Featured Designer - Margaret Hubert

Today I am featuring well known Knit and Crochet designer Margaret Hubert. I met her almost 7 years ago when I attended my very first Chain Link Conference - Knit & Crochet Show. I got to the first session a few minutes late and was nervous not knowing anyone and having to walk in that big room full of people. She's the first person who talked to me and offered me a seat up front where she was sitting at a table next to the speaker.  I have admired her work for years and but didn't realize I had 3 of her books from the late 70's and early 80's. I've told her for many years she's my hero for all that she does and has accomplished. I think she's amazing and I'm sure you will too.

1. How long have you been crocheting and when did you start designing professionally?

I do not remember learning to knit, as I learned at a very young age, but I learned to crochet when I was 19 and took to it pretty quickly. I did not sell my first design to a magazine till I was almost 40 and had grown children.

2. What do you specialize in? What is your niche, so to speak?

My favorite design of hers!

I have a very wide range in my designs, everything from doggie coats to mens garments, but I love women's fashions best and Free Form crochet is my passion!                                                                                         
3. Where have your designs been published and what is the publication or design you are most proud of?

My designs have appeared in so many publications they really are too numerous to list. To name a few magazines, Crochet!, Interweave Crochet, Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home Journal, Belle Armoire. I have just completed my 19th book, and I am already beginning to work on the 20th. The publication that I am most proud of is THE COMPLETE PHOTO GUIDE TO CROCHET, it has outsold all of my other books and it is the book that I get the most favorable reviews and comments on.

4. I know you have authored many books, and you work at designing full time. How do you do everything you do, and have you ever felt burned out?

I love my work, I am constantly designing in my brain, I am always inspired by the world around me, colors, paintings, fashions, gardens. I do get tired occasionally, but I rebound pretty quickly. I feel so privileged to be able to earn money doing something that I love to do.

5. Where can we see your designs?

Many of my books are still in print, I still design for magazines and contribute to other multi designer books.

6. Are you a member of Ravelry and if so, what's your Ravelry ID? I'm sure crocheters and knitters will want to connect with you.

My revelry id is mhdesigner

7. Can you say in a nutshell why you think crocheters and knitters should go there and check it out? 

I do not add much to revelry, but somehow, many of my designs are there, put on by others  who have made them or saw them. I say this, only because I have not figured out how to add pictures. I also have a few patterns for sale in my revelry store, again, someone else helped me put them there.

8. What are your interests other than crochet or knitting? (hobbies, what you did before you became a designer. etc)

Before I became a designer I was mostly a mom, later owned a yarn shop, then was the needlework instructor for Bloomingdales in White Plains, NY. It was while working in Bloomingdales, that I met a man who was very instrumental in me becoming a designer, He was a yarn company rep who encouraged me to show my work to editors in NYC. I had not seen him in many years, and we re-met at a TNNA show in CA last year. When I told him, that since that time, all that I had done, he was quite amazed. I told him that he started it all!!

My other interests are, I belong to a Shakespeare Club, I play Bridge, and I do cross word puzzles.

9. Do you have any books coming out this year?

Yes, I just finished a book this week, I do not have the official title as yet. My Granny Square book came out in Nov 2011, and it is really doing well.

10. Do you have a website or blog you can share with everyone?

My blog is margaretshooksandneedles.blogspot.com, my web site is margarethubertoriginals.com

11. In a sentence, what is a word of advice you could give aspiring young crocheters who may have a dream of designing professionally?

Be flexible, be professional, be on time, be nice, do not have too high expectations when first beginning.

12. Is there anything else you'd like to add concerning your life, your family or your designing career?

I am so blessed with a large loving family, I have 4 children (3 boys, 1 girl, 9 grandchildren (8 boys, 1 girl), and have 2 great grandchildren (also boys). Both my daughter and grand daughter knit and crochet and my daughter has a design on the cover of Crochet! magazine the new Spring Issue. This was her first submission to a national magazine, so I am just bursting with pride. Again, I am blessed that my career has spanned so many changes in the industry, and that I am still continuing to design and teach.