion.
- Britt emphasizes the importance of designing patterns that she enjoys making.
- Tunisian crochet is gaining popularity and offers a unique blend of knitting and crocheting techniques.
- Britt created a Discord community to foster support and connection among crocheters.
- The Makers of Color Collective aims to uplift and support makers of colour in the crafting industry.
- Britt believes in providing opportunities for others and sharing resources within the community.
- She values authenticity and encourages others to embrace their identities in crafting.
- Britt is focused on teaching and expanding her reach in the crochet community.
- She plans to continue creating patterns and supporting other designers.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to the Sweet Georgia Show.
I am Felicia Lowe from SweetGeorgia Yarns and I will be your
host.
Our guest today is a designer,an advocate, and a true
visionary in the world ofcrochet.
Through her brand, Not Bad Brit,she is not only creating
stunning modern patterns thatchallenge our perceptions of the
craft, but she is also buildinga more inclusive community with
(00:22):
her unique initiative, theMakers of Color Collective.
Please join me in giving a warmwelcome to Brit Garber.
Thanks so much for being heretoday.
SPEAKER_00 (00:31):
Thank you for having me.
Hello everybody.
SPEAKER_01 (00:35):
Well, so I'm really excited about this because I
feel like I have been livingunder a rock.
And I know that like lots ofthings have happened over the
past couple of years, but I havediscovered that you started
crocheting around 2015.
And you started this MakersColor Collective in 2019.
(00:56):
And then you started designingin 2020.
And I know like lots of thingshappened in 2019 and 2020.
And so just like, I remember allof that being quite a blur.
And so recently, you know,crochet has been having a
moment.
It's going through a bigresurgence.
Lots of people are coming tocrochet, wanting to learn to
(01:17):
crochet, wanting to learn tomake lots of new projects, all
sorts of things like that.
And so people in our SweetGeorgia community were reaching
out to me and saying, hey, youshould talk to Britt from Not
Bad Britt.
And I was like, oh, okay.
And then we were also talkingabout bringing in crochet
classes for the School of SweetGeorgia.
And they were like, oh, youshould talk to John Pat Britton.
(01:38):
And then it turns out that youwere going to H&H as well.
And so...
At least we finally got a chanceto meet in person at H&H ever so
briefly.
But, you know, we got a chanceto talk for just a few minutes
and I've been wanting to sitdown and have a longer
conversation with you about, youknow, everything that you're
(01:58):
doing.
So can you sort of start us offfrom the very beginning for
anybody in our community whodoesn't know you or what you're
doing?
Sort of what's your background?
How did you get started?
Where are you from?
All of these things.
SPEAKER_00 (02:11):
Oh, yes.
So I have such an interestingbackground because I don't come
from craft.
No one in my family crochets.
No one in my family knits.
No one in my family doesanything with yarn at all.
It's just me.
And I'm completely self-taught.
I kind of was...
(02:32):
brought up to not lean too farinto crafty and artsy things,
which is really interestingsince that's now all that I do.
But I wanted to prove to myselfwhen I got pregnant with my
first daughter that I could makesomething, I could create
something and I could becreative.
And so I, you know, I went downto Joanne's, I got a very, very
(02:54):
large hook and got some very,very thick blanket yarn.
And I was like, let's go.
And I tried to teach myself lotof crochet and I failed
miserably.
I threw it out across the roomand I was just, I rage quit is
how I describe it.
I got very upset.
And, uh, after that I was like,uh, All right.
(03:15):
I gave like a week.
I said, Brett, you're not aquitter.
So, you know, let's give this ago again.
And then all of a sudden itclicked.
And I was like, okay, I candouble crochet.
I can chain.
I can single crochet.
Like those are things.
I think that's the basis ofsomething.
And I found a simple freepattern to make a blanket that I
thought was just the coolestlooking texture.
(03:36):
And I ended up making a blanketthat looks like it has seven
sides.
I did not know how to finish it.
I did not know how to add aborder.
It was, it is quite interestinglooking, but my daughter's now
10 and she sleeps with it everysingle night.
So it is totally worth it.
But after that experience, youcouldn't catch me without, you
(03:56):
know, a yarn and hook in myhand.
I am from a tech background.
So I used to work for startupsand create customer service
teams and startups.
And so I knew that i would beleaving that job and would be a
stay-at-home parent when she wasborn and so i was just
(04:16):
crocheting all the time i wastesting i was uh sample making
and i was also looking forpeople in the community that
also did this that looks like meand i've always been someone who
um has always been attracted tothe person who looks like them
on television or in movies or inmusic or anything like that.
(04:37):
So I wanted that same experiencehere.
And I was having a hard timefinding that.
It wasn't until I came acrossTony from Teal Yarn Crafts and I
saw hands that looked like minein a video.
I was like, oh, I want to knoweverything that that person
does.
I want to do everything thatthey do.
Because I know I'm not unique inthe idea of being like growing
(05:01):
up as a young black girl beingtold that, hey, you need to go
get a corporate job, you need todo this, you need to do this,
you need to do this and notbeing creative.
And so for me to see someoneelse who looks like me in a
creative space was verypowerful.
And I knew very quickly that ifI felt that way that quickly,
Somebody else wants to feel thatway, too.
So once I started Not Bad Brit,I almost immediately founded the
(05:25):
Makers of Color Collectivebecause I felt like we needed a
space to be able to findourselves and see ourselves
doing our favorite thing.
And that's always been very,very, very, very, very, very,
very important to me to to findspace.
makers of color in thisindustry, bring them together,
uplift them and whether it isfunded by my own pocket or
(05:49):
donations, it lives and it keepsgoing.
So I've always just wanted to bea part of that.
SPEAKER_01 (05:56):
For sure.
So I definitely want to ask youmore about the makers of Color
Collective.
That is a huge topic for sureand a huge project.
But just going back to when youfirst started crocheting, like
how were you learning how tocrochet at that time?
Were you learning from books orfrom videos?
I know when I started learninghow to crochet, it was I started
crocheting before I learned howto knit, but it was from like
(06:18):
the same sort of photocopiedbooklets.
And I like crocheted a littlebit.
And but then I was like, I don'treally know what I'm going to
make.
So then I put it down and thenstarted knitting and immediately
started making things.
So I'm wondering like what yourlearning process was like and
what sort of captivated youabout crochet over all other
kinds of crafts in terms of youwanted to make something.
SPEAKER_00 (06:41):
Yeah, I got a book from the library.
To be honest, I got a book.
I'm a tactile person.
I'm actually not that fond ofvideo at the time.
And so I needed to be able tosee everything as pictorials and
to see where everything went andto go from there.
So I learned directly from abook.
(07:04):
I can't remember which one, butit was a simple book.
And I continuously go back tobooks.
I am notorious for when I wantedto learn how to Tunisian
crochet, I checked out everyTunisian crochet book that the
Seattle public library had andkept them for a while so I could
learn and learn the stitches.
Uh, yeah, but that's, that'sdefinitely how I did it.
(07:24):
And I didn't even considerlearning how to knit.
I didn't know anything about it.
Um, I think I picked crochetcause it's one tool versus two.
And I was like, that, That mustbe simpler.
I wasn't sure that I had thehand dexterity for knitting,
which is so interesting.
Now, obviously, I know how toknit.
And it's just like, well, it wasliterally a flip of a coin, I
(07:46):
think, at that point.
And
SPEAKER_01 (07:50):
so you made this blanket at the very beginning.
And then you just started to godown this path of finding other
crochet designers and thenmaking their patterns for
samples or testing and thingslike that?
SPEAKER_00 (08:03):
Yeah, I quickly jumped right into making shawls
because I did not enjoy making along starting chain.
And most of the shawls I startedwith was like, chain five.
I was like, that sounds great.
So I dove into shawls and I veryquickly discovered fingering
weight yarn and just fell inlove with drape and the movement
(08:25):
of things.
I also started Tunisiancrocheting very, very, very,
very early.
It was probably my secondproject.
I don't know why.
but I just came across it andcontinued to do that.
And yeah, I, I probably, I thinkmy first, like my first garment
was a test.
(08:46):
I just was diving right in feetfirst, trying to stay busy,
trying to discover everything Icould about different fibers.
I think I was following knitcrate for a while there and knit
crate, like, was just a greatsupplier of different fibers.
And it was just so satisfying toget that little box and learn
about alpaca and learning about,you know, merino and different
(09:09):
things.
And now I'm just obsessed withhand dyed yarn.
So it served me very, very well.
SPEAKER_01 (09:14):
Fantastic.
Like the beautiful pullover thatyou're wearing right now.
SPEAKER_00 (09:21):
Yeah, this was, this is my first garment design.
This is the impressionspullover.
Yeah, I'm, I'm someone who geeksout really, really hard on the
small things.
And so I was teaching myself howto design a garment because what
a lot of people don't understandis that there aren't.
crochet garment books like toteach you how to make a garment
(09:44):
or to teach you how to design agarment or grade a garment they
don't exist so I dove intoknitting books to get that
knowledge and had which is why Ilearned how to knit is so that I
could learn from that and uh ittook me I want to say this is
probably this took me like 18months to go from learning,
concept, grading to releasebecause I've made three of them.
(10:09):
And I took classes and all ofthese things.
So this is currently my prideand joy.
I'm going to wear it until itfalls apart.
SPEAKER_01 (10:17):
It looks amazing.
And we are definitely going toput up some photos on the show
notes and everything soeverybody can see it and we'll
link to it and everything.
But it's a beautiful pullover.
And that's really interesting,the point that you mentioned
about how there's no books orlearning material to learn from
in order to learn how to designa crocheted garment um so you
went from learning how tocrochet crocheting samples for
(10:40):
people and then starting todesign um just a few years ago
and teaching yourself basicallyhow to design and grade garments
through reading knitting booksand things like that um what
else have you sort of likebrought in from your sort of
sample making test making sortof um learning and brought that
(11:02):
into your design work.
What kind of things are you mostenjoying designing?
I
SPEAKER_00 (11:08):
learned very quickly not to design something, not to
continue to design somethingthat I don't like to make.
So I've been known to startsomething and try to have these
grandiose ideas.
And then in the middle of it,I'm like, I really, I'm not
enjoying this.
And if I don't enjoy it, mycustomers aren't going to enjoy
it.
My community is not going toenjoy it.
(11:29):
And I don't want to push adesign element on someone that
they're not gonna have a goodtime with.
It's just not the way that Ilike to make.
Like right now, right below meis a project that I need to frog
because no one wants to cut yarnlike that.
So like it was a good idea, butyou know what?
No one's gonna wanna cut thisyarn.
So let's make it into somethingthat they want.
(11:50):
So really having a good idea asto who my customers are has
always been very important tome.
I'm someone who will typically,Use very basic stitches.
This is the same stitch.
everywhere, but the way that itworks with the yarn is something
that I pay a lot of attentionto.
I like to work with a lot ofvariegated things.
(12:10):
I love designing with, with miniskeins, which is its own mental
challenge.
But I've learned that if I keepthings simple so that people can
get the concepts really, reallyearly, like 10 rows tops, it's
very satisfying.
And it's not always, you can'talways do that when you're
moving towards garments becauseyou do have to work with
(12:31):
shaping, but But for the mostpart, if you can keep it
classic, people are going tohave more enjoyment in making
it.
And I've really found thatthrough my sample making because
I made some samples where I waslike this is awful I don't want
to do this but I'm going to butI really don't want to and I
don't want someone to have thatexperience with my own pattern.
SPEAKER_01 (12:53):
Yeah I noticed like I think I read on your website
you're saying that your designsare aiming to be easy to
memorize after a first few rowsmaking them perfect for
crocheting in front of yourfavorite tv show and I used to
talk about that with knitting itbeing like potato chip knitting
because you could just like do alittle bit and then you don't
have you you don't want to putit down, but then it's also
(13:13):
really, really easy.
And you just kind of keep, keepgoing with it.
Um, I find that if I'mcrocheting, I have to look at my
work though.
So do you get to a pointeventually with practice where
you can just crochet withoutlooking like, no, no,
SPEAKER_00 (13:27):
I don't look.
Um, it's probably one of thereasons why, um, okay.
So most stitches I have to lookif I'm doing, um, a double
crochet and it's like there'schains involved or something
like that, I can probably getaway with just inserting the
hook and seeing it and thenfinishing it without looking at
(13:48):
it.
But for the most part, I stillhave to look down at my work all
the time.
There's just too many places youcan misplace that hook and then
it's cartons.
SPEAKER_01 (13:58):
Yeah, okay, that's good to know.
From somebody who's anexperienced crocheter, I'm like,
oh, should I be able to find thehole to stick the hook into
without looking?
But okay, that's awesome.
For anybody who doesn't reallyknow yet, can you explain sort
of the difference betweenTunisian crochet and sort of
standard crochet as we know it?
SPEAKER_00 (14:18):
Absolutely.
So I like to call Tunisiancrochet the link between
knitting and crocheting becauseI think...
because you're using both hands,just like most knitters are
using both hands, it's an easierkind of concept for them to move
into.
So I don't happen to have thehooks near me, which is very
(14:39):
rare because I moved upstairs,but I do have traditional hooks
or Tunisian crochet project.
So this shawl is the Elusashawl, and it's Tunisian
crochet.
And it uses what we call theTunisian knit stitch, which
looks like a knit stitch.
And it uses a purl stitch, aTunisian purl stitch, which
looks like a purl stitch.
(15:00):
And the way that it works is youhold your hook kind of more
horizontal as you're goingacross your work.
And instead of...
Instead of doing one row all theway through, our stable hook
will typically beinterchangeable and it'll have
just the same kind of connectorsas any kind of interchangeable
(15:23):
knit needle.
I'm so used to saying hook.
And a stopper on the end.
And so you'll go into yourproject and you'll pick up
little loops of yarn as you'regoing through and inserting it
into the project.
And as you've picked up each oneof those loops on the side, you
get to the very end of yourproject, and then you do what's
(15:44):
called a return pass.
And so one row actually goesthis way and then that way, and
that's one full row.
And so what you end up with isthicker fabric, which can curl
if you are using a hook that istoo small.
So you'll typically have aTunisian hook for a DK project.
(16:04):
This is DK yarn, and I used a Ithink I use an eight millimeter
hook for this.
And that's because I want thisvery nice drapey look as opposed
to something super, super tightand stiff, which you really
don't want.
And that's what's indicativethat people kind of sometimes
think about when they thinkabout crochet is the stiffness.
And it doesn't have to be thatway.
(16:24):
All people have to do is changecircles and you get something
light and airy.
This project I would put isvery, very easy because you
have, these large swatches ofthe same stitch.
And you only need three stitchesthat you need to do.
But yeah, it is...
I feel like Tunisian crochet isreally having a moment as well
(16:46):
right now.
People are absolutely loving it.
I know quite a few designerscoming out with books that are
focused on Tunisian crochet.
And I have found...
I have found it to be reallyrewarding to be able to design
with Tunisian crochet becauseyou...
catch the eye of a knitter.
You catch that, oh my gosh, whatis that?
It's just simple enough thatthey're not sure if it's crochet
(17:10):
or knit.
And people really like to do it.
You can do cables with it in thesame way that you do cables with
knit, which is really fun.
So the crossover is really tightthere.
And I found more and moreknitters giving it a try because
it makes quick sense in theirhead.
That is, you can tunish andcrochet without looking because
(17:33):
just like with knitting you'regoing into the same spot and so
you can do it eventually
SPEAKER_01 (17:42):
Yeah, I find that when I just started learning how
to Tunisian crochet, and I thinkit is because it looks a little
bit more like knitting.
Like you are going on that firstpass, you're picking up all
these stitches, all these loopsonto your hook or needle, and
then it looks like you've almostcast on.
And then the reverse pass or thereturn pass is very relaxing
(18:05):
because you're like closingeverything off almost.
It's like a really, reallyinteresting feeling.
But I feel like I need to learnmore or discover more Tunisian
Tunisian crochet patterns toknow what to make, which is why
like, it feels like veryimportant to see more and more
crochet designs out there.
So like I've been lookingthrough your website and looking
at all the patterns that you've,you've made and shawls, drapey
(18:27):
shawls that look like they'vebeen knit.
Um, yeah, they're beautiful.
Beautiful.
SPEAKER_00 (18:33):
Thank you.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, I don't have as manyTunisian projects as I would
like.
Um, That's going to change.
I just got new hooks, so got touse them.
That's actually why I'm froggingthis project, is because I'm
going to change it fromtraditional crochet to Tunisian
crochet.
But I have so many friends thatare doing it right now.
(18:57):
Serena from the crochet tier,she is Fabulous, Ecklory
Designs, obviously Tony, Justthe Worsted.
They are just doing amazingstuff with Tunisian crochet.
And sometimes I'm too far in aweof looking at their designs to
sit down and do my own inTunisian.
So it's always really fun for mebecause I don't feel like being
(19:22):
a designer in this industry is acompetitive thing.
I just have all these friendsthat do things that I like doing
and I just want to support themand Make sure they're just as
successful, if not more.
I'm always the kind of personthat is saying, I probably can't
help you with that right nowbecause I'm a mom of three and
I'm a stay-at-home mom first andI'm pretty, pretty busy.
(19:44):
But I know at least five otherdesigners that want that
opportunity and I love to givetheir information to other
people that are looking for it.
SPEAKER_01 (19:54):
That's beautiful, the way that you look at that.
And also, I know that when Icame to H&H and I met you for
the first time, it was throughwatching your panel
presentation, talking aboutcommunity and building
communities and how important itis to build communities and
where you build communities.
How do you engage?
How do you support all of that?
Can you talk a little bit aboutthis community that you've
created around crochet and allthe things that you're working
(20:18):
on?
Because And yeah, I've put myhead in and it's very vibrant
and it's very warm.
People are wonderful and really,really nice.
Yeah.
Can you talk a little bit aboutyour community?
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (20:30):
So I as as we've like grown in this industry and
Instagram has become less andless of that community that
we're used to in, I think.
what, like 2014, of being ableto have a conversation under a
post, I wanted to bring thatback.
And so I created a community onDiscord, which is kind of a
(20:53):
server-based bulletin board sortof community.
So it's a little foreign forsome people, but once you jump
in, it makes a lot of sense.
So basically anyone can join.
And we talk about anythingcrochet or we talk about
literally just anything.
If someone comes in and theyhave a bad day and they want to
share it, we want to help themand support them through it.
All we ask is that, you know,you you stay kind and you use
(21:16):
kind words and there's places tohave certain kind of
conversations.
You can opt in.
You can opt out.
Unlike Instagram, like messagesor things like that.
Everything is still in theconversation always.
So if you were searching becausesomeone shared this cool pattern
and you were like, oh, what wasthat?
You could actually go find it,which is really helpful.
(21:39):
I like to jump in there and.
get suggestions on what I shouldmake next or I share other
people's patterns or I just gotyarn in the mail and I can't
wait to share it.
I give my Discord communitymembers everything first.
They get everything in theinception phase.
So they might see a sketch.
They might see a swatch.
They might just see a photo andthey're in and they want to tell
(22:02):
me like, Britt, that's a goodidea.
Britt, that's not a good idea.
They'll let me know if they'refeeling like doing mohair this
year or they're really not intoit because at the end of the
day, they are who i make for andso i i want to make for them and
and they know that and uhbecause our community is so kind
and so open they help each otherso i also do run all of my
(22:26):
pattern tests through discord aswell and i let people know hey
you know you can you can be afirst-time tester in my group i
love that you can be afirst-time crocheter and test
for me I love that because Iwant to know how clear my stuff
is.
But also know that I'm not here24-7 because that's life.
And so if you have a question,you can put a question in there
(22:46):
and then someone else canpossibly answer that for you and
are happy to do it.
And there's a lot of ownershipand pride in being able to help
and build that community.
We don't have any issue of liketoo many disagreements or
anything like that.
But what I do love is thateveryone there is looking to
learn.
So if someone is using anoutdated term that they didn't
(23:09):
know that they shouldn't beusing, my space is a great place
to say hey just so you know thathas these connotations and you
know we do our best not to usethose terms and everyone's happy
and appreciative of it becauseit comes from a place of love
and support it's not a hey yousaid the wrong thing you should
know better because we don't allknow and at a certain point in
(23:30):
time you don't you don't knowwhat you don't know and we we
carry on with that knowledge andwe move on and sometimes um you
know, you fall into bad habitsthat you were trying to get out
of.
And it's okay to be imperfectand to make mistakes.
And I want people to feel warmthere.
We also do You know, we'll dolike little craft nights
sometimes and we'll pop in andturn our cameras on and just
(23:53):
chit chat with and, you know,make some stuff and, you know,
work on a couple of whips oranything like that.
I have an open space where otherdesigners can also be a part of
it.
So because it's not all aboutme.
I don't want all that attention,to be honest.
So I invite as many designers asthey want to come and, hey,
(24:13):
share your sale with Share yourpattern, your new release.
Tell us to go like your posts,like whatever you want,
whatever, however we can supportthe craft community and
specifically the crochet craftcommunity and people of color.
We're going to do it.
I also have a little secret spotin my little Discord that's just
for designers.
(24:34):
So we can talk about whatever wewant to talk about.
We can share contracts.
We can, you know, help eachother figure out if this is the
right thing to ask for.
I'm very, very, very, very bigon, hey, you need to ask for
what you need.
you need to ask for more thanyarn support.
And I, I drill that down intothe people that are there.
(24:55):
It's like, it's okay.
You can't, you know, buygroceries with yarn.
It's very pretty.
Yes.
But at a certain point in time,we have to ask for what, what we
need and helping people craftand navigate those
conversations.
I, I'm a people manager first.
That's like, that was always oneof my passions is to help people
be their best selves.
And so I, I really enjoybringing that part of me to
(25:19):
designers in the craft industry.
And honestly, anyone who's inthe craft industry, I always
have some kind of something thatI can share with them to help
them make their business just alittle bit better.
And I feel like if we're alldoing better and expecting more,
then we're raising up our entireindustry.
SPEAKER_01 (25:40):
Absolutely.
I mean, we always talk aboutthis, like the idea of building
a bigger pie, you know, justmore people, just adding more
people and encouraging morepeople.
And I can just see like your,your personality is so much
about sharing and growing andbuilding and lifting each other
up.
And you can see that in how youdescribe your community, how you
(26:02):
talk about it, how you'rewanting to share other people's
work and just make connections,help people make connections and
meet each other almost.
And especially, I think, Youknow, in some of these crafts
where it's hard to sometimesfind your people.
And so you're collectingtogether the people.
And so I feel like somebodywho's joining your community is
(26:23):
immediately going to feel athome.
They're going to yeah, they'rejust going to hopefully feel at
home.
And I think it comes throughwith what you had talked about
before, building that Makers ofColor Collective.
Can you talk a little bit moreabout that initiative?
Because I feel like that's alsovery much an extension of this
(26:45):
desire to share and to connectpeople.
SPEAKER_00 (26:47):
Originally, the Makers of Color Collective was
just an Instagram account that Icreated to reshare and repost
things that I saw other makersof color making and just to help
uplift and light their signal.
It developed into a directorywhere I allowed people to create
listings and be more specificand intentional about what
(27:10):
they're sharing online.
So they have a bio, a couple ofphotos, their contact
information, their socials,things like that, what they do.
And it was for anyone.
You could be a weaver, aspinner, a tester, a grader,
more than just being a designer.
Everything that has to do withyarn, you belong there in order
(27:34):
to lift your light.
It was really lovely to get sucha great response to it.
I think we have over 100 peopleon there.
I want to give it so much moreattention and to do a complete
rebrand, not a rebrand, but likere, um, restructuring of it just
(27:55):
so it can be even more usefulbut I never stopped talking
about it even in its currentstate because I do believe that
you know having it done isbetter than having it perfect
and as a self-proclaimedperfectionist that was really
hard for me but I wanted to giveit I wanted it to be out there
because it's still useful andpeople still use it one of the
things that I was really proudof with doing it is I wanted to
(28:17):
provide opportunity for peopleso I think it was 2023 I created
the maker's Color Collectivecalendar.
And so it was 12 differentpatterns from 12 different
designers.
And it was lovely.
It was sold in a couple ofstores, a couple of yarn stores.
(28:37):
People were selling it online.
It was selling out on my ownsite.
I think we sold like 500 copiesor something like that.
And it's something that I wouldreally love to get back to
because I know how powerfulpublication can be.
And the publications aredwindling.
So I would love to be able toprovide that opportunity again,
(28:58):
because we had some very smalldesigners have their signals
lifted just by being a part ofthat.
And having that be somethingthat comes back year after year
after year is going to beamazing.
So that's probably one of mybiggest goals for the Makers of
Color Collective over time.
SPEAKER_01 (29:16):
It's, it's quite an amazing idea.
It's quite an amazinginitiative.
I remember when you firststarted it, and I thought about
it for years, I've been thinkingabout it, actually, for years
and years, this idea.
Because, I don't know, I feellike I might be aging myself.
But to look back at, you know,what you're saying about like
(29:38):
seeing people like you on screenor in publications or in shows
and things like that.
When I was growing up, I feellike I saw I saw no Asians
represented at all ontelevision.
I think the only person I eversaw on TV who was Asian was Yan
Can Cook.
I don't know if you ever heardof this guy.
(29:59):
Yes, I do.
SPEAKER_00 (30:00):
Oh my gosh.
I'm from California.
I love Yan Can Cook.
SPEAKER_01 (30:06):
That's all I know about like being Chinese and
that's what it was and justnever ever saw anybody who
looked like me represented inanything and I just always kind
of grew up feeling like wellthat's just the way it is and I
just do what I do and I just dothe best that I can do.
And so a few years ago on myYouTube channel, I started to
(30:29):
get some comments from people.
They're like, oh, I love seeingyou do what you do.
And the fact that you're Asianis great.
Like you're able to represent.
And I was like, I don't knowwhat I'm representing.
I'm just me making things andtalking about what I make.
But now more and more like, Imean, my kids are basically
about the same age as your kids.
And now my kids are growing upand they are able to see Asians
(30:54):
represent on YouTube, on screen,in shows and movies and
everything.
And I can see how it makes themso proud to be who they are.
They're like, oh, they look justlike me.
And I guess growing up the waythat I did, it never really
occurred to me how much thatwould affect me and how
different it is their experiencehas been.
(31:16):
And so now the more and more Ithink about it, I think, yeah, I
think it's great to be able tobe there doing the things,
sharing the things, andhopefully somebody else might
also feel, yeah, like they canrelate a little bit.
So I appreciate that you've putthis together.
(31:37):
I think it's a huge thing.
SPEAKER_00 (31:39):
Thank you.
That means so much becausesometimes I'm like, oh, it's
just there.
You could do better.
You could do more with it.
Like a little bit here, a littlebit there.
But knowing that it stillexists, It's, you know, it's not
something, I mean, obviouslyit's free to use.
I have this joke where I tellpeople that, you know, it runs
(32:00):
on donations and debt.
We just get it done.
And I know that I'm providingopportunities.
Like, you know, the first yearof Flock, I got a booth and I
filled it with things fromMakers of Color Collective,
people that can't get therebecause it's cross prohibitive.
So everything in my little boothwas like a little boutique and
it was all for Makers of Color.
And it was so great because Iwas able to generate revenue for
(32:23):
people half a dozen differentmakers in the industry and let
people know that, hey, we're outhere.
Here's everyone's card.
Please take everyone's card,everyone's information, contact
them for other things.
Last year, I focused on onedesigner, did a whole business
incubator with Little WingFibers, and it was her first big
(32:44):
event.
And we just rocked it.
We sold all of her yarn.
I still had a little bit of alittle maker booth.
I had, you know, the knitting PTcame and I was selling her
things and Tony was there andSasha Hyrie was there.
Like I filled that corner ofpeople of color because I
believe that it is veryimportant for us to see each
(33:04):
other in these spaces.
And I know I'm not alone becausea few weeks ago I went to the, I
think it was the PacificNorthwest Garden Show.
And I only went because anotherBlack creator that I follow was
there.
And then when I got there, sheintroduced me to all the other
four Black creators that werethere.
And we were like, hey, we'rehere.
(33:27):
We're here.
We want to support.
Bought everyone's book.
Got them all signed.
We're to everyone's talk.
Made sure that they saw afriendly, familiar face that
looks like them in the audiencebecause it means something to
them.
And it means something to me.
Seeing ourselves...
doing our favorite things andother people is so wildly
(33:48):
important.
And I don't think that peoplerealize how much they miss it
until they actually get theopportunity to see that.
Um, I know for a fact, becausepeople have come up to me when
I'm out, when I'm at Vogue, whenI'm at flock, when I'm out in
the world, cause I'm too manyplaces sometimes.
And they tell me this directlythat, Hey, I went out and
(34:10):
crocheted in public because Iknew that you were doing that or
I I found these other designersbecause of you.
I found this dyer that I reallywanted to give my money to a
person of color.
And that's how I found them wasthrough you.
People are using that tool.
And I think it's no small thing.
I think there's a lot of peoplethat are in the industry that
(34:32):
either don't share theirheritage or are a little unsure
if they should share theirheritage.
At one point in time, I had, Iwas pushing a hashtag, which was
like melanated hands, like putyour hands in your photos and
just show us who you are.
And I actually got quite a fewmessages from people who were
(34:52):
fair skin and saying, Hey, myskin's not Brown, but I'm a
person of color.
And I was like, maybe we come inall kinds of shades, be proud,
let people know, like, Put yourhands in your photos, be proud,
say who you are.
I don't check people's heritageon the Makers of Color
Collective.
That's weird.
(35:13):
So if you are a person of colorand you identify that, whatever
that means for you and yourheritage, you belong there.
I'm just trying to make a spacefor people to belong.
SPEAKER_01 (35:22):
I found that like over the past couple of years,
because, you know, we have Ihave been in this position where
I'm like, oh, I don't know howmuch of, you know, myself I
should share because, you know,Sweet George is a company that
we make yarn and we make colorsand let's focus on those things.
And then a couple of years ago.
(35:44):
Our team was developing colorsand they wanted to develop a
color for Chinese New Year tocelebrate Chinese New Year.
And initially I was like, oh, Idon't know if we should do that.
And then just me saying that, Ithink really deflated many of
them because a lot of our teamis Asian.
And I think that they were like,oh, yeah.
(36:04):
Well, because it represented somuch a part of them and it was
part of their identity.
And like, I want to share thatwith everybody in the community.
I want to share who I am andwhat I celebrate and what gets
me excited and all these kindsof things.
So we did.
We released a colorway forChinese New Year, for Lunar New
Year.
And we've been doing that eversince.
And I think that it's a thingbecause the people on the team
(36:28):
here, they also want to be ableto represent and say, like, this
is who I am.
This is me.
what I'm like, and I want toshare that with you.
And so I think being able to dothat has been a really, like a
really beautiful thing.
So I love that you areencouraging this in everyone.
And yeah, definitely using yourpower of connection to bring
(36:48):
people together and share andlift up everyone in the
community.
It's brilliant.
Yeah.
I am learning.
Yeah, I have been learning a lotabout myself and like thinking a
lot about about all of this asI've been like learning more
about you and what you've youhave been doing in the
(37:10):
community.
So it's been it's been quiteenlightening.
It's actually been quiteenlightening.
So thank you.
I
SPEAKER_00 (37:20):
know what you mean, because it feels like sometimes
we We sit back and we're like,well, do we really need to do
that on certain things that arepersonal to us culturally?
And I encourage everyone to bethere full of self and to take
as much space as they want.
And to know that everyone, Ifeel like this industry really
(37:41):
wants to know everyone.
And authenticity is so huge,right?
So showing just a little bit ofyourself can go really, really
far.
You know, yesterday wasJuneteenth.
Juneteenth means something veryspecific to me.
It's not new.
It's not just a holiday that Igot off.
That's a new thing.
(38:02):
But it's very important to me.
And I think I take my own timewith it.
And so I don't really push muchinto it.
I don't put too much into itbecause it's for me.
And I'm also quite a privateperson.
I don't actually share that muchof my private life online.
I got kids.
So it's kind of boring overhere, but I got kids, but it's,
(38:23):
you know, I want to share thosesmall things.
And, and I think that the, Ithink the internet has made us
feel like we have to give somuch of ourselves and share and
show and perform so much.
And I'm trying to take moreownership and take some of that
back.
and say, hey, I'm going to shareexactly what I want you to know.
And sometimes it's going to beculturally specific, and
(38:46):
sometimes it's not.
But I do take a little bit ofcarefulness, and I share more of
that in my Discord of what'sgoing on, of the day-to-day kind
of thing, as opposed to on thesocials these days, just because
it's hard to be everywhere allthe time.
(39:07):
And I'm exhausted.
I know I'm not the only one whenI say that the burnout on these
socials has been more than itneeds to be, which is why I try
to bring people into my smallergroup to be like, hey, this is
where you're going to get themost of me.
This is what I can show up themost for, and I will be here
(39:28):
more consistently than anywhereelse.
And it's worked out really,really well.
And I think in the industryright now, people are feeling
that more.
They're definitely feeling like,okay, where am I going to put my
energy?
Because we want it to be asauthentic as possible.
SPEAKER_01 (39:47):
I agree 100%.
This idea of bringing yourcommunity around you rather than
broadcasting things on socialmedia.
And like I said, my kids areyoung and I don't really want to
post things about them anymoreon social media.
It just doesn't feel like aplace that I want to spend that
kind of time.
So I appreciate you coming andchatting with me today.
(40:09):
I for sure am learning lots andlots of things.
And I'm excited to hear moreabout where you are planning to
take things over say like thenext year um where can people
sort of find you obviously yourcommunity is a great place to
find you but where else are youkind of focusing a lot of your
attention and what are you sortof expanding into
SPEAKER_00 (40:29):
yeah so i'm moving into teaching more i have been
known to say uh you know we havea lot of crochet one-on-one but
we don't have a lot of crochetbeyond that for classes.
And so I'm putting my moneywhere my mouth is and I'm out
there and I'm teaching now.
So I've been teaching someTunisian crochet locally here in
Seattle.
I'm going to be teaching atFlock, two classes actually,
(40:52):
teaching with Kate Oates.
We designed something that'slike magical, ridiculous,
amazing, Rwanda in tandemtogether.
There's a crochet and a knitversion, which is something I do
rather often.
It's designed that way.
And so we're teaching thattogether.
I'm also teaching mosaic crochetat Flock.
And what else am I doing?
After that, I'm going to be atKnit City Vancouver, which is
(41:16):
going to be super fun.
I'm just going to be, you know,around.
I'm just going to be around.
I'm very excited.
I'm very excited.
So I'm coming.
I'm coming for you.
And then after that...
Yeah, I love Vancouver.
I can't wait.
Just taking the train up north.
It's going to be great.
What else am I doing?
Oh, I'm teaching at SacredSheep, more mosaic crochet.
(41:37):
I'm really, really excited forthat one.
I love a startup, so I love thesmaller, newer festivals that
have been popping up.
Outside of that, I'm reallyfocused on...
It's funny.
This is actually kind ofhilarious, but in the spirit
of...
providing more opportunities forpeople.
I've been working with a yarncompany and providing
(42:00):
opportunities for otherdesigners to be paid commissions
and earn royalties for designingfor them.
So I've been working with BadSheep Yarn to do that, which has
been really fun.
And so that's been a large partof my business these days is
finding people and findingopportunities for them through
that.
More garments, more shawls.
(42:20):
Every year I do a mini skeinpattern.
This year, We're only going todo one.
One year I did two.
That was hard.
So we're going to do one thisyear.
They always come out rightaround January 1st-ish.
And, yeah, I'm just going tokeep trucking, you know, keep
(42:41):
fighting the good fight, keeptelling everyone to crochet.
You know, who knows?
Maybe, maybe next year, thecalendar will come back.
Who knows?
Who knows what will happen?
Once my kid is in kindergarten,anything's possible.
That youngest in that eighthours of school.
And maybe I'll be able to thinkagain.
(43:01):
I hear you completely.
UNKNOWN (43:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (43:05):
That's already a lot on your plate.
And you still have kids at home.
That's definitely a lot ofthings to tackle.
So I'm so excited to hear aboutall your plans.
I'm so excited to hear thatyou're coming to Vancouver.
That's going to be super fun.
Yeah, fantastic.
Thank you so much for spendingthe time with me today.
It's been such a pleasurelearning more about your design,
(43:29):
about your projects, about allyour initiatives.
And we will definitely sendpeople to your website and to
your Instagram account, but alsomainly your community if they
want to join there as well.
Thank you so much for joining metoday, Britt.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Hello and welcome to the Sweet Georgia Show.
I am Felicia Lowe from SweetGeorgia Yarns and I will be your
host.
Our guest today is a designer,an advocate, and a true
visionary in the world ofcrochet.
Through her brand, Not Bad Brit,she is not only creating
stunning modern patterns thatchallenge our perceptions of the
craft, but she is also buildinga more inclusive community with
(00:22):
her unique initiative, theMakers of Color Collective.
Please join me in giving a warmwelcome to Brit Garber.
Thanks so much for being heretoday.
SPEAKER_00 (00:31):
Thank you for having me.
Hello everybody.
SPEAKER_01 (00:35):
Well, so I'm really excited about this because I
feel like I have been livingunder a rock.
And I know that like lots ofthings have happened over the
past couple of years, but I havediscovered that you started
crocheting around 2015.
And you started this MakersColor Collective in 2019.
(00:56):
And then you started designingin 2020.
And I know like lots of thingshappened in 2019 and 2020.
And so just like, I remember allof that being quite a blur.
And so recently, you know,crochet has been having a
moment.
It's going through a bigresurgence.
Lots of people are coming tocrochet, wanting to learn to
(01:17):
crochet, wanting to learn tomake lots of new projects, all
sorts of things like that.
And so people in our SweetGeorgia community were reaching
out to me and saying, hey, youshould talk to Britt from Not
Bad Britt.
And I was like, oh, okay.
And then we were also talkingabout bringing in crochet
classes for the School of SweetGeorgia.
And they were like, oh, youshould talk to John Pat Britton.
(01:38):
And then it turns out that youwere going to H&H as well.
And so...
At least we finally got a chanceto meet in person at H&H ever so
briefly.
But, you know, we got a chanceto talk for just a few minutes
and I've been wanting to sitdown and have a longer
conversation with you about, youknow, everything that you're
(01:58):
doing.
So can you sort of start us offfrom the very beginning for
anybody in our community whodoesn't know you or what you're
doing?
Sort of what's your background?
How did you get started?
Where are you from?
All of these things.
SPEAKER_00 (02:11):
Oh, yes.
So I have such an interestingbackground because I don't come
from craft.
No one in my family crochets.
No one in my family knits.
No one in my family doesanything with yarn at all.
It's just me.
And I'm completely self-taught.
I kind of was...
(02:32):
brought up to not lean too farinto crafty and artsy things,
which is really interestingsince that's now all that I do.
But I wanted to prove to myselfwhen I got pregnant with my
first daughter that I could makesomething, I could create
something and I could becreative.
And so I, you know, I went downto Joanne's, I got a very, very
(02:54):
large hook and got some very,very thick blanket yarn.
And I was like, let's go.
And I tried to teach myself lotof crochet and I failed
miserably.
I threw it out across the roomand I was just, I rage quit is
how I describe it.
I got very upset.
And, uh, after that I was like,uh, All right.
(03:15):
I gave like a week.
I said, Brett, you're not aquitter.
So, you know, let's give this ago again.
And then all of a sudden itclicked.
And I was like, okay, I candouble crochet.
I can chain.
I can single crochet.
Like those are things.
I think that's the basis ofsomething.
And I found a simple freepattern to make a blanket that I
thought was just the coolestlooking texture.
(03:36):
And I ended up making a blanketthat looks like it has seven
sides.
I did not know how to finish it.
I did not know how to add aborder.
It was, it is quite interestinglooking, but my daughter's now
10 and she sleeps with it everysingle night.
So it is totally worth it.
But after that experience, youcouldn't catch me without, you
(03:56):
know, a yarn and hook in myhand.
I am from a tech background.
So I used to work for startupsand create customer service
teams and startups.
And so I knew that i would beleaving that job and would be a
stay-at-home parent when she wasborn and so i was just
(04:16):
crocheting all the time i wastesting i was uh sample making
and i was also looking forpeople in the community that
also did this that looks like meand i've always been someone who
um has always been attracted tothe person who looks like them
on television or in movies or inmusic or anything like that.
(04:37):
So I wanted that same experiencehere.
And I was having a hard timefinding that.
It wasn't until I came acrossTony from Teal Yarn Crafts and I
saw hands that looked like minein a video.
I was like, oh, I want to knoweverything that that person
does.
I want to do everything thatthey do.
Because I know I'm not unique inthe idea of being like growing
(05:01):
up as a young black girl beingtold that, hey, you need to go
get a corporate job, you need todo this, you need to do this,
you need to do this and notbeing creative.
And so for me to see someoneelse who looks like me in a
creative space was verypowerful.
And I knew very quickly that ifI felt that way that quickly,
Somebody else wants to feel thatway, too.
So once I started Not Bad Brit,I almost immediately founded the
(05:25):
Makers of Color Collectivebecause I felt like we needed a
space to be able to findourselves and see ourselves
doing our favorite thing.
And that's always been very,very, very, very, very, very,
very important to me to to findspace.
makers of color in thisindustry, bring them together,
uplift them and whether it isfunded by my own pocket or
(05:49):
donations, it lives and it keepsgoing.
So I've always just wanted to bea part of that.
SPEAKER_01 (05:56):
For sure.
So I definitely want to ask youmore about the makers of Color
Collective.
That is a huge topic for sureand a huge project.
But just going back to when youfirst started crocheting, like
how were you learning how tocrochet at that time?
Were you learning from books orfrom videos?
I know when I started learninghow to crochet, it was I started
crocheting before I learned howto knit, but it was from like
(06:18):
the same sort of photocopiedbooklets.
And I like crocheted a littlebit.
And but then I was like, I don'treally know what I'm going to
make.
So then I put it down and thenstarted knitting and immediately
started making things.
So I'm wondering like what yourlearning process was like and
what sort of captivated youabout crochet over all other
kinds of crafts in terms of youwanted to make something.
SPEAKER_00 (06:41):
Yeah, I got a book from the library.
To be honest, I got a book.
I'm a tactile person.
I'm actually not that fond ofvideo at the time.
And so I needed to be able tosee everything as pictorials and
to see where everything went andto go from there.
So I learned directly from abook.
(07:04):
I can't remember which one, butit was a simple book.
And I continuously go back tobooks.
I am notorious for when I wantedto learn how to Tunisian
crochet, I checked out everyTunisian crochet book that the
Seattle public library had andkept them for a while so I could
learn and learn the stitches.
Uh, yeah, but that's, that'sdefinitely how I did it.
(07:24):
And I didn't even considerlearning how to knit.
I didn't know anything about it.
Um, I think I picked crochetcause it's one tool versus two.
And I was like, that, That mustbe simpler.
I wasn't sure that I had thehand dexterity for knitting,
which is so interesting.
Now, obviously, I know how toknit.
And it's just like, well, it wasliterally a flip of a coin, I
(07:46):
think, at that point.
And
SPEAKER_01 (07:50):
so you made this blanket at the very beginning.
And then you just started to godown this path of finding other
crochet designers and thenmaking their patterns for
samples or testing and thingslike that?
SPEAKER_00 (08:03):
Yeah, I quickly jumped right into making shawls
because I did not enjoy making along starting chain.
And most of the shawls I startedwith was like, chain five.
I was like, that sounds great.
So I dove into shawls and I veryquickly discovered fingering
weight yarn and just fell inlove with drape and the movement
(08:25):
of things.
I also started Tunisiancrocheting very, very, very,
very early.
It was probably my secondproject.
I don't know why.
but I just came across it andcontinued to do that.
And yeah, I, I probably, I thinkmy first, like my first garment
was a test.
(08:46):
I just was diving right in feetfirst, trying to stay busy,
trying to discover everything Icould about different fibers.
I think I was following knitcrate for a while there and knit
crate, like, was just a greatsupplier of different fibers.
And it was just so satisfying toget that little box and learn
about alpaca and learning about,you know, merino and different
(09:09):
things.
And now I'm just obsessed withhand dyed yarn.
So it served me very, very well.
SPEAKER_01 (09:14):
Fantastic.
Like the beautiful pullover thatyou're wearing right now.
SPEAKER_00 (09:21):
Yeah, this was, this is my first garment design.
This is the impressionspullover.
Yeah, I'm, I'm someone who geeksout really, really hard on the
small things.
And so I was teaching myself howto design a garment because what
a lot of people don't understandis that there aren't.
crochet garment books like toteach you how to make a garment
(09:44):
or to teach you how to design agarment or grade a garment they
don't exist so I dove intoknitting books to get that
knowledge and had which is why Ilearned how to knit is so that I
could learn from that and uh ittook me I want to say this is
probably this took me like 18months to go from learning,
concept, grading to releasebecause I've made three of them.
(10:09):
And I took classes and all ofthese things.
So this is currently my prideand joy.
I'm going to wear it until itfalls apart.
SPEAKER_01 (10:17):
It looks amazing.
And we are definitely going toput up some photos on the show
notes and everything soeverybody can see it and we'll
link to it and everything.
But it's a beautiful pullover.
And that's really interesting,the point that you mentioned
about how there's no books orlearning material to learn from
in order to learn how to designa crocheted garment um so you
went from learning how tocrochet crocheting samples for
(10:40):
people and then starting todesign um just a few years ago
and teaching yourself basicallyhow to design and grade garments
through reading knitting booksand things like that um what
else have you sort of likebrought in from your sort of
sample making test making sortof um learning and brought that
(11:02):
into your design work.
What kind of things are you mostenjoying designing?
I
SPEAKER_00 (11:08):
learned very quickly not to design something, not to
continue to design somethingthat I don't like to make.
So I've been known to startsomething and try to have these
grandiose ideas.
And then in the middle of it,I'm like, I really, I'm not
enjoying this.
And if I don't enjoy it, mycustomers aren't going to enjoy
it.
My community is not going toenjoy it.
(11:29):
And I don't want to push adesign element on someone that
they're not gonna have a goodtime with.
It's just not the way that Ilike to make.
Like right now, right below meis a project that I need to frog
because no one wants to cut yarnlike that.
So like it was a good idea, butyou know what?
No one's gonna wanna cut thisyarn.
So let's make it into somethingthat they want.
(11:50):
So really having a good idea asto who my customers are has
always been very important tome.
I'm someone who will typically,Use very basic stitches.
This is the same stitch.
everywhere, but the way that itworks with the yarn is something
that I pay a lot of attentionto.
I like to work with a lot ofvariegated things.
(12:10):
I love designing with, with miniskeins, which is its own mental
challenge.
But I've learned that if I keepthings simple so that people can
get the concepts really, reallyearly, like 10 rows tops, it's
very satisfying.
And it's not always, you can'talways do that when you're
moving towards garments becauseyou do have to work with
(12:31):
shaping, but But for the mostpart, if you can keep it
classic, people are going tohave more enjoyment in making
it.
And I've really found thatthrough my sample making because
I made some samples where I waslike this is awful I don't want
to do this but I'm going to butI really don't want to and I
don't want someone to have thatexperience with my own pattern.
SPEAKER_01 (12:53):
Yeah I noticed like I think I read on your website
you're saying that your designsare aiming to be easy to
memorize after a first few rowsmaking them perfect for
crocheting in front of yourfavorite tv show and I used to
talk about that with knitting itbeing like potato chip knitting
because you could just like do alittle bit and then you don't
have you you don't want to putit down, but then it's also
(13:13):
really, really easy.
And you just kind of keep, keepgoing with it.
Um, I find that if I'mcrocheting, I have to look at my
work though.
So do you get to a pointeventually with practice where
you can just crochet withoutlooking like, no, no,
SPEAKER_00 (13:27):
I don't look.
Um, it's probably one of thereasons why, um, okay.
So most stitches I have to lookif I'm doing, um, a double
crochet and it's like there'schains involved or something
like that, I can probably getaway with just inserting the
hook and seeing it and thenfinishing it without looking at
(13:48):
it.
But for the most part, I stillhave to look down at my work all
the time.
There's just too many places youcan misplace that hook and then
it's cartons.
SPEAKER_01 (13:58):
Yeah, okay, that's good to know.
From somebody who's anexperienced crocheter, I'm like,
oh, should I be able to find thehole to stick the hook into
without looking?
But okay, that's awesome.
For anybody who doesn't reallyknow yet, can you explain sort
of the difference betweenTunisian crochet and sort of
standard crochet as we know it?
SPEAKER_00 (14:18):
Absolutely.
So I like to call Tunisiancrochet the link between
knitting and crocheting becauseI think...
because you're using both hands,just like most knitters are
using both hands, it's an easierkind of concept for them to move
into.
So I don't happen to have thehooks near me, which is very
(14:39):
rare because I moved upstairs,but I do have traditional hooks
or Tunisian crochet project.
So this shawl is the Elusashawl, and it's Tunisian
crochet.
And it uses what we call theTunisian knit stitch, which
looks like a knit stitch.
And it uses a purl stitch, aTunisian purl stitch, which
looks like a purl stitch.
(15:00):
And the way that it works is youhold your hook kind of more
horizontal as you're goingacross your work.
And instead of...
Instead of doing one row all theway through, our stable hook
will typically beinterchangeable and it'll have
just the same kind of connectorsas any kind of interchangeable
(15:23):
knit needle.
I'm so used to saying hook.
And a stopper on the end.
And so you'll go into yourproject and you'll pick up
little loops of yarn as you'regoing through and inserting it
into the project.
And as you've picked up each oneof those loops on the side, you
get to the very end of yourproject, and then you do what's
(15:44):
called a return pass.
And so one row actually goesthis way and then that way, and
that's one full row.
And so what you end up with isthicker fabric, which can curl
if you are using a hook that istoo small.
So you'll typically have aTunisian hook for a DK project.
(16:04):
This is DK yarn, and I used a Ithink I use an eight millimeter
hook for this.
And that's because I want thisvery nice drapey look as opposed
to something super, super tightand stiff, which you really
don't want.
And that's what's indicativethat people kind of sometimes
think about when they thinkabout crochet is the stiffness.
And it doesn't have to be thatway.
(16:24):
All people have to do is changecircles and you get something
light and airy.
This project I would put isvery, very easy because you
have, these large swatches ofthe same stitch.
And you only need three stitchesthat you need to do.
But yeah, it is...
I feel like Tunisian crochet isreally having a moment as well
(16:46):
right now.
People are absolutely loving it.
I know quite a few designerscoming out with books that are
focused on Tunisian crochet.
And I have found...
I have found it to be reallyrewarding to be able to design
with Tunisian crochet becauseyou...
catch the eye of a knitter.
You catch that, oh my gosh, whatis that?
It's just simple enough thatthey're not sure if it's crochet
(17:10):
or knit.
And people really like to do it.
You can do cables with it in thesame way that you do cables with
knit, which is really fun.
So the crossover is really tightthere.
And I found more and moreknitters giving it a try because
it makes quick sense in theirhead.
That is, you can tunish andcrochet without looking because
(17:33):
just like with knitting you'regoing into the same spot and so
you can do it eventually
SPEAKER_01 (17:42):
Yeah, I find that when I just started learning how
to Tunisian crochet, and I thinkit is because it looks a little
bit more like knitting.
Like you are going on that firstpass, you're picking up all
these stitches, all these loopsonto your hook or needle, and
then it looks like you've almostcast on.
And then the reverse pass or thereturn pass is very relaxing
(18:05):
because you're like closingeverything off almost.
It's like a really, reallyinteresting feeling.
But I feel like I need to learnmore or discover more Tunisian
Tunisian crochet patterns toknow what to make, which is why
like, it feels like veryimportant to see more and more
crochet designs out there.
So like I've been lookingthrough your website and looking
at all the patterns that you've,you've made and shawls, drapey
(18:27):
shawls that look like they'vebeen knit.
Um, yeah, they're beautiful.
Beautiful.
SPEAKER_00 (18:33):
Thank you.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, I don't have as manyTunisian projects as I would
like.
Um, That's going to change.
I just got new hooks, so got touse them.
That's actually why I'm froggingthis project, is because I'm
going to change it fromtraditional crochet to Tunisian
crochet.
But I have so many friends thatare doing it right now.
(18:57):
Serena from the crochet tier,she is Fabulous, Ecklory
Designs, obviously Tony, Justthe Worsted.
They are just doing amazingstuff with Tunisian crochet.
And sometimes I'm too far in aweof looking at their designs to
sit down and do my own inTunisian.
So it's always really fun for mebecause I don't feel like being
(19:22):
a designer in this industry is acompetitive thing.
I just have all these friendsthat do things that I like doing
and I just want to support themand Make sure they're just as
successful, if not more.
I'm always the kind of personthat is saying, I probably can't
help you with that right nowbecause I'm a mom of three and
I'm a stay-at-home mom first andI'm pretty, pretty busy.
(19:44):
But I know at least five otherdesigners that want that
opportunity and I love to givetheir information to other
people that are looking for it.
SPEAKER_01 (19:54):
That's beautiful, the way that you look at that.
And also, I know that when Icame to H&H and I met you for
the first time, it was throughwatching your panel
presentation, talking aboutcommunity and building
communities and how important itis to build communities and
where you build communities.
How do you engage?
How do you support all of that?
Can you talk a little bit aboutthis community that you've
created around crochet and allthe things that you're working
(20:18):
on?
Because And yeah, I've put myhead in and it's very vibrant
and it's very warm.
People are wonderful and really,really nice.
Yeah.
Can you talk a little bit aboutyour community?
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (20:30):
So I as as we've like grown in this industry and
Instagram has become less andless of that community that
we're used to in, I think.
what, like 2014, of being ableto have a conversation under a
post, I wanted to bring thatback.
And so I created a community onDiscord, which is kind of a
(20:53):
server-based bulletin board sortof community.
So it's a little foreign forsome people, but once you jump
in, it makes a lot of sense.
So basically anyone can join.
And we talk about anythingcrochet or we talk about
literally just anything.
If someone comes in and theyhave a bad day and they want to
share it, we want to help themand support them through it.
All we ask is that, you know,you you stay kind and you use
(21:16):
kind words and there's places tohave certain kind of
conversations.
You can opt in.
You can opt out.
Unlike Instagram, like messagesor things like that.
Everything is still in theconversation always.
So if you were searching becausesomeone shared this cool pattern
and you were like, oh, what wasthat?
You could actually go find it,which is really helpful.
(21:39):
I like to jump in there and.
get suggestions on what I shouldmake next or I share other
people's patterns or I just gotyarn in the mail and I can't
wait to share it.
I give my Discord communitymembers everything first.
They get everything in theinception phase.
So they might see a sketch.
They might see a swatch.
They might just see a photo andthey're in and they want to tell
(22:02):
me like, Britt, that's a goodidea.
Britt, that's not a good idea.
They'll let me know if they'refeeling like doing mohair this
year or they're really not intoit because at the end of the
day, they are who i make for andso i i want to make for them and
and they know that and uhbecause our community is so kind
and so open they help each otherso i also do run all of my
(22:26):
pattern tests through discord aswell and i let people know hey
you know you can you can be afirst-time tester in my group i
love that you can be afirst-time crocheter and test
for me I love that because Iwant to know how clear my stuff
is.
But also know that I'm not here24-7 because that's life.
And so if you have a question,you can put a question in there
(22:46):
and then someone else canpossibly answer that for you and
are happy to do it.
And there's a lot of ownershipand pride in being able to help
and build that community.
We don't have any issue of liketoo many disagreements or
anything like that.
But what I do love is thateveryone there is looking to
learn.
So if someone is using anoutdated term that they didn't
(23:09):
know that they shouldn't beusing, my space is a great place
to say hey just so you know thathas these connotations and you
know we do our best not to usethose terms and everyone's happy
and appreciative of it becauseit comes from a place of love
and support it's not a hey yousaid the wrong thing you should
know better because we don't allknow and at a certain point in
(23:30):
time you don't you don't knowwhat you don't know and we we
carry on with that knowledge andwe move on and sometimes um you
know, you fall into bad habitsthat you were trying to get out
of.
And it's okay to be imperfectand to make mistakes.
And I want people to feel warmthere.
We also do You know, we'll dolike little craft nights
sometimes and we'll pop in andturn our cameras on and just
(23:53):
chit chat with and, you know,make some stuff and, you know,
work on a couple of whips oranything like that.
I have an open space where otherdesigners can also be a part of
it.
So because it's not all aboutme.
I don't want all that attention,to be honest.
So I invite as many designers asthey want to come and, hey,
(24:13):
share your sale with Share yourpattern, your new release.
Tell us to go like your posts,like whatever you want,
whatever, however we can supportthe craft community and
specifically the crochet craftcommunity and people of color.
We're going to do it.
I also have a little secret spotin my little Discord that's just
for designers.
(24:34):
So we can talk about whatever wewant to talk about.
We can share contracts.
We can, you know, help eachother figure out if this is the
right thing to ask for.
I'm very, very, very, very bigon, hey, you need to ask for
what you need.
you need to ask for more thanyarn support.
And I, I drill that down intothe people that are there.
(24:55):
It's like, it's okay.
You can't, you know, buygroceries with yarn.
It's very pretty.
Yes.
But at a certain point in time,we have to ask for what, what we
need and helping people craftand navigate those
conversations.
I, I'm a people manager first.
That's like, that was always oneof my passions is to help people
be their best selves.
And so I, I really enjoybringing that part of me to
(25:19):
designers in the craft industry.
And honestly, anyone who's inthe craft industry, I always
have some kind of something thatI can share with them to help
them make their business just alittle bit better.
And I feel like if we're alldoing better and expecting more,
then we're raising up our entireindustry.
SPEAKER_01 (25:40):
Absolutely.
I mean, we always talk aboutthis, like the idea of building
a bigger pie, you know, justmore people, just adding more
people and encouraging morepeople.
And I can just see like your,your personality is so much
about sharing and growing andbuilding and lifting each other
up.
And you can see that in how youdescribe your community, how you
(26:02):
talk about it, how you'rewanting to share other people's
work and just make connections,help people make connections and
meet each other almost.
And especially, I think, Youknow, in some of these crafts
where it's hard to sometimesfind your people.
And so you're collectingtogether the people.
And so I feel like somebodywho's joining your community is
(26:23):
immediately going to feel athome.
They're going to yeah, they'rejust going to hopefully feel at
home.
And I think it comes throughwith what you had talked about
before, building that Makers ofColor Collective.
Can you talk a little bit moreabout that initiative?
Because I feel like that's alsovery much an extension of this
(26:45):
desire to share and to connectpeople.
SPEAKER_00 (26:47):
Originally, the Makers of Color Collective was
just an Instagram account that Icreated to reshare and repost
things that I saw other makersof color making and just to help
uplift and light their signal.
It developed into a directorywhere I allowed people to create
listings and be more specificand intentional about what
(27:10):
they're sharing online.
So they have a bio, a couple ofphotos, their contact
information, their socials,things like that, what they do.
And it was for anyone.
You could be a weaver, aspinner, a tester, a grader,
more than just being a designer.
Everything that has to do withyarn, you belong there in order
(27:34):
to lift your light.
It was really lovely to get sucha great response to it.
I think we have over 100 peopleon there.
I want to give it so much moreattention and to do a complete
rebrand, not a rebrand, but likere, um, restructuring of it just
(27:55):
so it can be even more usefulbut I never stopped talking
about it even in its currentstate because I do believe that
you know having it done isbetter than having it perfect
and as a self-proclaimedperfectionist that was really
hard for me but I wanted to giveit I wanted it to be out there
because it's still useful andpeople still use it one of the
things that I was really proudof with doing it is I wanted to
(28:17):
provide opportunity for peopleso I think it was 2023 I created
the maker's Color Collectivecalendar.
And so it was 12 differentpatterns from 12 different
designers.
And it was lovely.
It was sold in a couple ofstores, a couple of yarn stores.
(28:37):
People were selling it online.
It was selling out on my ownsite.
I think we sold like 500 copiesor something like that.
And it's something that I wouldreally love to get back to
because I know how powerfulpublication can be.
And the publications aredwindling.
So I would love to be able toprovide that opportunity again,
(28:58):
because we had some very smalldesigners have their signals
lifted just by being a part ofthat.
And having that be somethingthat comes back year after year
after year is going to beamazing.
So that's probably one of mybiggest goals for the Makers of
Color Collective over time.
SPEAKER_01 (29:16):
It's, it's quite an amazing idea.
It's quite an amazinginitiative.
I remember when you firststarted it, and I thought about
it for years, I've been thinkingabout it, actually, for years
and years, this idea.
Because, I don't know, I feellike I might be aging myself.
But to look back at, you know,what you're saying about like
(29:38):
seeing people like you on screenor in publications or in shows
and things like that.
When I was growing up, I feellike I saw I saw no Asians
represented at all ontelevision.
I think the only person I eversaw on TV who was Asian was Yan
Can Cook.
I don't know if you ever heardof this guy.
(29:59):
Yes, I do.
SPEAKER_00 (30:00):
Oh my gosh.
I'm from California.
I love Yan Can Cook.
SPEAKER_01 (30:06):
That's all I know about like being Chinese and
that's what it was and justnever ever saw anybody who
looked like me represented inanything and I just always kind
of grew up feeling like wellthat's just the way it is and I
just do what I do and I just dothe best that I can do.
And so a few years ago on myYouTube channel, I started to
(30:29):
get some comments from people.
They're like, oh, I love seeingyou do what you do.
And the fact that you're Asianis great.
Like you're able to represent.
And I was like, I don't knowwhat I'm representing.
I'm just me making things andtalking about what I make.
But now more and more like, Imean, my kids are basically
about the same age as your kids.
And now my kids are growing upand they are able to see Asians
(30:54):
represent on YouTube, on screen,in shows and movies and
everything.
And I can see how it makes themso proud to be who they are.
They're like, oh, they look justlike me.
And I guess growing up the waythat I did, it never really
occurred to me how much thatwould affect me and how
different it is their experiencehas been.
(31:16):
And so now the more and more Ithink about it, I think, yeah, I
think it's great to be able tobe there doing the things,
sharing the things, andhopefully somebody else might
also feel, yeah, like they canrelate a little bit.
So I appreciate that you've putthis together.
(31:37):
I think it's a huge thing.
SPEAKER_00 (31:39):
Thank you.
That means so much becausesometimes I'm like, oh, it's
just there.
You could do better.
You could do more with it.
Like a little bit here, a littlebit there.
But knowing that it stillexists, It's, you know, it's not
something, I mean, obviouslyit's free to use.
I have this joke where I tellpeople that, you know, it runs
(32:00):
on donations and debt.
We just get it done.
And I know that I'm providingopportunities.
Like, you know, the first yearof Flock, I got a booth and I
filled it with things fromMakers of Color Collective,
people that can't get therebecause it's cross prohibitive.
So everything in my little boothwas like a little boutique and
it was all for Makers of Color.
And it was so great because Iwas able to generate revenue for
(32:23):
people half a dozen differentmakers in the industry and let
people know that, hey, we're outhere.
Here's everyone's card.
Please take everyone's card,everyone's information, contact
them for other things.
Last year, I focused on onedesigner, did a whole business
incubator with Little WingFibers, and it was her first big
(32:44):
event.
And we just rocked it.
We sold all of her yarn.
I still had a little bit of alittle maker booth.
I had, you know, the knitting PTcame and I was selling her
things and Tony was there andSasha Hyrie was there.
Like I filled that corner ofpeople of color because I
believe that it is veryimportant for us to see each
(33:04):
other in these spaces.
And I know I'm not alone becausea few weeks ago I went to the, I
think it was the PacificNorthwest Garden Show.
And I only went because anotherBlack creator that I follow was
there.
And then when I got there, sheintroduced me to all the other
four Black creators that werethere.
And we were like, hey, we'rehere.
(33:27):
We're here.
We want to support.
Bought everyone's book.
Got them all signed.
We're to everyone's talk.
Made sure that they saw afriendly, familiar face that
looks like them in the audiencebecause it means something to
them.
And it means something to me.
Seeing ourselves...
doing our favorite things andother people is so wildly
(33:48):
important.
And I don't think that peoplerealize how much they miss it
until they actually get theopportunity to see that.
Um, I know for a fact, becausepeople have come up to me when
I'm out, when I'm at Vogue, whenI'm at flock, when I'm out in
the world, cause I'm too manyplaces sometimes.
And they tell me this directlythat, Hey, I went out and
(34:10):
crocheted in public because Iknew that you were doing that or
I I found these other designersbecause of you.
I found this dyer that I reallywanted to give my money to a
person of color.
And that's how I found them wasthrough you.
People are using that tool.
And I think it's no small thing.
I think there's a lot of peoplethat are in the industry that
(34:32):
either don't share theirheritage or are a little unsure
if they should share theirheritage.
At one point in time, I had, Iwas pushing a hashtag, which was
like melanated hands, like putyour hands in your photos and
just show us who you are.
And I actually got quite a fewmessages from people who were
(34:52):
fair skin and saying, Hey, myskin's not Brown, but I'm a
person of color.
And I was like, maybe we come inall kinds of shades, be proud,
let people know, like, Put yourhands in your photos, be proud,
say who you are.
I don't check people's heritageon the Makers of Color
Collective.
That's weird.
(35:13):
So if you are a person of colorand you identify that, whatever
that means for you and yourheritage, you belong there.
I'm just trying to make a spacefor people to belong.
SPEAKER_01 (35:22):
I found that like over the past couple of years,
because, you know, we have Ihave been in this position where
I'm like, oh, I don't know howmuch of, you know, myself I
should share because, you know,Sweet George is a company that
we make yarn and we make colorsand let's focus on those things.
And then a couple of years ago.
(35:44):
Our team was developing colorsand they wanted to develop a
color for Chinese New Year tocelebrate Chinese New Year.
And initially I was like, oh, Idon't know if we should do that.
And then just me saying that, Ithink really deflated many of
them because a lot of our teamis Asian.
And I think that they were like,oh, yeah.
(36:04):
Well, because it represented somuch a part of them and it was
part of their identity.
And like, I want to share thatwith everybody in the community.
I want to share who I am andwhat I celebrate and what gets
me excited and all these kindsof things.
So we did.
We released a colorway forChinese New Year, for Lunar New
Year.
And we've been doing that eversince.
And I think that it's a thingbecause the people on the team
(36:28):
here, they also want to be ableto represent and say, like, this
is who I am.
This is me.
what I'm like, and I want toshare that with you.
And so I think being able to dothat has been a really, like a
really beautiful thing.
So I love that you areencouraging this in everyone.
And yeah, definitely using yourpower of connection to bring
(36:48):
people together and share andlift up everyone in the
community.
It's brilliant.
Yeah.
I am learning.
Yeah, I have been learning a lotabout myself and like thinking a
lot about about all of this asI've been like learning more
about you and what you've youhave been doing in the
(37:10):
community.
So it's been it's been quiteenlightening.
It's actually been quiteenlightening.
So thank you.
I
SPEAKER_00 (37:20):
know what you mean, because it feels like sometimes
we We sit back and we're like,well, do we really need to do
that on certain things that arepersonal to us culturally?
And I encourage everyone to bethere full of self and to take
as much space as they want.
And to know that everyone, Ifeel like this industry really
(37:41):
wants to know everyone.
And authenticity is so huge,right?
So showing just a little bit ofyourself can go really, really
far.
You know, yesterday wasJuneteenth.
Juneteenth means something veryspecific to me.
It's not new.
It's not just a holiday that Igot off.
That's a new thing.
(38:02):
But it's very important to me.
And I think I take my own timewith it.
And so I don't really push muchinto it.
I don't put too much into itbecause it's for me.
And I'm also quite a privateperson.
I don't actually share that muchof my private life online.
I got kids.
So it's kind of boring overhere, but I got kids, but it's,
(38:23):
you know, I want to share thosesmall things.
And, and I think that the, Ithink the internet has made us
feel like we have to give somuch of ourselves and share and
show and perform so much.
And I'm trying to take moreownership and take some of that
back.
and say, hey, I'm going to shareexactly what I want you to know.
And sometimes it's going to beculturally specific, and
(38:46):
sometimes it's not.
But I do take a little bit ofcarefulness, and I share more of
that in my Discord of what'sgoing on, of the day-to-day kind
of thing, as opposed to on thesocials these days, just because
it's hard to be everywhere allthe time.
(39:07):
And I'm exhausted.
I know I'm not the only one whenI say that the burnout on these
socials has been more than itneeds to be, which is why I try
to bring people into my smallergroup to be like, hey, this is
where you're going to get themost of me.
This is what I can show up themost for, and I will be here
(39:28):
more consistently than anywhereelse.
And it's worked out really,really well.
And I think in the industryright now, people are feeling
that more.
They're definitely feeling like,okay, where am I going to put my
energy?
Because we want it to be asauthentic as possible.
SPEAKER_01 (39:47):
I agree 100%.
This idea of bringing yourcommunity around you rather than
broadcasting things on socialmedia.
And like I said, my kids areyoung and I don't really want to
post things about them anymoreon social media.
It just doesn't feel like aplace that I want to spend that
kind of time.
So I appreciate you coming andchatting with me today.
(40:09):
I for sure am learning lots andlots of things.
And I'm excited to hear moreabout where you are planning to
take things over say like thenext year um where can people
sort of find you obviously yourcommunity is a great place to
find you but where else are youkind of focusing a lot of your
attention and what are you sortof expanding into
SPEAKER_00 (40:29):
yeah so i'm moving into teaching more i have been
known to say uh you know we havea lot of crochet one-on-one but
we don't have a lot of crochetbeyond that for classes.
And so I'm putting my moneywhere my mouth is and I'm out
there and I'm teaching now.
So I've been teaching someTunisian crochet locally here in
Seattle.
I'm going to be teaching atFlock, two classes actually,
(40:52):
teaching with Kate Oates.
We designed something that'slike magical, ridiculous,
amazing, Rwanda in tandemtogether.
There's a crochet and a knitversion, which is something I do
rather often.
It's designed that way.
And so we're teaching thattogether.
I'm also teaching mosaic crochetat Flock.
And what else am I doing?
After that, I'm going to be atKnit City Vancouver, which is
(41:16):
going to be super fun.
I'm just going to be, you know,around.
I'm just going to be around.
I'm very excited.
I'm very excited.
So I'm coming.
I'm coming for you.
And then after that...
Yeah, I love Vancouver.
I can't wait.
Just taking the train up north.
It's going to be great.
What else am I doing?
Oh, I'm teaching at SacredSheep, more mosaic crochet.
(41:37):
I'm really, really excited forthat one.
I love a startup, so I love thesmaller, newer festivals that
have been popping up.
Outside of that, I'm reallyfocused on...
It's funny.
This is actually kind ofhilarious, but in the spirit
of...
providing more opportunities forpeople.
I've been working with a yarncompany and providing
(42:00):
opportunities for otherdesigners to be paid commissions
and earn royalties for designingfor them.
So I've been working with BadSheep Yarn to do that, which has
been really fun.
And so that's been a large partof my business these days is
finding people and findingopportunities for them through
that.
More garments, more shawls.
(42:20):
Every year I do a mini skeinpattern.
This year, We're only going todo one.
One year I did two.
That was hard.
So we're going to do one thisyear.
They always come out rightaround January 1st-ish.
And, yeah, I'm just going tokeep trucking, you know, keep
(42:41):
fighting the good fight, keeptelling everyone to crochet.
You know, who knows?
Maybe, maybe next year, thecalendar will come back.
Who knows?
Who knows what will happen?
Once my kid is in kindergarten,anything's possible.
That youngest in that eighthours of school.
And maybe I'll be able to thinkagain.
(43:01):
I hear you completely.
UNKNOWN (43:05):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (43:05):
That's already a lot on your plate.
And you still have kids at home.
That's definitely a lot ofthings to tackle.
So I'm so excited to hear aboutall your plans.
I'm so excited to hear thatyou're coming to Vancouver.
That's going to be super fun.
Yeah, fantastic.
Thank you so much for spendingthe time with me today.
It's been such a pleasurelearning more about your design,
(43:29):
about your projects, about allyour initiatives.
And we will definitely sendpeople to your website and to
your Instagram account, but alsomainly your community if they
want to join there as well.
Thank you so much for joining metoday, Britt.
Thank you.
Thank you.
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