About

Julia is a crochet designer and now hook maker in the Austin, TX area with a background in music and writing. She is a juried member of Art of Texas, two-time Maker for Maker Faire Austin, Texas Rep for the notorious Crochet Liberation Front and also a member of Austin Craft Riot (formerly known as The EtsyAustin Street Team) and the Etsy Hookers Team! Additionally, she is a proud Spirit Jumper! – See http://Spiritjump.org for details.

With over 35 years of crochet and piano in her life, and a family far too familiar with cancer, Julia’s crochet work is often designed for chemo patients and charity too.

You can find her elsewhere online as BikerMom on Ravelry, her store at http://PixieWorx.Etsy.com and her whimsical occasional blog at http://TheDifferenceBetweenADuck.wordpress.com.  You can also access her galleries at:  http://PixieWorx.com.

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Disclosure: I sometimes use Amazon Affiliate links to point to books and products I review and feel are good contributions to the community.  I’ve made a whole $5.64 since March 2010 via Amazon referral links.  I don’t think you’ll mind.  When I finally work my way up to $100, they’ll let me cash it out.  A little something for the great-grandkids.  (Clarification: That’s sarcasm. I’m only 40.)  I don’t have any other affiliate links on this blog at this time, but if I find something I consider to be of value to the community and there’s an affiliate program, I’ll add it to the list here.

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What Makes Aberrant Crochet (TM) Different?
For starters, over 35 years of crochet experience, largely without patterns. I specialize in high-end fibers most people won’t buy or work with and specialized approaches to a variety of “everyday” crochet projects.  I’m also a bit quirky in that when others claim a fiber is a “bad yarn” or that a design can’t be done, I become very interested.  (I’ve only met one yarn that couldn’t be crocheted with, as it was poorly made and fell apart. Otherwise, there’s no such thing as a “bad” yarn that I can’t work with.)

Most of my finished work is one of a kind.  I also specialize in uncommon techniques and a method I’ve developed called “yarn sculpting.” If you’ve heard this term, it was taken from me as I’m the first. I’m proud of what I do and hold my work to the highest of standards so my customers are always happy.   Another specialty of mine is with regard to specific designs in hook shapes, because your tools are what allow you to do a variety of things in fiber. I make and keep a wide array of specialized handmade hooks (from a variety of master hook makers) to create what I do. I also take on special challenges that many folks believe can’t be done.

The majority of the patterns I design are considered advanced according to international yarn standards. Currently I am working on designs that utilize stitches that as of yet have no standardization or names. A challenge! A lot of time and experience stands behind every piece I produce. You’ll find my crochet to be of excellent structure and quality – even positively tested on the ski slopes in snow. Not all crochet is suitable in certain extremes. You’ve probably heard that crochet can use more yarn than knitting. Many of my pieces use more yarn than most crochet, yet designed to breath and remain both warm, and yet not too hot.  (After all, I live in Central Texas where the weather changes frequently and flexibility in our clothes is kind of important to us!)

I like to design things that are practical, useful and yet not too serious. Items that do not require a lot of special care, and yet are stylish, unique and eye-catching. My goal isn’t just to make you smile, but everyone who sees you wearing my design.

I also design many things for folks going through chemo and have received a lot of input from patients over the years. A lot of patients do not want to wear typical turbans (or “death caps” as one patient said to me frankly). As another patient told me once, “I just want to look in the mirror and see a beautiful lady, not a bald head.” I have never forgotten this and their words continue to help shape my designs today. I strive to create beautiful and fun shapes that will still be kind to tender skin and yet can be sterilized. Talk to me if you have a need for a chemo patient. They often have special considerations.

DESIGNER’S NOTE: Though extremely tough, durable and secure, my spider webs and spider web umbrellas are designed with teens and adults in mind, not children. They are not toys and a spider web should never be hung or left where a small child might get tangled in it.

Additionally, the crochet jewelry I design, though again durable and secure and even created with “natural” and soft materials, are unique works of fine craftsmanship that require proper care and maintenance just like any other piece of fine jewelry. They are not designed with children under the age of 14 in mind. For the sake of your investment, please keep in mind the level of responsibility required to take care of these high quality works of art.