Make & Do Crew: Meet The Blogger

The Urban Gypsy Boho Bag is crocheted using Kitchen Cotton in “Vanilla”

Here at Lion Brand Yarn we have the privilege of working with a lot of talented designers. Over the past couple months we’ve spotlighted Mama In A Stitch and Two of Wands. This month we’d like to introduce you to Jess, the self-proclaimed “mess-maker” behind Make & Do Crew.

Make & Do Crew

Jess says she’s your perfect pal to hang out with in the virtual world if you walk the aisles of stores like Anthropologie and Pottery Barn and the thoughts that run through your head are, “how can I make that?” She phrases it well in her own words saying her blog might be your ideal digital hangout if, “You long to make things with your hands–real, tangible, non-digital things, just like your grandma did. But you don’t necessarily want those things to look like they belong in your grandma’s house. (Although I’m sure it’s lovely.)”

Jess has a long history of making and doing, which she greatly credits to her parents. She grew up in a family that encouraged her to take her ideas and run with them. In kindergarten she undertook her first big project when she made a quilt of fabric samples her mother rescued for her from a wallpaper sample catalog. Her craftiness earned her the title the “Make and Do Girl” from her parents. As you can see, she took to it and ran.

Patterns Using Flip Flops

Jess is the queen of crocheted footwear and we’re not talking about your typical socks and slippers. She utilizes flip flop soles and crochets the upper portion of the shoe to create some truly fashionable kicks. Take the Coachella Boots for example. (These boots are available as a kit on LionBrand.com)

These festival-style boots, along with Jess’s other styles, leave viewers in awe when they find out they’re hand made. How often do “Muggles” think about hand crocheted footwear?

My personal favorite for warmer weather are the Moccasins. These cuties take a single skein of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn in the “Camel” cololrway.

For the cooler months whip up a pair of the Breckenridge Boots. These work up fast in Wool-Ease® Thick & Quick®, Homespun Thick and Quick®, and Vanna’s Choice.

Proving that she really is the queen of crocheted kicks, Jess creates step-by-step photo tutorials to get you through creating your new footwear. (Browse her selection of patterns.) She also has a very thorough FAQ page answering questions about all layers of the crochet shoe process.

Making With Lion Brand

Make & Do Crew is more than just fancy footwear. Recently two home decor items have made their appearance as kits on the Lion Brand site, and we’re in love with both of them. Why? Because like so many of Jess’s designs they have a timeless yet modern flair.

The Warm Welcome Baby Blanket uses 6 colors of Baby Soft yarn in a cheerful gender neutral color palette. How about doubling the yarn and making an adult sized afghan? Why not?! Those colors are singing a siren song.

The Mud Cloth Pillow is crocheted from Kitchen Cotton. This accent pillow was inspired by traditional African mud cloth (or Bogolanfini). These printed cotton fabrics, dating back to the 12th century, were dyed using fermented mud. While this pillow might use cotton yarn for the patterning, you can definitely see the inspiration.