Carolyn Christmas of Pink Mambo: Designer Showcase!

It’s time for February's Designer Showcase! I like to wrap up each month by having one of my favorite designers share a bit about themselves, and then I follow it up by sharing my 5 favorite free patterns that they've designed! This month I’m excited to share some things from the ultra talented Carolyn Christmas - the blogger and designer behind Pink Mambo!

Carolyn's designs are always breathtaking, and I was excited to learn more about her! Here's her story in her own words:

Hi, I’m Carolyn! I’ve basically lived and breathed crochet most of my life. These days I’m happily crocheting as an indie designer and blogger. I’m thrilled to be presenting my new work on pinkmambo.com.

I started designing years ago after I gave birth to twins. I was working as a water lab tech for a large municipality and trying to get my degree in chemistry. I left my job to stay home with my six-year-old and my twins, and found myself with a little time on my hands while the babies napped.

I had been studying the designer credits in crochet magazines and had decided SOMEONE must be making a living doing these designs, so I decided that is what I wanted to do. A friend gave me an old typewriter, and I started typing up patterns with that and submitting them. The very first things I submitted were accepted, and I was thrilled beyond words! I soon progressed to a Mac computer and was able to get a design groove going, working for yarn companies and publishers.

Before long, around 1990, I was offered a job with a needlework magazine and book publisher, which I accepted. We moved across the state of Texas and I began working as editorial director. Going from designer to a director in charge of seven magazines and a staff of 11 at age 29 was quite a difference in my life. I learned a lot.

In the midst of all this I also pursued my education, majoring in political science and journalism. I have always enjoyed observing the workings of our government and very much enjoyed the experience of studying about it.

By this time I had become a single mother, and with raising my kids on my own I decided to drop my political science and law school dreams and stick with crochet. It was something I could do and have time to live life. In the ensuing years, I’ve been a crochet designer, writer, marketer, magazine and book editor, tech editor, teacher, author and publisher.

Nowadays, my husband, David Savage, and I are empty nesters except for four furbabies, living and working in our small home under the big sky of the Texas Hill Country. David does all the graphics for our crochet business, and is soon to be doing video editing I hope!

As much as I love the small-town life, frequent visits to my city-dwelling daughters keep me inspired with the energy of art, food, shopping and most of all, people.

You can find me here:

Website: http://pinkmambo.com

Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/people/carolynchristmas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolynchristmas/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinkmambo/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pinkmamboblog

My Shop: http://gourmetcrochet.bigcartel.com/

What an amazing journey, I loved reading about her life! And Carolyn's designs are always gorgeous, of course. I first spotted her work years ago, before I even thought of designing myself -  a Gourmet Crochet pattern was one of the first paid patterns I ever bought! So it was a real treat to get to "meet" her! As hard as it is to pick, here are 5 of my favorite freebies by Carolyn Christmas:

5 Free Crochet Patterns by Carolyn Christmas!

Click on the names of the patterns you like to go to their pattern pages!

1. Dream Circle Square - This square was designed for the 2015 Moogly Crochet Along - and it was one of my favorites for the whole year!
2. Harriet Square - Another gorgeous 12" square - a great alternative square for this year's CAL!
3. Circle Dance Afghan - A gorgeous CAL Carolyn ran a couple of years ago - and an eye catching pattern that results!
4. Springtime Market Bag - Big, beautiful, and handy, with lots of photos!
5. Serena Crocheted Capelet and Collarlet - Pretty and cozy without being too heavy!

Thank you so much to Carolyn for being featured in the February Moogly Designer Showcase for 2016! Be sure to check out Pink Mambo for more great crochet!

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