Maria Bittner, Pattern Paradise

Maria Bittner, Pattern Paradise called from New York as part of the Yarn Thing Podcast by Marly Bird’s focus on crochet bloggers.

Maria remembers when she was very young always wanting to craft, playing with a friend who’s aunt brought home scraps from her job in the garment industry and dressing their Barbies. A friend of her mother’s often came to chat and always brought her handwork. When she noticed Maria trying to imitate her, she taught her a few stitches, and later Maria would borrow books from the library or purchase when she could from the local Five & Dime store.

She knew she wanted a business of her own but never found the right fit. Maria’s tradition was always to welcome new babies in the community around her with a blanket and other goodies. A woman who owned a vintage linen shop asked her to create products for sale in her shop. Later, with her son’s encouragement, she sold items online in an Etsy Shop. She was often approached for the patterns to her products and that evolved into her website: https://pattern-paradise.com/

One of the things that Maria’s challenged herself to do with her website was to create a series for her community to participate in. Last year she created the Chameleon Hat and with it she changed the style every month to fit the seasons. This year she is working on a series of patterns using X-stitches.

Maria patterns include tips and tricks, rather than strictly ‘publisher’ written. She finds for herself that she needs a little variety in her written directions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Maria Bittner get started with crafting and patterns?

So here’s the thing… Maria was always drawn to crafting from a young age, playing with fabric scraps and learning stitches. She knew she wanted her own business and after making blankets for new babies and selling items online, people started asking for her patterns, which led to her website, Pattern Paradise!

What kind of challenges does Maria set for herself with her website?

Honestly… Maria likes to create fun series for her community to join in on. She’s done things like the Chameleon Hat where she changed the style each month to fit the seasons, and she’s also worked on patterns using X-stitches. It sounds like a great way to keep things interesting!

Are Maria’s patterns written like typical patterns?

Yes! Maria includes tips and tricks in her patterns, rather than just the standard ‘publisher’ writing. She mentioned that she personally likes a little variety in her pattern directions, so she offers that to her customers too.

What’s the connection between Maria Bittner, Pattern Paradise, and crochet?

Well, Maria is a crochet designer and her website, Pattern Paradise, is all about crochet patterns! She was featured on the Yarn Thing Podcast, and it seems like a big part of her focus is on crochet bloggers and sharing her love for the craft.

What kind of projects does Maria offer through Pattern Paradise?

Oh, there are all sorts! The page mentions her Chameleon Hat series and patterns using X-stitches. One of the comments even talks about loving her Cape Cod Shawl and how it looks like a fun crochet project. She definitely has a variety of designs!