Getting To Know Our Designers: Kristen Omdahl And Katherine Eng

By: Lynn BrowneOctober 3, 2013

Welcome to the fourth blog in our series of interviews with our top designers. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the designing lives of two of them. Let us know if you would like us to continue this series about our designers.

Kristin Omdahl

1. You inspire us with your designs. What are your favorite types of projects to design?
I like to work with lace stitch patterns a lot, because I love watching the openwork blossom in the blocking process. And I like to create various shapes of fabric using geometry and other math equations. 2. What is usually going on around you as you design?
I work from home mostly, so the dishwasher and washing machine are usually going on around me! But, I also enjoy listening to music or audio books for entertainment while I work, too. And I try to find time several times a week to work outdoors, either in my backyard, at the beach or an outdoor cafe. 3. How did you learn to knit and/or crochet?
I taught myself how to knit and crochet 12 years ago when I was pregnant with my son (who is 11 now). I thought every expectant mother should know how to make booties! 4. Can you tell us anything special about these Lacy Market Bag designs (knit and crochet) that have been very popular on the Red Heart free pattern site?
The market bags were designed specifically with Luster Sheen yarn in mind. It is so durable and easy to take care of that I thought it was perfect for a market bag that will last for a long time. 5. Do you have a personal website or blog where crocheters or knitters can find your patterns?

6. What would the people that recreate your designs be surprised to know about you?
I love to play acoustic guitar and piano whenever I have a few free moments to myself. It makes me very happy.

Katherine Eng

1. You inspire us with your designs. What are your favorite types of projects to design? Ever since I began designing, crocheted interpretations of quilts, most especially Amish quilts, have been and still are my favorite projects to create.

2. What is usually going on around you as you design?

While I'm in the process of designing, usually nothing else is going on to distract me. I like it quiet at least until I've done all the necessary figuring. Then, once I'm actually working on a project, I sometimes listen to music or the news. 3. How did you learn to knit and/or crochet?
My Grandmother, who mostly made afghans, taught me to crochet when I was nine years old. But she wasn't very patient, so I befriended a neighbor who made beautiful doilies. I asked her to teach me more than my Grandmother was willing to show me and she became my mentor. Over the past 10 years, I have learned many new stitches and techniques from the wonderful women in my local CGOA group (Crochet Guild of America). 4. Can you tell us anything special about this Square Upon Square Throw (WR1850) design that has been very popular on the Red Heart free pattern site?
This project was a quilt design I thought would translate well into crochet. I wanted to do something that could be crocheted together rather than sewn and that would have an overlay design that would look like the lovely stitching worked on quilt tops. 5. What would the people that recreate your designs be surprised to know about you?
I started dancing at the age of nine also, and that became my career prior to working as a crochet designer. My daughter is now a professional Argentine tango dancer who teaches at City College of San Francisco. My husband and I also dance tango and so I have been my daughter's official assistant for the past 12 years.