In the World of Crochet
If you’re an avid crocheter or knitter (or both!), you’d have to be living under a rock if you aren’t familiar with the name or work of Kristin Omdahl. She’s a craftswoman extraordinaire; a driving force in the yarn world, she’s inspirational on many levels. Luckily for all yarn enthusiasts, she’s always working on new books, videos and projects. Kristin loves being creative, and she’s extremely passionate about sharing what she does with others. She was born in Montreal, Québec, but grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. Kristin has lived in Chicago, New York and Israel. She’s a former model and now happily resides in Bonita Springs, Fla., with her son. Let’s get to know her better…
Randy Cavaliere: When did you learn to crochet and knit, and who taught you?
Kristin Omdahl: In 2001, when I became pregnant while living in Israel, I had an overwhelming desire to learn to make baby booties, blankets and layettes for my baby. I had no access to the internet or classes, so I taught myself to knit and crochet.
RC: Do you prefer one craft over another and one yarn or fiber in particular?
KO: Not at all. I think there are so many similarities, yet the nuances of each craft make them unique and equally lovable. I believe there is a project for every yarn, and projects and yarns that are better suited to one craft or the other. I create interchangeably with both knitting and crochet. I often enjoy recreating similar things in both crafts. Some fibers and/or weights are better suited for knitting or crochet, for lace or texture or warmth or durability. I choose a yarn for a particular project with all of those factors in mind.
RC: Do you enjoy other crafts such as sewing, needlepoint or paper crafts, or is your creativity solely centered around yarn?
KO: I am a creative person through and through. I love all crafts from cooking to furniture making and just about everything in between.
RC: How did you get your start as a yarn professional?
KO: I sold a collection of knit and crochet lace shawls to a high-end boutique in an affluent suburb of Detroit. When they sold out and the owner wanted to reorder a new collection, he gave me six weeks to replace a collection I spent a year making. I was buying the boutique yarns retail, I had hundreds of hours invested and, once I realized the business pace, there was no way I could compete for a profit. It was gratifying to know my designs were worthy of a highend boutique but, as a manufacturer, I couldn’t compete. It made me realize I did have value as a designer but had to come up with another approach to make money. When I couldn’t keep up labor-wise with physical orders, I turned to the yarn world to sell my designs. I wasn’t sure if I should pursue knitting or crochet first, so I submitted one design each to a yarn company and a publisher. I figured whichever I got a “yes” from, it would be a sign to continue in that direction. I received immediate and enthusiastic “yeses” from both, so I took it as a sign I should pursue both, and I did! And 15 years later, I still design in both and still love both. RC: What inspires you to create a design? KO: Inspiration is everywhere and all around us. Sometimes it is textural for me and other times it is a silhouette. Or it is a color that moves me. I find inspiration in nature, in architecture, in other art mediums or even out of the blue.
RC: When working on a new piece, what’s your method of designing?
KO: I intentionally keep an open mind as much as possible. By stilling my mind and environment regularly, I feel it keeps the creative juices flowing freely. This also allows me to receive the inspiration
from all directions. I use a variety of methods of stilling, including meditation and spending time in nature for good old-fashioned fresh air. I also use what I call the “back burner” method. Having multiple projects going at a time, I can put off something instead of pressuring myself for all the creativity of every component of the idea at one time. If I feel the idea isn’t flowing as much as I want it to, I “back-burner” the idea until it does. You would be amazed at how urgently the ideas flow once I stop pressuring myself. Sometimes it’s at a red light, in the shower or at any random time or place. I always keep a notebook handy for this very reason!
RC: Describe a typical day when you’re working—or is there no such thing as “typical” because every day brings something new or different to do?
KO: My day is very busy and quite varied but there are elements that keep the chaos structured. My day begins around 5 a.m. I start by reading social media, email and video comments that came in overnight. Then I do makeup and hair for my daily sunrise beach video podcast while getting my son ready for his day. I drive him to tennis training before sunrise, then stop by the beach to livestream for 30 minutes on my YouTube channel podcast called Yarn on the Beach. After that, I head to my studio to ship orders, make tutorial videos, work on new books, dye new yarns, curate new products and run all the other aspects of my business. I work from home, so I try to fit in making dinner for my son while I work. He is an athlete, so this is a big job in itself! Then, I take all packages to the post office on my way to picking up my son at the end of the day and get errands done along my route. Once we return home, I serve dinner, clean up, do the laundry and go back to work until bedtime. Knowing that 5 a.m. comes quickly, I am most disciplined about getting to sleep by 10 p.m. The podcast, being a single mom and the post office hours are the components that keep my day structured. The rest of the day is creative chaos and more fun than it even sounds!
RC: You have your hand in so many facets of the yarn world—designing, teaching, podcasts, YouTube videos, the Kristin Omdahl Community on Ravelry; you’re the force behind Wrapture and your own brand of yarns. But more recently, you started Project Kristin Cares to help end domestic violence. What drove you to create this project?
KO: I am a survivor of domestic violence, and one of the biggest components of my healing process has been to make a difference in other survivors’ experiences. Whether it is through my donations, my time, sharing my story or giving someone the message that they are not alone, I know that everything I do makes a difference. Just like the saying, “The teacher appears when the student is ready,” I feel the same about my charity. Sometimes I have the opportunity to help an individual person; sometimes it is more abstract in a donation to a shelter or a group. I have met people who needed my help through casual conversations with strangers, friend-ofa-friend situations and helping at large. I don’t have set rules and feel that I can help as creatively as I want this way.
RC: How does the sale of your products benefit Project Kristin Cares?
KO: I dedicate a portion of every sale of every product to help survivors of domestic violence. RC: Tell us about the Create Share Inspire Notebook. KO: The Create Share Inspire Notebook is something that I have been doing for myself for many years. Journaling is an incredibly powerful tool and something anyone can do. No matter what your goals are, journaling benefits all aspects of your life. Settling the mind and focusing on positivity can benefit your wellness, your attitude, your creativity and your productivity, and it is fun too! I especially love going back through older journals and sparking off of older ideas or remembering the nuances and details of special memories. We live such busy and multidirectional lives that memories often fade quickly. I also love making lists in the front section of my Create Share Inspire Notebooks. There is so much power in writing your thoughts down. Did you know that you are 42 percent more likely to achieve your dreams and goals when you write them down? Kristin generously shared her Meri Shawl crochet pattern, featured on page 54. You can see everything offered on her website, including information on Project Kristin Cares and her latest product line, Create Inspire Share, at www.kristinomdahl.com. Follow Kristin on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, Etsy and Ravelry as “KristinOmdahl.”