Bored Panda got in touch with Vanessa Smith, the founder of “Dope People Crochet” as well as Kakes Kreations, a luxury crochet & handbag designer and she was kind enough to answer some of our questions. First and foremost, we wanted to hear more about her own crocheting experience.

“I’ve been crocheting off and on for 30+ years. My mom taught me when I was 12. I began crocheting professionally about 10 years ago and became passionate about really changing the narrative surrounding crochet fashion.”

“The main appeal of crochet is the ability to truly be creative. You can create anything out of a string and hook. I’ve been crocheting for most of my life (30+ years) and love Hip Hop. I wanted to create a space that wasn’t inundated with unnecessary rules, where fellow crocheters could share crochet related posts. I also encourage crochet related businesses to share their items as well.”

We also wanted to hear why she decided to found a Facebook group dedicated to crochet. “I’m a firm believer in “there’s enough room for us all.” I believe the reason the group is so engaging is because there’s genuine people who love art and respect one another. We don’t stand for any negativity or hate and I have seen nothing but support from the members.”

We also wanted to hear some of her suggestions for folks who might be inspired to get into crochet now. “One common mistake beginners make when learning to crochet is attempting to make everything. It’s so tempting, as with crochet you can literally make anything. But as a beginner, it can be hard to perfect your craft if you’re not focused on improving your stitch work and truly learning the craft. It can be overwhelming as well.”