I’m Lori of Aklori Designs. I live in sunny Arizona. I’ve always loved making things and working with my hands and tools so turning yarn into new designs is really enjoyable to me (and cheaper than home renovation projects).  I live with 3 cats, 1 shiba and my amazing (stash enabling) partner.

How did you get into crocheting & designing knitwear? 

I started crocheting when I was a child, but it wasn’t until I discovered Tunisian crochet in my late 30’s that my love for crochet really blossomed. I started designing when I ran out of patterns in Tunisian crochet that I wanted to do.  I felt the craft had so much untapped potential and much to explore.

What does your design process look like?

It really depends on the design.  Most begin with a rough sketch on whatever paper is handy. I have notebooks and pads of paper scattered around my house with all my ideas.  Sometimes I love an idea so much, I have to start working on it immediately.  Sometimes I need to just let the idea marinate for a while to figure out how to make it actually work. Then depending on the design, I either start with swatching or writing up a chart then swatching. I typically am working on 2-3 designs at once.

What type of project do you like to knit/crochet most?

I love shawls; they can be all sorts of shapes, and, living in Arizona, they get more use than sweaters, etc.

What are you best known for as a designer?

Modern designs with clean lines and fun shapes.

What yarns do you prefer?

Fingering is my favorite yarn weight because Arizona is too warm for anything heavy.  I love working with merino/silk blends from indie dyers.

What are your hobbies/interests outside of the fiber community?

I enjoy hiking and nature photography. I’m also a huge foodie and love cooking.

Is there anything else you’d like our crafters to know about you?

About me … probably not. About Tunisian crochet? Yes!

If you are interested in trying Tunisian crochet, it is really important that you use a hook 2 sizes bigger than the yarn suggests. Otherwise, you’ll get a fabric that is way too dense and difficult to work with.  You can learn the basics with a regular hook and rows of 10-20 stitches.

To learn more about AkLoriDesigns, check out her designer portfolio and patterns or visit her Instagram @akloridesigns