Interview with Simply Sweet Crochet Author Cony Larsen

I think staying productive is all about staying tuned in to what inspires you, and I have plenty of people and things that do that. For example, my grandchildren are a great source of inspiration to me. I’m also inspired by my garden, and of course, my love of textiles and fibers from Guatemala, which is where I’m from. I truly find inspiration all around me, and I’m grateful for that.

With Simply Sweet I want beginners to move to the next level of crochet with simple new techniques, such as crocheting around a ponytail, creating different fabric textures with simple changes on well known stitches, and of course, the layout is new, and beautiful!

I always find satisfaction in doing things that will make my family’s (or someone else’s) stay on this earth a happy experience. It’s the purpose of our being. Crocheting has blessed my life since I was six years old, and I love sharing this skill to help others.

Working our hemstitched blankets is very easy. This allows people to finish a project quickly. We encourage our customers to make one for a loved one and also give one to someone in need. Many of our customers do it through the Linus project, and of course, over the last five years our company has donated thousands of flannel blankets to the Neo Natal program of the LDS church, our local Primary Children’s Hospital and to a Catholic charity, El Hermano Pedro Hospital in Antigua, Guatemala, as well as other non-profit organizations.

My first grade teacher taught me. She was a sweet classic teacher and she didn’t use any patterns; she taught us the stitches and then undid all our work if it was wrong! Whatever item we were doing had to be to her standard of beauty. I learned to appreciate so much her demands on perfect tension and even stitches. When I was about 8-10 years old, I used this skill to sell crocheted items to my neighbors! I love quilting, scrapbooking, stamping, knitting, cooking, etc., but I always come back to my first love, crochet.

I mostly create new patterns but I also love to crochet quick items for my grandchildren and children. I have to say that I’m not a big fan of afghans or big projects. I like to crochet quick projects that I can finish in a couple of nights; that’s why all my books feature projects that can be worked up quickly.

Wow, well, I would have to say it’s the Big Cozy Cowl Hat. (It’s on the left in the photo below). I loved how easy it was, how quick I got it done and the results are stunning!

I have 9 granddaughters so it’s easy for me to be inspired to create things for them. I love the variety of fibers and colors; I’m attracted to color and texture in a huge way! And of course, I love watching their excitement every time they get one of Ammee’s hats!

Over the last couple of years I have seen my mother-in-law, who loves to crochet, struggle with serious health issues, I have seen the calming influence of crochet when she picks up her hook and yarn and works on one more hemstitched blanket or baby afghan. I believe that crochet heals not only the giver, but also the receiver of the gift. Receiving a hand-crafted care gift at a point in one’s life when things are not going well fills you with gratitude for the giver and reminds you that God still loves you and has not abandoned you. He lets us know, through others’ actions, that he is mindful of us. Visiting an orphanage in Guatemala or a woman’s shelter is a good reminder that we still need to do God’s work on this earth.

 Mostly that I feel blessed every day of my life; creating my books is one way of passing down to my posterity part of who I am, and, hopefully, the lives of others will be blessed along the way.