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| Karen Ballard in World Wat II Knitting Hat |
Like her
many and varied crafts skills and
needlework-related interests, Karen has also earned
enough college credits for the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree in computer
science, with minors in management, mathematics, and sociology; and she is a
generous and regular promoter of others’ art. A talented maker in her own
right, Karen has many accomplishments to share about herself as well!
I met Karen at A Chain Link Crochet Conference a few years ago, and it has been my pleasure to visit with her for this interview.
GBK: Before
retiring in June 2005, you had a long & interesting career in computing.
Would you care to
elaborate especially on how your crochet/artistic activities fit in or helped you
cope with the job?
Ballard: I
worked for the Federal Government in
statistician, payroll officer, programmer, and software designer/manager/consultant positions for thirty-four years. Along the way,
I developed a reputation as a superb writer of dry
computer documentation. My responsibilities were
extremely stressful and I would unwind with crochet, beading, and other tactile
arts. BTW, writing crochet patterns is
very analogous to computer programming---precise instructions written in code
with various types of repetition.
GBK: Karen, you
are such a cheerleader/advocate for all things artistic, be it crochet, beads
or historic needlework. What inspires your designs?
Ballard: I’m
not sure if I am an advocate “ALL” things artistic, perhaps only visual arts; although I do provide moral support for family and friends involved in musical
and theater arts. I admire all
creativity and derive inspiration from just about everything: shapes, patterns,
nature, arts, textures, colors, stories/mythologies, and others’ designs.
GBK: You
love researching & collecting historic needlework.
Ballard: Yes,
I love research, but I don’t collect needlework per se. Instead, my expertise is in historic
needlework tools, books, and ephemera; which leads to some expertise in the
needlework itself. I have gathered a few
needlework examples, but I actually collect needlework tools, including those made
out of needlework (such as sewing/knitting/mending aprons, thread holders,
needlework bags, and pincushions, etc.)
GBK: What is
your most prized possession?
Ballard: Wow, that is a hard question
to answer…perhaps the hanky I have with the edging crocheted by my Great Aunt
Laurene who taught me my first crochet stitches when I was only 7 years old;
perhaps my Navajo weaving batten worn smooth with age, except for the grooves along the edge from many years spent in a loom. It still gives me chills when I run my hand over them! My lithographed 1880s
dressmakers’ “machine;” my sewing bag embroidered with
sewing tools; my WWI French pennant thanking the US for coming to their aid;
my WWII
embroidered “Victory” knitting bag,
or my 1854 book by Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, The Ladies’ Complete Guide to Crochet, Fancy Knitting and Needlework
(published by Garrett, Dick & Fitzgerald of NY). It describibes Mary Queen of Scot’s devotion to
the needle. I have been collecting since around 1970 and have many “treasures,” thus making it impossible to choose!
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| WWI French Pennant |
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| Victory Knitting Bag |
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| Ladies Complete Guide to Crochet, Fancy Knitting & Needlework |
GBK: You and I have both followed the development of the Center for Knit & Crochet in Minneapolis? Are you still involved?
Ballard: I barely knit; however, I am an expert on the history of the WWI and WWII knitting campaigns. In 2015 I wrote articles on WWI and WWII knitting propaganda for their blog and I also compiled a list of crochet terms for them.
GBK: Do touch base with other designers?
Ballard: There are so many fabulous designers I have met on Facebook! I love seeing their beautiful designs and touting them to others!
GBK: How long have you been
designing? What got you interested in crochet?
Ballard: Yikes! That’s a long story
too! My mother was a graphic artist, but
encouraged all arts. I gravitated to the
tactile ones. When my Great Aunt Laurene
taught me chain and slip stitch, I didn’t know
the stitch names; but I played with crochet on-and-off for 13 years without
patterns. Essentially, I’ve been designing since early childhood. Finally, I
taught myself to read patterns; but always looked for ways to improve them. I
didn’t consider myself a real designer until I won a first prize in the 2013
CGOA Design Contest for my NC Necklace.
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| NC Necklace |
I have tried
numerous tactile art forms, including: wood carving, wood burning, soap
carving, ceramics, glass fusing, glass lampworking, glass etching, knitting,
spinning, weaving, embroidery, sewing, quilting, needle and bobbin lace,
tatting, etc. These trials resulted in
my choosing beading and crocheting as the art forms I like best.
GBK: Is crochet design a full-time
job for you?
Ballard: I supplement my retirement pension by designing and writing, but I
only can remain focused when I am under a deadline. Usually I have about a half-dozen projects
going on simultaneously and I flit back and forth between them. They all stay fresh and interesting that way;
but it’s not a good way to get things done. If I had to rely on designing for a living, I
couldn’t operate this way! And yes, I have many interests, I also love
rock collecting and revel in opportunities to include gems, minerals, and
fossils in my crochet, beading, and weaving creations.
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| 2015: Golden Sands Necklace |
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| Sonoran Sunrise |
GBK: Are you a current CGOA member?
Ballard: Yes, as well as a member of my
local Prince William (PW) County chapter of
CGOA.
GBK: Has your membership been helpful or
inspiring on your journey of passion?
Ballard: I
joined CGOA shortly after retiring and had more time to devote to my many
hobbies. At that time, I was granted
CGOA Professional status due to my local
teaching and designing experiences. When I saw
that the Chain Link Newsletter needed a new editor, I enquired about the job. Rather than becoming the editor, I expressed a willingness to write a column on crochet
history instead.
Fortunately, Randy Cavaliere volunteered to mentor me.
She wisely encouraged me to exploit my unique talents and knowledge, including my collections, knowledge of needlework history,
and writing abilities, in combination with my artistic inclinations. My dream of teaching on traveling tours wasn’t a very realistic goal because I realized, with
Randy’s help, that I only liked teaching very small groups of people, not whole
classes In a nutshell, CGOA members
have helped me find my niche!
GBK: What have you discovered about crochet
that is unique to you or your life?
Ballard: I love the versatility of crochet;
it can be used to create clothing with flat pieces, sewn
together like fabric, or made with the fitting crocheted right into the
garment. It can be made into lace or heavy
fabrics, or even hard objects such as baskets, jewelry
and 3-D sculpture. There is
filet, Irish, freeform, entrelac, afghan, cable, tapestry, bead, wire…crochet.
It gives one the freedom to make just about anything one can conceive. I remember seeing a book entitled something
like “Crochet a Suspension Bridge”. The
title amused me…I wish I had bought it then and have been looking for it in
recent years. (Email Karen if you know where to find this book)
GBK: You have been involved with others,
like the well-known Prudence Mapstone in doing some great freeform crochet
pieces. What is it about freeform that appeals to you?
Ballard: Well,
I enjoy many types of crochet, but admit to having a special fondness for
freeform. After all, my prize-winning NC
Necklace was done in freeform and I have enjoyed working with Prudence,
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| Peter Max; part of "50 Years of Flower Power" |
Cyra Lewis, and others to create freeform pieces. Freeform crochet is the epitome of creative
freedom. Primarily,
I do what I call “controlled-freeform” (I know it is an oxymoron; others
call my creations “free-style”): no pattern, mixed stitches. But I usually work
with my pre-designed plan for my creations, so not quite as free as the “true”
freeform technique, but I have worked with Prudence on 3 collaborative freeform projects
now, and she always welcomes my creations.
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| Heritage Heart |
GBK: What are you plans for the near
future?
Ballard: I have been
researching, writing, and crocheting for a book I am writing on crochet
history which I hope to have completed in 5 years. I will continue my CGOA Newsletter column; and I have an
engagements to speak about wartime crochet to the PW Crochet Guild in April and about
WWII knitting to a local knitting group in June.
I will participate in National Crochet Month sponsored by CGOA as a part of the Crochetville Blog Tour in March. I have started organizing a Tribute to theArts in Freeform Textiles collaborative project And I want to complete an entry for the CGOA
Design Contest as well as a submission for this year’s International Free Form
Fiberarts Guild 2017 Challenge, Patterns in Nature. My ambitious goal list just got an addition: Release Your Inner Beast.
To learn
more about Karen, visit her various sites on social media:
Karen has
also contributed twice as a guest blogger here on my blog.
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