Spotlight on a Crocheter: Vikki Hooks

Today I have a special guest post for you from the very talented and appropriately named Vikki Hooks. Vikki creates some of the most beautiful doilies I have ever seen! She has an Etsy shop where she sells her doilies, and also her favorite DMC thread. Here is Vikki's story (and pictures of some of her gorgeous doilies!):

Hello, I was surprised when Ann asked if she could interview me for her blog; how hard can it be to talk about myself, right?  Not as easy as I thought!  I guess the place to start would be the beginning...my name is Vikki Hooks.  It describes me pretty well....

As a young child I saw the women in my family---my mom, and great grandma come to mind--having hooks and thread in their hands.  If it wasn't in their hands, the ball of thread would be seen sitting on the table with a hook jabbed through it...just waiting for someone to pick it up.  I must have been five or so; I wasn't in school yet.  I picked up that ball with the hook in it and went and hid in a closet. I remember my great grandma looking for me and I knew I was going to be in trouble when she found me.  So as that closet door opened and she looked down at me, I saw a small smile.  Instead of scolding me, for touching something that wasn't mine, she sat down beside me, and we made my first chain! I don't know how long we were in the closet together on the floor playing with thread, but it was just enough to light the fire.  I think about her from time to time when I pick up my hook. I have one of her doilies, and her hook, and a pair of scissors in a shadow box on my craft room wall.  

I am married to a wonderful man that supports me and this crazy addiction.  We have three daughters, none who share my love of crochet, and 7 grandchildren, 2 girls and 5 boys.  Only one of my grandkids shows any interest in learning to move the hook and that is my 13 year old grandson.  I have learned I do not have as much patience as my great grandma.  It doesn't help that he wants to do it all and not start out with a chain..

Like I said my husband is my biggest fan.  If it weren't for him I wouldn't have jumped through the red tape in order to be able to offer DMC Cebelia thread in my Etsy shop.  I came home upset from spending hours looking for DMC Cebelia at Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's and Michael's and whatever other shops I hit. I learned that most of those stores were not going to sell it on their shelves because shelf space was too expensive, the thread price went through the roof to $6.99 a ball, and it didn't move fast enough.  So that is why I started selling the thread, to put it into as many hands that want it at a reasonable cost.  I do not make much on the sale of thread, but that is ok because I am an addict and I am protecting my supply!

 Asked why I would recommend DMC, the answer is really simple; it is dye fast, has an awesome sheen, launders up well, it is a tight thread, and doesn't fray or get that swollen and frumpy look after being washed. It just gives super results.  I just think it is the best thread available to make heirloom quality doilies. Lizbeth threads are nice and have lots of colors to choose from, I have used it, and will use it if a customer sends it to me, but to be honest--I know I am going to get in trouble here, but it is made in China and I try not to buy Chinese goods.

I opened my shop with the encouragement of my daughters. I think they were wondering what they would do with all the doilies if something happened to me.  I do one craft show a year and do really well.  I was asked how I price my doilies—pricing them is hard.  I won't get rich making doilies, or selling thread; it is just a means to keep my supply at hand, and my hands moving at a hobby I enjoy.  When I stop enjoying what I do, I will stop making doilies and playing with thread.  I don't see that happening anytime soon. 

I like textured doilies--that way people know which way is the right side and wrong side.  It is a pet peeve of mine to see a doily upside down.  As for favorite designers, Patricia Kristoffersen is one. I have all her pattern books and am truly excited when she publishes a new one.  I like Kathryn White, but I have to be in the mood for her doilies as she does a lot of piece work and I am not a fan of piece work. And I like Ann's potholders and revamped vintage patterns. But if I like the look of the pattern it doesn't matter who designs it.  I have found that I really like some of the Japanese patterns, and find myself becoming a hoarder of those. It is a relatively new obsession.  

I have a blog.  I try to blog once a week.  I have found some wonderful people who share my passion for thread and crochet:http://byhooks4u.blogspot.com

 My store can be found here:

 www.etsy.com/shop/byhooks4u  

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Vikki! I can't wait to see your next creation!

All photos are  used courtesy of Vikki Hooks.