kiba the diva

Crochet Design Process Insight

I found another post where a designer shares insight into her process. Back in October for the launch of the Crochet Me book, Robyn Chachula posted about her process at the crochet by faye blog.

One thing I find especially reassuring is how simple Robyn’s drawings are, while still clearly illustrating the pattern design. I received a C in costume design in college. I knew going in that I couldn’t draw, but I see garments very clearly in my mind’s eye. My proportions were all wrong, my professor said. (I drew women shaped like me: short-waisted, long-legged, and busty. Incidentally, this is also how anime characters are shaped, which probably influenced my drawings.) The other problem was that I had trouble using shadow to create a three-dimensional effect, to show the drape of a garment effectively. It was this about Robyn’s designs that pleased me. Her designs were clearly flat. I assume this is because of her background in architecture. But they also completely convey the garment’s lines and shape, without use of excessive shading or any of the tricks my professor wanted me to use.

I also enjoyed reading about how Robyn’s reactions to the garments and the yarn colors changed as she worked with them and saw them on real models instead of her dress form.

Thanks for excellent insight into your process, Robyn!