Meet the Designer: Brilliant Button Crochet
- canoemtndesigns
- Jun 10
- 4 min read
More adorable Amigurumi! Kalene has the cutest animals, if you have children and you love to make toys, I think I found the crochet pattern store for you!
As usual, the photos link to the pattern. Please follow Kalene where you can and give her patterns some love by adding them to your favorites :)
All of her links are at the bottom of the feature.
What is your name, business name & where do you live?
HI there! My name is Kalene, owner of BrilliantButton Crochet. I live with my little family and my amazing dog in good old Idaho, USA! The land of potatoes! (though I have yet to make an emotional potato... I should probably do that lol!)
When/How did you learn to crochet?
I learned to crochet from my grandmother when I was a very young little girl. She liked to crochet beautiful blankets. I still have one she gave me! Of course she started me with the chain, but she made me chain entire skeins before she would teach me to single crochet. My parents have fond memories of finding wound up balls of just chained skeins everywhere! Needless to say, I am very good with chains (haha!) and hopefully pretty good at the rest, since I've been doing this for over 20 years now.
What made you decide to start designing patterns?
I decided to start designing patterns because I was getting bored. I was bored of making the same things every day and catering to other's requests. Designing patterns gives me the freedom to make what I want and in the timeline I decide. I love the freedom I have found in making whatever I decide. I also love being able to take a child's drawing/idea and making it real! I love doing this for the young people in my family and at church! My goal since I began to design, is to inspire creativity and imagination in children. I want the world to be magical for them.
How would you say that your crochet designing has changed from when you started?
When I first started, I wasn't sure what to focus on. I have learned alot about niching down and now I typically only design amigurumi. Making stuffed animals has become my favorite. I think there are a few reasons as to why, but a big one is seeing the face of a child when I hand them a crazy creature that was handmade!
What’s your go-to yarn and crochet hook? Any particular reason why you prefer them?
I still stay true to what my grandma taught me! I usually only use Red Heart yarn. That's what grandma used. I know it can feel rough but promise it makes soft stuffies! I also like the thickness of the yarn and the variety of colors I can get! I still use grandma's clover soft touch hooks that I inherited when she passed away. I have tried a few other hooks, but the clover soft touch seems the easiest on my hands.
What are some of your favorite crochet techniques/stitches/ patterns?
While I usually do amigurumi - which is mostly single crochet - I love using lots of different stitches! I used to make alot of hats and I really enjoy using different textured stitches when I do! The alpine stitch is always great!
Are you a one-project-at-a-time person, or do you have a lot of WIPs on the go?
I am typically a one project at a time person. When I have mutliple WIPS, my little house feels covered in yarn (project on the couch, the table etc), my brain feels scattered, and nothing gets done fast. I tend to do better when I am focusing on just one.
What’s the process like when you design a crochet pattern? What are some words you would use to describe your patterns?
It often takes me a long time to design a pattern. Life gets crazy and that is a factor, especially now that I am taking college classes. I am also a perfectionist. Often, I will remake the project multiple times before I like it. After I write the pattern up, I like to test it myself one more time and then I ask multiple testers to go over it. I really try to make my patterns high quality. Words to describe my patterns would be - unique, fun, easy to follow, and top quality! These are my goals when I write a pattern.
Tell us about your favorite make or biggest crochet triumph?
I think my favorite project is my large wizard owl - Marvin. I love this one because I had fun adding and using unique stitches that you usually don't find in amigurumi - post stitches and the crab stitch. It adds so much detail and magic into the cape. I didn't want the cape to be plain and boring so I had alot of fun with this one! This is one of my more advanced patterns, but it is so fun to make! Here are some pictures of the cape details
Paying it forward, who are some of your favorite crochet designers/ bloggers?
There are so, so many amazing people who design! A few great ones of course is Repeat Crafter Me - this is where I first started finding patterns and I will always love her stuff. I also have enjoyed the Sophia's Universe CAL from Look What I Made. I also love Crochetree, the designer was very nice when I have contacted her! And her dolls are lovely. I also have worked with Marikurumi who designs fun amigurumis.
Where can we find you online?
I am on instagram and facebook @brilliantbuttoncochet I am also on ravelry and etsy! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brilliantbuttoncrochet
Thank you Kalene for a wonderful interview!
Don't forget to follow Kalene where you can :)
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