Today, we are thrilled to bring an extra sprinkle of crafting magic to our blog: Marie Segares from Underground Crafter! With each pattern, tutorial, and insightful blog post, Marie unveils a universe brimming with creative possibilities.
In this two-part interview, we’ll discuss fiber art, inspiration, the business of running Underground Crafter, and more!
“I’m a crochet and knitting blogger, designer, podcaster, and teacher. I learned to crochet from my maternal grandmother in 1984, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
I conquered my fear of knitting in 2010, and now I’m happily bi-craftual. You can read more about me here and stay in touch by signing up for my newsletter here.”
As we dive into today’s interview with Marie, we will explore the core aspects of her crafting expertise, including the passion and creativity that drive her remarkable work. Join us for a thoughtful and engaging conversation that offers a closer look at the world Marie has built at Underground Crafter.
You mentioned that you learned to crochet at a young age from your maternal grandmother. I think many fiber artists have a similar story! Can you share a childhood memory about her?
I have many great memories of time spent with my maternal grandmother!
As a child, I have fond memories of her serving as a chaperone on school trips, cooking together, and more. She often made handmade gifts, and her crocheted teddy bears (usually stuffed with used nylons) were a favorite!
What led you to expand from crocheting to knitting, and how did that transition feel? I myself just learned to knit about 3 years ago (and crochet is still my favorite!). What about you?
I always thought I “couldn’t” knit, and a dear friend (who is also a knitter) suggested that I might, in fact, be psyching myself out. She thought that some of my crocheting skills could transfer over, and it turns out she was sort of right. I realized that I understood yarn properties and concepts like tension, drape, and shaping already. With that in my mind, I started knitting based on a home DVD course and realized I could do it.
For someone unfamiliar, can you explain what a Make-A-Long is and why they’re so popular in the crafting community?
Sure! Every make-a-long is a little different, but the main idea is that you work on the same “something” together with other crafters. The “something” can be narrowly defined, like one specific pattern by a certain designer; or something bigger like the Holiday Stashdown Crochet Along, which is a multi-designer mystery crochet-a-long where people can get a head start on their holiday crafting while busting yarn stash.
Some make-a-longs use a mystery format, where you don’t get to see the project(s) beforehand, and some include the full pattern revealed at the start. Make-a-longs are great ways to meet other crafters in person or virtually, and many folks find they are more likely to finish projects during a make-a-long than when left to their own devices.
The make-a-longs I organize usually involve cool prizes (and sharing pictures of your finished projects are one way to enter the giveaway). There are crochet-a-longs (CALs), knit-a-longs (KALs), sew-a-longs (SALs), quilt-a-longs (QALs), and multi-craft make-a-longs, too.
Are there any upcoming projects you’re particularly excited about?
I’ll be sharing a new design as part of Sweet Potato 3’s 11th annual Crochet Cancer Challenge, and I’ll be kicking off a really fun crochet along on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. (Details will be posted here when it goes live.)
Keep an eye out next week for Part 2 of our interview with Marie! In the meantime, we hope you are starting on a new project (or two, or three, we won’t judge 😉) before the holiday season is in full swing!
Needing inspiration? Check out these posts for ideas:
Go Beyond Socks: Free One-Skein Patterns for Sock Yarn Lovers!
Make use of those one-off or single skeins of yarn in your stash with these quick projects.
Blankets, hats, mittens, and more! Put your skills to good use this holiday season and beyond.
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