My Original Designs

I will update to this post as I add more new crochet designs (that are not in or submitted to a magazine or book.) I constantly test and play with my design technique, explore drape, work on shapes, play with color, and especially play with fun crochet stitches and all the yummy yarn available! Below are some of my designs. Thanks for stopping by the Knotty Generation!



Cher - May 2009

Berroco Suede with a J/10 (6 mm) hook
Designed just for Pop Goes Crochet by Vickei Howell

Cropped Boucle Cardi - May 2008
Bernat Boucle with a K-10 1/2 (6.5 mm) hook
Designed just for me

Basic Black Tank Top - April 2008
Caron Simply Soft with a H/8 (5 mm) hook
Designed just for me

My version of Fuchsia and Blues Jacket - aka My Grey A-Line Jacket - Jan. 2008

Designed for Interweave Crochet Magazine Winter 2007 -Heavily modified using Bernat Softee Chunky in Grey - with an I/9 (5.5mm) hook

Ribbed Collar Cardi - Nov. 2007
Ella Rae Amity with a H/8 (5 mm) hook
Designed for Knotty Generation

Fuchsia and Blues Jacket
Colinette Prism with a K/10.5 (6.4 mm) hook
Designed for Interweave Crochet Magazine Winter 2007

Some Kind of Fluffy - August 2007
Double stand of fluffy yarn with a P/Q (15mm) hook
A design mistake but I love it

Wrap Tank Top - June 2007
Jo Sharp Desert Garden - colour Thunderwith a G/6 (4 mm) hook
Designed for 3 Kittens Yarn Shop - available sometime early 2008

Wrap Tank Top - June 2007
Jo Sharo Soho Summer - colour Paisley with a G/6 (4 mm) hook
Designed for 3 Kittens Yarn Shop - available sometime early 2008

Saffron - April 2007
Manos del Urguary with an H/8 (5 mm) hook
Designed for myself

The Stash Bustin Coat - April 2007

Yarn from my stash with an H/8 (5 mm) hook
Designed for myself

The Fluffy Cocoon Coat - February 2007
Mohair yarn with a P/Q (15 mm) hook
Designed for 3 Kittens Yarn Shop - available sometime early 2008

The Ruffle Shrug - February 2007
Karabella Aurora Bulky yarn with an H/8 (5 mm) hook
Designed for myself

Blue Maude Ver. 3.0 - 2006
Boucle yarn with an P (15 mm) hook
Designed for Knotty Generation

The Knotty Cable Cardi Ver. 2.0 - 2006

Heavy Worsted Weight yarn with an J/10 (6 mm) hook
Designed for Knotty Generation (pattern "on-hold")

The Knotty Cable Cardi Ver. 1.0 - 2006
Heavy Worsted Weight yarn with an J/10 (6 mm) hook
Designed for Knotty Generation (pattern "on-hold")

O-Ring Cami - 2006

Cotton yarn with an G/6 (4 mm) hook
Designed for Knotty Generation (pattern "on-hold")

Black Summer Maude Ver. 1.0 - 2006

Boucle yarn with an P (15 mm) hook
Designed for Knotty Generation

Brown Maude Ver. 2.o - 2006

Boucle yarn with an P (15 mm) hook
Designed for Knotty Generation

Caplet - 2005

Thick and Quick with an P (15 mm) hook
Designed for myself

Plain and Simple Cardi - 2005

Double stands of ww yarn with an K/10.5 (6.5mm) hook
Designed for myself to during Minnesota winters

Brown Shawl - 2005
Boucle yarn with an P (15mm) hook
Designed for myself

Faux Mink Stole - 2004
Fuzzy yarn with an P (15mm) hook
Designed for myself

The Pon-Shawl - 2004
Chenille yarn with an K/10.5 (6.5mm) hook
Designed for myself during the poncho craze

Movie Theater Shrug - 2004

Chenille yarn with an K/10.5 (6.5mm) hook
Designed for myself to wear to the movies

A Simple Brown Shrug - 2004
Worsted Weight yarn with an H/8 (5mm) hook
Designed for myself

Become a member of Knotty Generation

The Knotty Generation is a group of crocheters who twist with the basics and take crochet to the next level. We are taking a trend and turning it into a way of life, connecting a tradition that in years past, was taught from mother to daughter for necessity, now we are embracing this as our own hobby, on our own terms, with some unique twists.

There is no application to join, there are no membership fees, I once stated "it's really a state of mind." But I've come up with a few requirements:

- You crochet to express yourself and your creativity

- You share your talent

- You have fun with it

In my book, I hope to include interviews and photos of members, along with their bit on the crochet movement.

Email me at pamgillette@yahoo.com and join the Knotty Generation! Once you receive your membership number you can take the membership button (on my main page) and proudly state you are A Member of Knotty Generation!

My Story

It was 1975 and I was 10 years old. My mom was (and still is) a die-hard knitter, probably the best I've ever seen. Every night after finishing all the chores, she knit, and it was during the winter of 1975 that I started my first knitting project, it was a scarf in my school colors, blue and gold. It was uneven, lumpy and so ugly that I hid it, never wore it, and eventually threw it away because I was so embarrassed. Later that winter, my mom gave me a crochet hook from my grandmother Rose and taught me to chain and single crochet, I've been crocheting ever since. I still have that size K Boye silver hook. It is my favorite hook. It's worn, chipped edges makes me wonder about all the projects my grandmother must have done, for necessity. The sweaters, socks, mittens, all for need, never for hobby.

I was crocheting when crocheting wasn't cool, so I hid it from just about everyone in my life, except for my family and a few close friends. I kept my secret well and crocheted in solitude. It became my salvation during a crazy and confusing time in my life and kept me grounded. I wonder what would have become of my life if I didn't crochet. In retrospect, I think I needed crochet to survive and it became my excuse to “leave the party.” Of course, I’d never tell someone I was going home to crochet a few rows before bed. Just imagine?! I hung out with a wild rock & roll crowd in the 80’s when heavy metal ruled. In the 90's, I went to Sturgis and rode with the Harley crowd for a bit, and funny thing, I’ve always crocheted and always hid it from my friends. I was afraid of what they'd think of me.

I’ve mellowed and my wild days are just memories in my photo albums. I straightened up and went to college, got a real job in the software industry and worked as a software tester for almost 10 years. I married this great guy who accepted me for who I am and I didn't have to hide the fact that I crocheted! In fact, he encouraged it. We have 2 beautiful boys, a dream home, and I have all the love that I could ask for. I'm now the CEO of Gillette Household, Inc. (yep, I'm an "at home Mom".)

So here I am, I have been crocheting for 30 years and I've crochet just about everything, for every member of my family, my husband's family, all of my dear friends, their babies, and even some people I don't know. I proudly crochet in public, I crochet for charity, I belong to several crochet groups and have a great sense of the crochet community.

I began designing crochet patterns for my first son. When he was born, I wanted a baby hat with ear flaps. I designed and crocheted 3 of them. It all started with baby items, and I've been designing patterns ever since. When I started designing crochet patterns for women, I hoped they’d reflected my personality; hip and funky, hopefully a dash of elegance, and never boring.
My range goes from fitted and sexy, to boxy and comfy.

In 2004 I founded a crochet group called The Knotty Generation. We are taking a trend and turning it into a way of life, connecting a tradition that in years past was taught from mother to daughter for necessity, now we are embracing this as our own hobby, on our own terms, with some unique twists.

Writing a crochet book is my dream job, cultivated from my longest held and dearest hobby. Could life get any better when you combine your hobby and your work? It is like you just can't keep the smile off your face because you are doing what you love. That's my crochet story.