Bloggers to Watch: Kate Bruning

Inside Crochet is watching out for crochet blogger Kate Bruning • greedyforcolour.blogspot.com

Tell us about yourself… I live in New Zealand on a farm with my husband Jonno, two boys, Archie and Hugo, two cats, a border collie, two guinea pigs and an alarming amount of hens and wildlife.

Tell us a bit about what you do… I began blogging in 2008 on advice of my knitting hero Mel Clarke. I was taken aback by the thought of committing so much energy to it, as my boys were still so small and hard to catch. I gave it a go, and found it gave my day structure.

How long have you been blogging? Greedy for Colour has evolved. Initially it focused on projects geared towards small children. As the boys have grown, it now has a bias towards crochet with a smattering of books, food and roses.

Do you use other social media? I have started to use Instagram more. It’s so quick to pop a photo up and check out what the crochet community is up to. I still blog though, as it’s hard to achieve the same amount of depth – it’s difficult to pop a free pattern up on Instagram!

Have you made new friends through blogging? Blogging has brought some wonderful friendships, especially Amanda from Amanda Bloom’s Little Box of Crochet (@littleboxofcrochet on Instagram). To this day I miss my bloggy friendship with Vanessa Cabban.

How did you learn to crochet? I began crocheting about seven years ago after a nasty accident with my hand and a glass mixing bowl. Before then I was knitting and painting but after severing nerves in my finger, I had trouble holding the needles and brushes. After watching someone crochet, I realised the different grip might be easier. And it was – wahoo!

How did you start designing? I taught myself from YouTube videos. I started with granny squares and then went on to amigurumi toys and Nicki Trench’s book Super-Cute Crochet. I then started designing simple projects that I popped on my blog. I then smothered my bike with crochet, my house, my life... From there I was approached by publishers.

My first book was a story for children, Stanley And The Hot Air Balloon, for which I made the sets by hand and included patterns at the end. My second book began when I shared my crocheted caravan, made for a school auction, on the blog. The front opened up and contained bunks, a kitchen sink and cupboards. This caught the eye of Kyle Books and they commissioned Let’s Go Camping! Crochet Your Own Adventure.

What are your sources of inspiration? I love to make things that appeal to both boys and girls. I have to admit that in my latest book, A Day At The Circus, I used a pastel colour scheme on the circus tent... Children’s books, fabric and nature are also sources of inspiration.

Who are your favourite other bloggers? I feel fortunate to have met Kat Goldin and Joanne Scrace. Little Doolally, Kate from Just Pootling, Terese from Crochetspecs, Pony McTate and Sarah-Jane from Flo and Dot are all crocheters I admire. I have also fallen in love with Molla Mills’ book, Crochetterie. My 13-year-old crocheting son is thrilled with projects from its woodsy aesthetics.