PROFILE: CARA MEDUS
Cara Medus tells us about her colour obsession (we get it!).
Cara lives in Bristol, UK with her husband and two children. She’s been contributing to Simply Crochet magazine since it launched and makes and sells her own patterns on Ravelry. When her hands aren’t busy with hooks, she loves to spend time with her family and share food with friends.
What inspired your shawl for this collection? I’ve always had a thing about India, and love the colours and patterns in Indian textiles. I like a challenge too, and hadn’t come across a good paisley crochet motif, so I thought I’d create one.
What are your go-to yarns for making shawls? Anything luxurious! Shawls are great projects for indulging a bit, to get something that will drape well and show off a stitch pattern to its best advantage. I’d usually go for a laceweight yarn for a shawl, so it was good to try a DK for a change. It works up much more quickly, and as long as you block it, it will drape well too.
Which crocheters inspire you?
I love the intricate colour and pattern work in Dedri Uys’ designs. She innovates with the complexity of her patterns, and encourages crocheters to go for bigger and better things. I also admire Vashti Braha and Lily Chin. They’re both what I’d call ‘crochet thinkers’ – they delve deeper into techniques and come up with new ideas. Tell us about the first shawl you ever made… Do I have to admit that it was a knitted one?! It was a lovely red yarn – I’m always a sucker for red yarn. I made my first crocheted shawl for Simply Knitting magazine several years ago. It was a summer beach wrap, and as usual, I was trying to go for something a bit different, and make a new type of stitch and motif pattern. I also have a couple of unfinished ones in the cupboard somewhere, ahem…
Why should everyone make a shawl?
I’d encourage a crocheter to make a shawl because they’re a great way of trying out new techniques and stitch patterns, without having to worry too much about the shaping and fit of a garment pattern. I’d advise readers to choose the design according to your skill level and to take the time to block the shawl when you’re finished. If you’ve never blocked a crochet item before, it’s worth having a go with a shawl as it makes so much difference to the finished result.
Do you have a favourite item to crochet?
I like crocheting summer garments, because I can experiment with lacy stitch patterns and motifs, which I love to do. I’m always inspired by colours and patterns, and am forever trying to work these into garment designs, without making them too tricky and over the top! You can find Cara’s beautiful patterns at www.ravelry.com/designers/cara-medus