Vickie Howell

Vickie Howell returned to the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird, so we have an opportunity to get caught up with her. So much has happened in the last two and half years!

Vickie was taught to crochet by her mother, as they watched tv together. At a very young age, about 20, Vickie became the hostess of Knitty Gritty. She has also been on Knitting Daily, yarn lines, patterns, books (and booklets!). Marly commented that Vickie has had a lot of ‘lives’ and Vickie agrees, because creative people have ideas as ebb and flow. She feels that she has been an communicator, introducer, recruiter, encourager, which builds an openness with others you may not have anything in common with.

Primarily she’s been an encourager of crochet, not that she hasn’t knit, but feels they are both wonderful for different reasons. Vickie says you have to be willing to fail, and to ask for what you want, taking the risk that you can show things they may not be aware they want to learn. Wee Garter Stitch (link to Ravelry so you can peek at the different pieces) is a collection of knits, both classic and trendy. Vickie says she learned to knit when her second child was born (who is now a teenager). For instance, the cover piece is the Honey Baby pullover features the classic honey-comb done in a bit unusual garter stitch pattern, with popular stripes. Vickie says she loved the Best Dressed which is vintage styled with modern comfy fit, minus seaming. The Coyote Kid is the vintage Cowichan Cardigan (remember The Big Lebowski?) with lots of colorplay to attract a little one’s eye. (Vickie created that to work up quickly in a bulky weight yarn!) Fox Lovie combines the texture of garter stitch, the classic feather and fan waves, and the modern love of fox knits, to create the dragged around companion of a little hands. Look for Zebras, Leopard prints, bows, ruffles and all the elements that become beloved children’s garments.

A very recent addition with Vickie Howell’s world media is a new podcast, Craftish. She describes it as conversations of creative-types.  At this moment the 12 episodes include author Rachel Herron, Star Wars director Rian Johnson, Moogly’s Tamara Kelly, podcaster and magazine editor Kara Gott Warner, food and lifestyle photographer Jody Horton…. such a wide variety of stories, how they remain creative. Vickie finds that one type of creativity flows into other kinds, she hopes that by sprinkling fiber artists like knitters and crocheters that it will also change what people perceive about homecrafts, to elevate it and increasing its value.

She has quite a bit happening and we hope she will come back to share what she couldn’t mention today. We can watch for CrochetScene magazine edition that she took over…. It’s a non-stop life!

You can follow Vickie Howell through her website: www.VickieHowell.com, her Facebook page, Ravelry Designer page, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.  There is also a wonderful selection of online classes at CreativeLive.com.