Stefani Collier

GENTLE HANDS, DESIGNS

What’s the Hook-on Crocheting?

Hello, Golden Divas & Divos!

Let’s talk about the hook of crochet. This craft is dated back to the 1800s and came in full bloom in the sixties. Crochet is known for ‘The Granny Square,’ a simple design used to make various clothes and accessories, and yes, this simple design put crochet in high fashion. Crochet made its way into Vogue and became a movement on the catwalk.

This craftsmanship is moving in the world of fashion, and it has so many health benefits that will do your body good.

Here’s a little known fact about crocheting, did you know the precise movements in crocheting with your hands require skill and mastery?

Also, crocheting can improve your agility? It can also reduce the risk of arthritis and improve fine motor skills. Who would have known that a crocheting needle can greatly impact your health?

What a difference a needle can make! One needle versus two (knitting) can get you addicted to crocheting.

Crochet is a versatile craft that can be used to create a wide variety of items, and my next guest at Club Fifty has mastered the one hook technique to make the most fashionable clothing and accessories with yarn.

Although they say crocheting is easy to learn, only a few people will embark on this repetitive artistry to endure this type of needle craftsmanship. However, one thing is for sure there’s an incredible thrill of satisfaction that comes along with completing a project, learning a new pattern or stitch, and seeing the face of a happy customer when they see your work.

As you delve into this interview, you will better understand the journey of how my guest fell in love with crocheting and why it is relaxing for her. But first, I will like to tell you how I met this ‘Yarn-Stitching Diva!’

We went to the best high school together, Percy L. Julian, on the Southside of Chicago. As niceness goes, she was and still is one of the sweetest Julianites I have had the pleasure of knowing. Some people you leave where they are, back in the past. However, I am grateful that God has allowed our friendship to extend in the present for nearly four decades.

With no further ado, I would like to introduce you to Club Fifty’s Golden Diva for this month, the creator of Gentle Hands, Designs, Stefani Collier! Hobby or not, the ‘Queen of the One Hook’ makes this valuable skill of crocheting look amazingly easy. Hopefully, we will see her great work strutting on a catwalk one day!

Welcome to Club Fifty, Beautiful!

MEET STEFANI COLLIER

Stefani Collier nee Collins is 56 years old and the eldest of two daughters, born and raised on the city’s south side. She has lived in Chicago and the south suburbs her entire life and is a certified, die-hard White Sox fan.

Stefani married her high school sweetheart, Patrick, in 1988. This year they will celebrate 35 years of marriage. They have four children, ages 36, 32, 30 & 27, and 7 grandchildren – who have stolen the rest of the heart that she has left! In her spare time, she loves to spoil her grandchildren, try new recipes, listen to music, and crochet. 

Crochet re-centers me and makes everything ok!!

She comes from a long line of Christians who loved serving – from ordained ministers to deacons, Sunday School teachers, choir members, Mother’s Board – you name it, her family did it. It’s been a while since she has attended church in person, but her family tradition of bible study and praise/worship together continues and will be passed on to the next generation.

Stefani went to Catholic school for all her grammar school years, and then came a very rude awakening – public high school! Lol! She graduated from Percy L. Julian High School, class of 1984. In high school, she was exposed to a program called Office Occupations, led by Mr. Zamzow. Because of that exposure, she got her first job at Arthur Andersen & Co. Arthur Andersen was big-time. She started there on August 15, 1983, and worked there until October 2001. The company was once an accounting giant, one of the Big 8 accounting firms, and she was able to flourish in the company. In high school, she also met some of the best friends she could ask for, who is a permanent fixture in her life.

Stefani went from high school work study, department clerk, executive assistant, and mainframe security specialist to systems software programmer – responsible for all the company DASD (disk), tape storage, and equipment. In the last couple of years, she acted as supervisor for two of her peers and oversaw all of their work as well as hers.

She was one of the few people targeted to shut down their data center when it was decided the company would close. God had His hands all over this ‘Little Black Girl.’ from the south side of Chicago for her entire career. He not only allowed her to develop from a high school work study to a Systems Software Programmer & Supervisor but being selected to shut down the data center allowed her to receive a generous bonus along with a severance package that paid her two weeks for every year she was there – equaling 40 weeks of pay with full medical benefits.

After leaving Arthur Andresen, she briefly worked as a Technical Specialist at Lawson Products in Des Plaines, where she wore many hats and was responsible for all of their technology (mainframe and servers) along with her team.

After Lawson, she came to a large private insurer in 2007 and has been there since then. She is in IT there also. Specifically, she is a Cybersecurity professional. Today Mrs. Collier is responsible for creating and updating the enterprise’s technical security standards and access patterns. This means – she tells you how to secure your applications, etc., to exact specific standards to mitigate risk, minimize the possibility of a breach, and keep you and your member’s data safe.

IN CONVERSATION WITH STEFANI COLLIER

C50: Stefani, tell us how you got started in the definitive skill of crocheting.

SC: I was between the ages of 8-10; I can’t recall the exact age when I learned to crochet. My Mother is still an avid crocheter, and she is the one who taught me and passed along the love of art to me.

C50: Crocheting is a method of creative expression. Was it hard to learn this specific skill of different types of stitches? 

SC: It was not hard learning the different stitches – but what was hard was learning to read patterns. Most people think you can pick up a crochet hook and start making stuff. 

That is so not true! Lol! My Mother taught me the basics, but learning the terminology and the lingo was up to me. I attempted to read patterns without first schooling myself on the different terms, abbreviations, stitches, variations, etc. Once I educated myself on that, picking up the new stitches was very easy.

C50: What is the most complicated stitch to learn in crocheting?

SC: There isn’t a complex stitch; what is hard is deciphering some patterns. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to write patterns or have people test them before they release them.  

C50: Is your passion for fashion in crocheting a business or a hobby?

SC: It’s mainly a hobby, but I also sell my work to people who are interested. I don’t use a separate platform or website to promote sales because I love crochet. If I were to work it as a full-time business, I would likely enjoy it less, as many of my cro-sisters have attested to.  

C50: Stefani, you are an IT Professional, a Cybersecurity professional, to be exact, in corporate America, which can come with an overload of stress. However, crocheting is a meditative skill that offers many benefits, including relaxation; can you tell us how many times you crochet during the week?

SC: At one point, I was crocheting every day. I would take projects to work with me and work on them during downtime, on the train, at lunch, on break, etc. Lately, though, I only crochet a couple of times during the week – that’s pretty much all the time I have to do it now.  

C50: What is the difference between knitting and crocheting?

SC: The difference is HUGE! Lol! Knitting is accomplished using two needles, either straight or circular. These needles are pointy at the end. 

Crocheting is accomplished using a hook – it literally has a hook at the end of the ‘needle’ (as some call them) that the yarn hooks onto to create the stitches. That’s as far as I can describe knitting to you because I don’t possess that skill.  

C50: What is the process for creating clothes for a customer? How do you bring their vision to life of making that garment stitched together with yarn?

SC: When creating clothes for a customer, I need to take their measurements for a custom fit. I don’t crochet in small, medium, or large; I use the measurements and other resources available to fiber artists (Craft Yarn Council Website, for one). Many tools help you to create the type of garment you’re looking to create – from the types of yarn to achieve a particular look, recommended hook sizes, size charts, etc. Most of my customer garments have been made from patterns. I’ve only made freestyle creations for myself. 

C50: What is the most challenging piece of clothing you’ve designed? 

SC: The most challenging was a swimsuit coverup I designed by looking at a picture. I did a lot of frogging (that means taking down or ripping the stitches out) before I came up with the final version that I was quite happy with. I will be sure to include a picture of the finished product.  

C50: What excites you about this string-based craft? How fulfilling is it to create something for others? 

SC: What excites me the most about crochet is that it is precise, as you described – I turn strings into ‘things.’ While I am not the type of crocheter that freestyles or designs a lot, I am always satisfied when I finish making something that once was just a skein of yarn. It’s a great feeling of accomplishment, and not only that; it’s very soothing and relaxing. 

It is quite fulfilling to create for others. There is nothing quite like the look of satisfaction and awe when I present my finished creations to my customers. They are always appreciative and take note of the love that is present in every stitch.  

C50: Your work is miraculous; how you can turn a piece of yarn into something beautiful that people can wear; your one-of-a-kind designs are exclusive. Are your tailored pieces expensive to purchase? Do you use patterns to make your designs?

SC: Thank you, Brenda. I took a freestyle class from a young lady in New York. Her name is Dimps. She is a gifted young lady who unlocked the incredible mystery behind crochet design – it’s all about shapes. If you can figure out how to make the shapes for the item that you’ve envisioned, the rest will come relatively quickly. She was absolutely correct in that regard. I get the vision and let my hook and the yarn do the rest. Sometimes I draw a picture, and I create as I crochet. I wish I had the talent that some of these crochet designers out here have – I draw a lot of inspiration from them, and when I grow up (and retire), I’ll be just like them. 😊

Crochet is expensive because it is made by hand. Crochet stitches cannot be duplicated by machine – despite what people may think. A lot of time, energy, and money go into crafting handmade crochet items; depending on the item, it can get costly. I try to keep my prices reasonable but set the expectations and costs upfront so there are no surprises. Sometimes I use patterns; sometimes, I freehand the design. It all depends on the item and the customer. 

C50: It is a known fact that knitting and crocheting come with many benefits; another one is that it helps the brain create and maintain the neural pathways that keep the mind and memory sharp. With that being said, have you ever thought about teaching crocheting to others to learn?

SC: I have taught others to crochet throughout the years: my daughters, nieces, and friends. I am always willing and open to teaching anyone who wants to learn. My granddaughter Karmen is next on the list, and my other granddaughter, Erin’s Mom, insists that I teach her how to do it. 

I’m happy to continue the family tradition and will even teach it to my grandsons if they want to learn.

Thank you for taking an interest and for spotlighting me, Brenda. I appreciate your questions and taking the time to learn a little about me and my craft.  

Bonus Question

C50: Stefani, I love what you do and am continuously proud of your work. How can someone contact you if someone wants an original piece made by you? 

SC: On Facebook – send me a direct message. Via email, I can be reached at: gentlehandscrochet@gmail.com.

C50: There you have it, Golden Divas & Divos. The hook on crocheting! Thank you, Stefani, our beautiful crocheter, for sharing your world of yarn crafting with Club Fifty!