Welcome to the third blog in our series of interviews with designers who have brought us popular projects on our free pattern site. I hope you enjoy this sneak peek into two of our favorite designers' lives. Tammy Hildebrand 1. You inspire us with your designs. What are your favorite types of projects to design? I love to design afghans! They are such a relaxing project to work on while watching a good movie. Lacy garments are my second favorite especially using motifs with a join-as-you-go technique to assemble them. 2. What is usually going on around you as you design? In a perfect world, I envision designing in my own little studio with colorful art on the walls, candles burning and soft music in the background while sipping wine. Unfortunately, my reality is a little corner of our family room that I share with my husband, 4 young adults and my six month old granddaughter. It's not uncommon to have the television on, nursery rhymes blasting and everyone running in and out of the room talking to each other while I try to block it all out. 3. How did you learn to knit and/or crochet? My second grade teacher, Gail Crooks offered to stay after school and teach crochet to anyone that wished to learn. I was the only student that stayed. My first project was a floppy purple hat which I still have. Mrs. Crooks and I are friends on Facebook and she often works from my patterns. 4. Can you tell us anything special about this Hip Granny Tunic (LW2944) design that has been very popular on the Red Heart free pattern site? This was such a fun project to design and it works up so quickly! I was on a flight to Niagara Falls when I began designing it. There was a young man sitting next to me that found it fascinating and one of the stewardesses kept coming to my seat to check my progress. They were in awe that both the front and back panels were completed by the time we landed. 5. Do you have a personal website or blog where crocheters or knitters can find out what you're all about?v You can find me on Facebook at Hot Lava Crochet and my blog http://hotlavacrochet.blogspot.com/ I am also in the process of adding self-published patterns to Craftsy. 6. What would the people that recreate your designs be surprised to know about you? For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a truck driver when I grew up. When I was 20 years old I went to truck driving school and got my commercial license. I had a few small driving jobs and then decided it would be easier just to marry a truck driver and so I did. My husband George and I ran a successful masonry company for 15 years. I would lay brick during the day and design in the evenings. Gingerbread Baby Set Square Deal Sweater Retro Doll Accessories Stripe It Beanie Dusty Snowflake Throw Michele Wilcox 1. You inspire us with your designs. What are your favorite types of projects to design? I love to design animals and other toys. My favorite part is creating their personalities when I embroider their faces. I also enjoy designing afghans, hats, scarfs and mittens. 2. What is usually going on around you as you design? A lot! I design in the middle of everything in my living room. I like to be able to stop and cook dinner or hang my sheets on the line, etc. I love to design while watching the Red Sox games! I do need a little quiet when I type. 3. How did you learn to knit and/or crochet? My Grandmother taught me to knit when I was 5 or 6. I loved it from the start! My friend Ginger and I learned to crochet together when we had our second babies (just weeks apart). The first thing I crocheted was a dog. I made the whole thing inside-out! Trial and error. We both love it still. 4. Can you tell us anything special about this Beach Bear Rita (LW3064) design that has been very popular on the Red Heart free pattern site? It's a great canvas to experiment with color. Although the colors used are spelled out in the pattern, try working one or 2 squares in your spontaneous color choices, trusting your eye as you go. Or try working light to dark in one square, then dark to light in another. 5. What would you like the people that recreate your designs to know about you? I grew up the oldest of 9 children in a 1700's farm house in the country in Connecticut. It was great, but I did a lot of babysitting! I have 5 sisters and they are all creative. I have 3 nice brothers none crochet! My mother is 88 years old. She still loves to sew. She makes adorable cat and bird pillows. Here are a few more of Michele's designs: Gracie & Her Dragon Bunny Hat & Booties Colorful Bird Table SettingWise Owl Tote Bag Royal Heir Wall Hanging
