When it comes to designing crochet patterns, Shelby Allaho tends to go with the flow. She works mainly in free-form crochet, which gives her the flexibility change paths mid-project. As she’s found, sometimes the kerchief you planned to design really just wants to be a purse.
Lucky for us, Shelby has used her creativity to crochet a number of beautiful patterns in our yarns. The Bella Necklace Trio is her latest Berroco project – offering three crochet necklace patterns for the price of one! Shelby started with the idea of graduated links crocheted in Berroco Ultra Alpaca. Then she changed the link sizes and added i-cords for two very different effects. Each necklace features a combination of chains, half double crochets and single crochets. The pattern is easy memorize and quick to make, so it’s a great idea for a last minute gift!
How did you come up with this design?
I was trying to recreate a necklace I had designed several years ago. I didn’t write down the pattern when I made it, so I was playing with the hook and yarn trying to remember what I did. In the process, I came up with something very different from what I was trying to copy! I didn’t originally intend for the one design to become three, but I was having so much fun with the concept of making continuous links, the ideas for variations came easily.
How did you decide on the yarn?
Berroco Ultra Alpaca comes in gorgeous colors, and it works up beautifully. I have used it in previous designs as well, such as the Helleborus Gloves and the Plaid Wristlet Purse.
If you could crochet something for anyone in the world, it would be?
I wish I could go back in time and create an entire crochet collection for my design school graduation fashion show. It would have been so unique, and I could have gotten into the crochet design field sooner!
What’s your favorite thing about crocheting?
I love that I can take the yarn for a walk in crochet. I can go in any direction and put my hook anywhere in the work and crochet from there. I start out with a sketch, but that is just a jumping off point to where my hook ends up taking me!
Love Shelby’s crochet designs? Look for her first book, co-authored with Ellen Gormley, “Crocheting Clothes Kids Love”, which will be available this February.
Gorgeous!