Crochet Patterns from Creations by Courtney

Hi Crocheters! Today we are having a Meet and Greet with the Crochet Designer behind the blog Creations by Courtney.

Read on below to learn about Courtney Whitehead and her designs before scrolling to the end of this post for a selection of free crochet patterns available from Creations by Courtney.

This post includes just a small sampling of all the wonderful patterns, tutorials and projects she has available for you online. Be sure to check out her social media channels for even more goodies!

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Crochet Designer Feature:
Creations by Courtney

Meet Courtney

Question: Who are you? Tell me about yourself.

I enjoy laughing and spending time with family and friend. I have been asked if I have ever met a stranger, as I will talk to anyone, especially about yarn and crochet. I grew up outside of Atlanta, Georgia with my parents and two younger siblings. I attended college locally, but moved to Chicago to earn my doctorate in psychology. Currently, I offer online therapy services to adult through my practice, work on crochet designing in the spare moments after spending time with my husband, son and twin daughters.

Question: How did you learn how to crochet? How long have you been crocheting?

My mom taught me around age 8 to crochet and knit, but knitting has yet to stick. My first project was an attempt to make a baby blanket for my little brother, but it was an odd shaped piece that went unfinished, and I converted an odd shaped piece made from Lion Brand Homespun into a crossbody bag. That was not a great idea after I got stabbed in the leg by a pencil I was carrying in my bag. In college, I called my mom to ask for a refresher on crochet, and I grabbed some Red Heart Super Saver in rainbow and blue to make a hat and scarf. I continued with learning how to make hats for other students, and eventually made my first crochet garment by the time I was in graduate school. It’s been 20 years of crocheting a wide variety of projects.

Question: Do you have any tips for new crocheters? Any guidance to make them successful at a new hobby?

All new crocheters should practice daily for at least 15 minutes to build muscle memory, and count! Counting stitches is not fun, and is often interrupted, but it reduces the likelihood of having to frog or pull out your work.

Question: What do you enjoy crocheting the most?

Crochet Garments! I have always enjoyed high fashion but find many styles impractical for daily wear, so I strive to create crochet garments that are easy to wear and incorporate to one’s wardrobe.

Question: What else are you passionate about (other than crochet)?

I enjoy new experiences when the opportunity presents. I tend to stay home and spend time with my kids, but I’m open to try new activities and restaurants around Atlanta, and enjoy learning about the history of an area when traveling.

Question: What prompted you to start designing?

I was never good at custom orders for completed crochet items, and a mentor suggested that I could be a designer. I never thought that I could since I was accustomed to using others’ patterns. It was a great moment being told that I can be a designer!

Question: How long have you been designing and where do you publish your patterns?

I have been designing for almost six years, and publish patterns to my website and my pattern shops on Ravelry, Etsy and LoveCrafts.

Question: What drives you to create? Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

I thoroughly enjoy the meditative process of crochet, and often find inspiration in fashion, my imagination, and on occasion, from nature.

Question: What do you enjoy designing the most?

I enjoy designing size-inclusive women’s garments. I have begun dabbling in children’s garments, and hope to design at least one men’s garment.

Question: What tips would you give to someone interested in designing and blogging?

For someone interested in designing and blogging, I would suggest befriending a designer and blogger! By being a good friend, you can learn more about what is involved in the process than just reading a blog post. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions on how to do tasks. Designing and blogging is hard work, but you’re allowed to do it in a way that makes sense for your life. And don’t forget to learn about standard abbreviations and sizing information for your patterns, and a little bit about SEO for your blog. You want your future customers to find you easily!

Learn How to Set Up a Successful Blog

Question: What goals have you set for yourself for the future?

One goal that I have set for myself is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, as crochet is not active and my day career also involves a lot of sitting. Additionally, I will partially retire myself from my practice with income earned from my crochet business.

Question: Who are your favorite makers? How have they inspired you?

My all-time favorite makers are the Double Stitch Twins! When I discovered these amazing sisters, I had to have all of their published books, as it sparked my love for making crochet garments. Two more favorite makers are Kristin Omdahl and Lily Chin. Their techniques have been amazing for me to learn and apply to my own crochet to reduce seaming and creating fun shaping.

Question: Do you have a favorite yarn you like to use when you are crocheting? What colors and fibers do you gravitate toward when choosing your yarn?

It’s so hard to choose just one favorite yarn. I have been a long-time fan of Lion Brand yarns, and since learning about hand dyed yarn, I often visit the Traveling Yarn Yogi, to find an array of gorgeous yarns from indie dyers, such as Mitchell’s Creations, Emma’s Yarn, and Lola Bean Yarns.

Question: Do you have anything else you’d like to share with us?

I can be found hanging with crochet friends in my FB group and hosting a bi-monthly online hangout, https://www.facebook.com/groups/creationsbycourt. To join me and others on a Friday night, be sure to sign up for my newsletter and receive a garment cheat sheet. I can be found on Instagram and TikTok, @creationsbycourtneyllc

All of my patterns can be found at https://creationsbycourtney.com

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