Welcome to the November edition of Meet the Maker – Designer Spotlight! This month I am excited to introduce Joy, crochet designer behind Anvi’s Granny Handicrafts. I got to know Joy from participating in a blog hop that she was hosting earlier this year. I love meeting new makers and Joy’s amigurumi designs are awesome! Don’t forget to read until the end for a special surprise!
Tell us a little bit about yourself…
Hi, I am Joy, I am Vietnamese living in India with my Indian husband and 3 kids! I am the amigurumi designer behind Anvi’s Granny Handicrafts and my mission is to create easy and fun amigurumi patterns with less-sew or no-sew techniques for busy crocheters. I also love to host events, connect and build community between crocheters and amigurumi designers all over the world..
How long have you been crocheting?
I picked up yarn and hook since I was 5 years old. So it has been 29 years so far! I think I can call myself a “granny crocheter”!
What types of patterns do you design? Do you focus on any certain types?
I crocheted many things but 2 years ago I found amigurumi and started to design immediately since then. My focus is simple and cute amigurumi, not too big, just small size and medium size so that beginners can finish the projects! In the last year, I found my style of designing: I design no-sew or little sewing required amigurumi patterns. I think the big reason is that I am so lazy to sew small parts together and I know many of you feel so too.
Is there anything in particular that inspires your designs?
When I started, most of my designs were order-to-make from my children. I have a twin and 1 little girl, they asked me what they want and I just designed for them. Then I am obsessed with whimsical characters or horoscope, and definitely axolotl. That’s why I had a full collection of 24 Zodiac amigurumi (Chinese and Greek), and a few axolotl patterns in many forms (amigurumi, brooch, donut, voodoo axolotl).
You can find some of Joy’s FREE axolotl patterns HERE.
What is the main reason that you crochet?
I love many kinds of art: macrame, knitting, crocheting, sewing…but I prefer crochet because I think it is an unlimited art, that you can make anything with yarn, hook and your imagination (or good patterns). I love the feeling of holding and adoring the finished projects on my hands, and love to see my kids play with my toys.
How did you decide on your maker name?
It was a funny story! My brand name is Anvi’s Granny Handicrafts! Many people think that I am a granny! But actually, I am Anvi’s mom!
Well, that was back in 2019 when my mom retired, I opened an online shop for my mom to sell her crochet items (She is a crochet addict too). That’s why the shop names after “granny”. But then my mom was so busy with her retirement life (cafe, yoga…) so I took charge of the shop. That time I didn’t design yet, we have makers in Vietnam to crochet and then we shipped worldwide (now we still do, but not so many as before).
Then I decided to design, opened the Etsy shop and then it became my brand! I don’t want to change because it is a meaningful name.
Do you have a favorite pattern you designed and why?
It is hard to choose, I love all the patterns I designed so far! But I think the most favourite is the Pisces Princess!
She was the first mermaid I have ever crocheted and I just love her innocent look, with a tiny fish as a company! I also love the color mix of light coral and turquoise.
And I enjoyed so much forming the tail. I think she has the most beautiful mermaid tail ever!
To purchase the pattern on Ravelry click HERE.
To purchase the pattern on Etsy click HERE.
What do you love most about being a crochet designer/maker?
Well, before being a designer, I crocheted and gifted to 1-2 or a few friends/family members. Just that! But becoming a designer brought me the chance to share my patterns for many crocheters, and see their makes from my original designs. That is amazing!
And I really love the friendship between designers/bloggers that I have got! We motivate, learn from, help others in the business as well as in life!
My secret dream is to visit and meet in person all my designer friends all over the world when we can travel back! Is that awesome?
What do you love least about being a crochet designer/maker?
Pattern stealing! I still struggle with this! I was shocked when I found 1 website that shared 50% of my library illegally and made money from my patterns. And I could not do anything about that! I just wanted to quit, because I was hurt when my hard work was just copied and distributed that way!
But then my love for crochet is much more than that, I keep telling myself: they are just helping me to be more famous by sharing my designs. And many of my readers also tell me not to quit, because they love my amigurumi.
I just hope that everyone understands the importance of copyright protection for designers so that we can just focus on creating new beautiful things, in peace!
Is there any helpful advice you could give someone just learning to crochet?
Crochet requires patience! It looks difficult at the beginning, but focus on basic technique first, practice until your hands get used to yarn and hook! Then you can choose a small, beginner-friendly project to start with, so it motivates you for the next ones!
Do not feel bad if your first crochet item is not beautiful. Anyone has to start!
If you want to learn to crochet amigurumi from scratch, I have the Ultimate Guide to amigurumi beginners that can help you out.
When you are not crocheting, what are you most likely doing?
I love to read books! You will find me reading all my free time. And sewing something for my family!
What is your favorite type/weight of yarn to work with and why?
I usually work with 100% cotton yarn in DK, because it gives a nice texture for amigurumi and is safe for babies. You can wash easily too without any pilling.
Do you have a favorite place to crochet?
I don’t have a craft corner (I hope I will but not sure when), so I crochet everywhere. On the bed, on the sofa, in the yard walking with kids, in the ground in front of our house, on the beach…I carry yarn and hook and feel really bored without them!
Do you have any upcoming designs or new plans in the future as a maker?
I am working on a joint collection with another amigurumi designer for 2022. And I am thinking of designing a collection of birth flower axolotls. I want to write a book on Tarot characters as well. Actually, so many ideas that I wanna crochet, but I do not have enough time to design them all! I just wish I have 48 hours/day for crocheting!
If you could create with any other medium (other than yarn), what would it be?
I am not sure! It depends on my mood! I can do a lot of things and I believe that I can do anything as long as I want! 🙂
For more patterns and fun amigurumi from Anvi’s Granny Handicrafts, check out Joy’s Website!
You can find Anvi’s Granny Handicrafts on the following platforms: Instagram and Ravelry
To sign up for Anvi’s Granny’s Handicrafts Tribe Vault of free amigurumis and resources click HERE.
I hope you come back next month to meet another awesome maker!
Are you interested in more free patterns? Check out some of my free patterns below or click HERE to view them all!
