If there is one book in my personal craft library that is absolutely dog-eared, covered in sticky notes, and constantly sitting next to me when I’m designing, it’s Crochet Secrets from The Knotty Boss.
So, you can imagine how incredibly excited I am for today’s installment of our 10 Crafty Questions series! Today, I am sitting down with the brilliant mastermind behind that book and the wildly popular @theknottyboss Instagram page: the lovely Anna Leyzina.
Aside from creating the most adorable amigurumi cacti and sharing absolute game-changing stitch hacks every single week, Anna and I actually share a massive part of our creative DNA – we are both graphic designers and crochet designers! I’ve been dying to chat with her about how she blends visual problem-solving with yarn, how her heritage shaped her resourcefulness, and the honest, reality of what happens when a creative block strikes.
Whether you’re an avid amigurumi maker, a designer trying to build your own creative brand, or just someone who appreciates a brilliantly placed stitch marker, you are going to love this chat.
Anna, You’re both a graphic designer and a crochet designer (something we have in common). Which was your first love? Do you consider yourself a graphic designer first, crochet designer second or the reverse?
Graphic design was my first love and I definitely consider myself a graphic designer first. That’s what I studied in school and what I’ve done longer, professionally. I still feel like a relatively new crocheter.
Who first introduced you to crochet and design? Was there anyone in your family or early life who influenced or encouraged your creativity?
I always knew crochet to be simply ‘knitting with a hook’ (that’s the literal translation in my language) but didn’t realize all the crochet possibilities until I decided to try it out myself. As far as graphic design, I was first introduced to it during my freshman year of college. I originally attended as a photography major but quickly switched to graphic design when I learned more about it. It was visual problem solving which was right up my alley! My parents were always supportive of all my creative endeavors but my high school photography teacher was the one who encouraged me to pursue it professionally.
You’re especially known for your crocheted cacti. I read that the idea came from being tired of killing real house plants – very relatable! How did that concept evolve into something so iconic in your work?
Iconic may be a strong word there! But it is true, the reason I decided to learn crochet was because I wanted to make myself a plant I couldn’t kill. After searching Pinterest for handmade plant ideas I stumbled on the world of amigurumi succulents and immediately knew I needed to learn how to make them. After a little while I started getting requests from friends, and some of those requests led to the creation of few designs that ended up getting me some attention, like my Frida and Rosie cacti. It all kind of took off from there.
You were born in Ukraine and moved to the United States as a teenager. How has your heritage influenced your creative style, and how do you feel it blends with your life and work in the US?
I’m not sure if it influenced my style, but growing up in Ukraine when it was still part of the Soviet Union definitely had an impact on my ability to be self reliant and resourceful. When you don’t have access to a lot of things you figure out ways to use what you do have, in creative ways.
What has been the most rewarding or defining moment in your journey with The Knotty Boss so far?
The most rewarding was seeing such a positive response to my book.
Many makers struggle with creative blocks or overwhelm, whether it’s juggling too many ideas or feeling stuck and uninspired. How do you personally navigate those periods?
I whine and cry about, occasionally freak out thinking “will this ever end?” I wish I had some magic answer, but I just have to remind myself this is normal and will pass, eventually.
One thing I do is keep an ever growing list of project ideas. I often look through the list, when feeling stuck, to see if anything gets that creative spark going.
What current projects or ideas are you most excited about right now? Is there anything upcoming with The Knotty Boss that you can share with us?
I may or may not be working on a follow up to Crochet Secrets… That’s all I can say at this time!
Your crochet book Crochet Secrets from The Knotty Boss is one of my go-to books in my craft library. I have learnt so much from it! Did you enjoy the book writing process? What were the easiest and most difficult parts?
It was a somewhat challenging experience, but totally rewarding! Easiest part was the actual writing. The most difficult part is a toss up between doing my own photography or being my own design client. I’m too indecisive for a project where I have to make so many decisions.
When you’re developing a new crochet concept, where do your ideas usually start? Is it visuals, emotion, materials, or something else entirely?
It really just what pops into my head that I may think would be fun to create, or if I get requests for something specific. Sometimes the yarn may guide the idea, but in general I just fly by the seat of my pants!
For makers who admire your work and want to build their own creative brand, what’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you earlier?
Don’t do it, get a real job with health insurance (if you’re in US)! But seriously, I would say have patience and realistic expectations. With a tiny exception, nothing happens overnight. To create a recognizable or trusted brand takes time. There’s no magic course, or workaround that will make you instantly successful. However, if you’re producing quality work, consistently, your people will find you!
Thanks so much Anna for taking the time to answer my questions… ♡
Don’t forget to follow Anna on her Instagram and check out her website for more infornation and to follow her work. You can also buy her book here.
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