Designer Spotlight – Frayed Knot

Meet Jonna Ventura! She is the owner / designer at Frayed Knot, and her designs have a lot of people talking! She’s relatively new to the crochet block (first pattern released in 2012), but her work shows a level of knowledge that even seasoned shop owners strive for!

Her most recent success has been on the Craftsy top 20 list since it was released – MONTHS AGO!!! –  and has definitely earned it’s name: The Perfect Cowl!  Among other garments, Jonna has an array of hats that are quite intricate, and very uncommon; you wont’ find cookie-cut designs in her shops (etsy, ravelry, craftsy), but I’m quite sure you will find a lot of favorites! One of my personal favorites? The Ninja Cup Cozy!

Jonna joins us in round II of Design Wars with an easy spirit and fun personality, and has helped to make our challenge a bonding experience. See what this firecracker has to say, and be sure to keep up with her on facebook too!

Salena Baca (SB): If you could meet anyone in the crochet world, who would it be? Why?

Jonna Ventura (JV): There are so many BUT if I can only choose one person it would have to be Charissa from Mad Mad Me. 1. Because I can appreciate a good sarcastic sense of humor and…. 2. Because she was instrumental in helping me get my start. She promoted my business and built up my confidence right from the get go! I love you Charissa!! One day my friend 🙂

SB: What is your most recent accomplishment?

JV: Number one achievement thus far…Being apart of Design Wars of course!! When i started Frayed Knot I had no idea where it was heading and what exactly the potential could be. I’m beyond blessed and surprised! I’ll keep riding the roller coaster and meeting amazing new artists for as long as I can.

SB: What color combinations do you currently love?

JV: Right now I’m diggin’ teal, mustard, & grey….coral, navy, & cream….coral, teal, & cream…mustard & plum…  Ok I guess I could go on and on…

SB: Do you wear your own crochet goods? Which pieces? 

JV: Oh yeah! I usually wear all my “rejects”, only I know where the mistakes are 🙂 But when I really want to make something for myself and don’t have time to come up with my own design, I often search some of my fave designers and go pattern shopping!

SB: Which of your designs do you feel best represent you as an artist?

JV: Designing is an outlet for me. Sometimes I start with the yarn and see what comes from it. Other times I have a certain person/style in mind. For me, I lean hippie. If I could grow my hair to my butt and wear flower halter tops I would! Unfortunately neither of those things are in my future. So I will have to stick with my fingerless gloves and slouchy hats.

If you are a brand new fan to Frayed Knot you can check out some of her FREE pattern work: Josiah Booties, Sock Monkey Cup Cozy! If you are a fan and would like to root for Frayed Knot in DWII, get your Team Badge and be sure to enter for your chance at our Red Heart Yarns prize pack (valued at $150)!

Got your own questions for Jonna / Frayed Knot? Post it in a comment below and she may answer you!

Stephanie Shell Cap – It’s Finally Here!

Finally, here it is! My Design Wars Challenge garment pattern is now available! Check it out in any of these fine pattern shops:

Ravelry On SALE!

Craftsy On SALE!

Etsy 

Want to win one in a size of your choice? Just Pin(terest) the above image directly from my

blog with the caption: “Iwant to win this hat!”

One random fan will be chosen on January 4th, 2013! Winner will be notified by way of

1) a comment on their pin,

2) a follow up on this blog post, and

3) a notification on my facebookfan page, and will be given 48 hours to respond and claim

their prize or this garment will be placed for sale in my Etsy shop.

You are entering to win a Baca Creations (Crochet By Salena Baca) original hand-made

crochet piece; a Stephanie Shell Cap in any size and color of your choosing according to the

original listing in my shop, retail value up to $22. No substitutions or cash value. Entries will

be accepted until 4 January, 2013.

 

And the winner is….

Heather Keeney!

To claim your Stephanie Shell Cap, please send me an e-mail to include your mailing address within

the following 48 hours: BacaCreations@yahoo.co.uk

(Updated 5 January, 2013 @ 7:22 AM MST).

Pin(terest) to create interest, and you could win!

 To enter, simply pin this image with the caption:

 “I Want to win this banner!”

Entries of this nature will be accepted until 28 December, 2012, and a winner will be randomly selected via this link: http://pinterest.com/source/bacacreations.wordpress.com/ to assure the pin is sourced from this blog entry. Winner will be notified by way of 1) a comment on their pin, 2) a follow up on this blog post, and 3) a notification on my facebook fan page, and will be given 48 hours to respond and claim their prize or this garment will be placed for sale in my Etsy shop.

You are entering to win a Baca Creations (Crochet By Salena Baca) original hand-made crochet piece; a banner consisting of 7 tasseled Triangles made in Super Pink and Mustard, measuring approximately 5′ long in total, retail value is approximately $28. No substitutions or cash value. Entries will be accepted until 28 December, 2012.

And the winner is….

Jonna RobsonVentura!

To claim your Motif Banner, please send me an e-mail to include your mailing address within

the following 48 hours: BacaCreations@yahoo.co.uk

(Updated 12.20.2012 @ 12:07 MST).

Design Wars II January/February 2013 Lineup!

After quite a few requests were considered for the January / February 2013 segment of Design Wars, I have a fantastic lineup that I would like to present to you! These ladies of crochet are phenomenal,  and I look forward to working with them in what has emerged to be a surprisingly ‘harmonious war’ of  design challenge! Please check these ladies out, and let them know you are interested in following their progress in Design Wars II:
Mamachee Crochet Patterns

Unravel Me Designs

CrazySocks Designs

Salena Baca Crochet

Holland Designs

One & Two Company

Frayed Knot

Designs By Katie Hanken

Also, thanks to our prior Design Wars Challenge winner, Tara of Mamachee, we are very excited to be using Red Heart With Wool Yarn to construct our next challenge garments. We look forward to working with Red Heart Yarns again, and appreciate their interest and support in our collaboration!

Keep clicking over here for updates; we will begin Design Wars II in January with some individual Q&A from these fantastic designers – You won’t want to miss it!

My (LATEST) Publication!

I am SUPER proud that I have a few items in the Winter 2012 issue of Stitch Craft Create Magazine, such as:

– Page 6) The Editor (Shannon Miller) is wearing my Ruffled Shell Cowl,

– Pages 44-46) My Lionheart Project article, complete with my visit of the exhibit in London, and my Q&A with designer Shauna Richardson!

– Pages 76-77) My very popular Ruffled Shell Cowl pattern, and

– Page 78) A short bio / introduction / spotlight for me!

Get your copy today, and let the lovely ladies over at SCC Mag know I sent you!

Design Wars I: November/December 2012

What the heck is Design Wars? There’s a lot of buzz around this exciting new crochet challenge, and you’ve come to just the right place for answers – I created it! I’m awe struck by crochet, and those who truly have a passion for the art, so I’m always looking for new, inspiring, positive ways to showcase talent. Therefore, I decided to band together with some of my favorite artists for a challenge in which we all use the same yarn, work in secret to create brand new and exciting designs,  then ask our fans to vote for their favorite.  Our first run just came to a close on our host blog, and the Design Wars Challenge Winner is Tara Murray, owner / designer of Mamachee * Crochet Makes Me Happy! Congratulations Tara, your design was lovely!

As I read through the voter comments, I saw that a lot of fans had trouble choosing just one favorite design; all the submissions were brilliant and original, and I can see why choosing just one was tough. Here are the designers, and their submissions:

Optimistic By Nature: Glitter Wave Shrug      Baca Creations – Stephanie Shell

Unravel Me: Chevron Stocking       Frayed Knot – Glamour Gloves

CrazySocks Designs: Sarah Snood         Mamachee – Lola Slippers

(Da Bomb) Shell Scarf

 

A friend of mine asked me to create a scarf using rainbow colors. After searching other rainbow inspired work, we decided that this particular stitch pattern was perfect! I’ve written up the pattern in sizes 40″, 50″ and 60″, and my trusty pattern testers are making sure it’s ready for release! I hope to publish this design early next week, so keep checking back for updates!

UPDATE! I’ve decided to make this pattern a FREE download in my Craftsy and Ravelry shops, enjoy!