CALI CHIC BABY
Kyoko Fraham is the designer behind Cali Chic Baby. Her inspiration started early on, while living next to a yarn shop in Tokyo, Japan, as a child. ”I would often visit the shop and look at all the yarn and the amazing colours. At age 12, the elderly shop owner, also a teacher, asked if I wanted to learn how to crochet (and knit) and I agreed – this began years of after-school visits and time spent improving my skills.” Crochet is still a passion for Kyoto, who creates charts and patterns of her own. “I love the level of detail of a chart that turns yarn into a wonderful handmade item you can wear or give to a loved one. I have a particular passion for baby blankets.”
Now living in the US, Kyoto has spent a lot of time translating Japanese charts into written patterns in English (US) terms, particularly when it comes to her beautiful lacy borders. “My desire was to provide elegant simplicity, enabling any crocheter to make a gorgeous blanket and experience success with a lacy design.” One of Kyoto’s most popular patterns is the Victorian Baby Blanket #89, a lacy, double-rowed edge blanket in vintage beige, one of the very first patterns she offered for sale. “This put me on the map at Etsy, and encouraged me to continue to sell more of my patterns.”
Another of Kyoto’s baby blanket patterns, Angel #41, was adopted by the Preemie Project charity in Iowa, (www.thepreemie project.com) as the main pattern used for blankets for critically ill babies. “I am touched that my design was chosen for such an important role and hopefully provides some small measure of comfort to the families.” Find Kyoto’s blog at www.calichicbaby.com, and you can find her patterns on Ravelry at www.ravelry.com/stores/cali-chic-baby