Tell us a bit about yourself…
I live in Kent with my family, my cat, Malachi, and my tortoise, Dougal, but I’m currently looking at properties in Hertfordshire with my boyfriend, so hoping for a move sometime soon!
How did you first learn to crochet?
I learnt the basics when I was a child and used aspects of free-form crochet in my degree pieces. But I learnt the more advanced stitches from a friend over weekly video calls during lockdown. I taught her to knit and she taught me to crochet.
How did you get into crochet design?
I fell into crochet as a branch of my career in knit design. I did a degree in textile design at Buckinghamshire New University, specialising in knit. I started my career straight out of university as an in-house knit and crochet designer for LoveCrafts, and many of the Paintbox Yarn designs came through me. Currently I’m freelancing as a knit and crochet designer, and I teach both crafts in person and online.
What do you most like to design and make?
I’m a commercial craft designer at heart. I make garments that make people look and feel good, with a wide range of sizes to make them as inclusive as possible. My true love is making bags. I love the range of design options, the fact that people are more willing to use bold colours and how they add a personalised touch to any outfit whatever the weather.
What’s your design style?
I always strive for ‘wearable with a contemporary edge’. It is ever-evolving but I’ve always been told I have strong design handwriting! For me, inspiration comes from everywhere: lots of prints and paintings, various gallery visits, streetwear and designer garments.
Do you have a favourite design?
My personal favourite is always the one I’m working on that isn’t quite finished; the perfectionist in me likes to pick holes in anything complete! But my current favourite is the Forest Blanket (above??) I released recently. It’s a pretty tapestry crochet design in lovely shades of green, and I’m very pleased with it.
What achievements are you most proud of?
I’m really proud of the designs I created for Paintbox Yarns, and how well we adapted during lockdown. I even modelled one of the collections myself in my kitchen! I’m also thrilled that the first design I ever had commissioned for a magazine ended up on the front cover of Inside Crochet for Christmas last year! [The Mohair Boho Jumper, above, issue 163.]
Are there any other designers who inspire you?
Jen @crochetbouquetbyjen is the friend who taught me to crochet and she’s doing some really amazing Taylor Swift-themed crochet right now. I also aspire to be like Alexi from @twoofwands as she has such a great sense of style and I always find her patterns really accessible and easy to work from.
What are you looking forward to this year?
I’m excited to visit Munich for Oktoberfest for the first time and for loads of new patterns I have coming out over the next few months. I’m also trying to get more confident with social media, so I’m really looking forward to feeling comfortable making TikToks. It’s been a journey.
Buy Ella’s patterns on ravelry.com and lovecrafts.com.