Hey guys, today I am excited to have Julie from ACCROchet here as part of my Indie Artist Interview series! Julie’s website is packed full of stylish crochet patterns both available for purchase and some freebies! Let’s get to know her!
Who are you? Where are you from?
My name is Julie, and my design company is ACCROchet. ACCRO means addict in French. I’m addicted to crochet! (Could be worse). I’m a 39 year old crocheter from French Canada. I’m a mom, stepmom, and a fiancée. I design crochet items, and teach crochet to my students.
Are you an Indie Artist/Do you sell you handmade items?
I do sell handmade items such as hats, cowls, etc. I do commissions, and I also sell my pattern prototypes. My main squeeze though is selling crochet patterns. All of my patterns come with the right for artists to sell the items made from them. They are also all bilingual (French & English) because it’s important for me to allow my French peeps to play with yarn.
When/why did you decide to sell your work?
3 years ago I had 3 patterns for sale. A hat-cowl-mitten set. I wanted to sell my work, but disliked making the same thing over and over again.
I did a fair (Twist fiber festival in Saint-André-Avellin, QC) and those three patterns sold like mad; people wanted more! So I spent the next year adding patterns to my store. Along the way, it became a way of life!
What does the term “Indie” mean to you?
It means independent, as in I get to do things my way. I get to create what comes to my mind, regardless of trends.
What is your favorite type of crafting?
No question: it’s crochet (bet you can tell). But I also love just making things / learning how to make things. I’ve gotten into needle felting, I love to play with polymer clay, I want to sew… I simply love to experiment.
What does your workspace look like?
It looks like my backyard in the summer, and my living room in winter. Or it looks like the passenger’s seat in my car when we go on long drives. It looks like everywhere I can get away with pulling out yarn and a hook! (I also have a rather large yarn stash in my ‘office’ but I never actually sit there).
What is one thing you have you learned from your business?
Not everyone will buy my product; not everyone will realize the work that goes into handmade (whether it’s a pattern or a product); not everyone will be willing to pay the price of indie. That’s fine. I focus on the people that do, and I keep an eye on those that are still hesitating, to help pull them over to our side!
And lastly, where can we find you on the web?
Facebook: http://facebook.com/accrochet
Twitter: @accrochet
Instagram: @julie_accrochet
Ravelry: http://ravelry.com/designers/accrochet
Website: http://accrochet.com
Thanks for answering our questions, Julie!
Thanks for the opportunity =)