Crochet really is in Vogue
THE Sunshine Coast's crochet queen, Jenny King, has been recognised as one of the world's most talented crochet designers and realised her dream of appearing in a Vogue Knitting Crochet issue.
Jenny was one of only two Australian designers to appear in the magazine, something she said she had been "wishing, hoping and planning" for 20 years.
"When I found out that I was going to be featured in the magazine, I was so excited I crocheted my fingers to the bone over the Christmas break, even at the beach with the family," she said.
"The design was inspired by an amazing crochet jacket with circles and stripes I saw at the Easton Pearson Exhibition in Brisbane."
Jenny has been crocheting since being taught two simple stitches by her aunt and cousin when she was just eight. At 15, she was supplying crocheted bikinis to a surfwear shop in Byron Bay and has been passing on her love of the art form since the 1990s.
She is the author of 13 crochet books and countless patterns that cover everything from intricate beaded bags and jewellery to swimwear.
Jenny said her love affair with Vogue began more than 20 years ago, when Vogue Knitting magazine was reintroduced and became available in Australia.
"Even though I don't knit, I would adapt patterns from the magazine and made dozens of crochet garments," she said.
"Then in 1994, Vogue Knitting published their first and only issue of Vogue Crochet, a magazine that I have kept with pride to this day on my bookshelf."
Jenny has gone on to teach crochet internationally as well as in Australia.
"Crochet is a rapidly growing trend and continues to increase in popularity as more and more crochet fashions appear on catwalks around the world," she said.
For more information, see www.jennykingdesigns.com.
