Jen – POC Designer of Crochet Basket Patterns and More

Jen is a fellow POC maker and mama designer and has published some amazing crochet basket patterns. She also discovered a new stitch called the Bolster Stitch which she has used in a few of her patterns.

Jen is a fellow POC maker and mama designer and has published some amazing accessory and crochet basket patterns. She also discovered a new stitch called the Bolster Stitch which she has used in a few of her patterns.

She just released this gorgeous Bolster Brim Sunhat pattern in collaboration with Erika Vondrak of Vondrak Yarns who sells XL yarns for home decor and other bigger projects!

I have had the privilege of meeting Jen in person and our little ones have also played together! She has gone from being an Instagram friend to one of my closest maker friends in real life! Read on to get to know her or skip to the bottom if you would like to watch our recorded Live!

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your business.

My name is Jen. I’m a wife, mama, crocheter/designer, licensed massage therapist and getting back to the appraisal field. In other words, I’m a maker trying to stay organized!
My business name “Jsodet” is pronounced j-so-day. More recently, my business has turned to designing patterns. Previously, I was making finished products to sell. I’m currently working on designs to feature the Bolster stitch.

How many years have you been knitting/crocheting for?

About 9 yrs now.

What are your current WIPs?

Collaborations with a couple of Etsy yarn shops and some patterns for my own blog and newsletter release.

What is your favorite thing to design and why?

Probably baskets and bags. I love working in the round!

What are your goals for this year?

I would like to make myself a cardi. I would also like to design a ruana or kimono.

How do you balance mom-life and making?

Hahaha idk! I try to crochet while my daughter is busy with something. We also share the attic which is my studio and her barbie world so we are doing our own thing but still hanging out and talking to each other.

One piece of advice for fellow mama makers?

As a POC, I usually just ignore racist crap. I have no time for that BS. My family is kind of diverse especially in skin tones and religious beliefs so I’m used to thinking diversity is normal. It has been a slap in the face realizing it’s not how everyone feels. I am just always aware of who I’m around. I like to keep quiet and observe and if I don’t like the vibe I leave. Sometimes I speak and sometimes I just don’t want to deal with it. But as I’ve gotten older I don’t get too much of it or I just ignore those people.

As for mama makers, don’t be hard on yourself. Try to find some mama time for self care and just try to enjoy your little ones. They won’t be little for long. And don’t think you have to keep up with the top makers. Go at your own pace so you can still enjoy your creative skill and not get burnt out.

Jen is a fellow POC maker and mama designer and has published some amazing crochet basket patterns. She also discovered a new stitch called the Bolster Stitch which she has used in a few of her patterns.

Here is one of Jen’s beautiful crochet basket patterns. This is the medium size basket from her “Bolster Ridge Basket Trio” pattern. It’s an easy textured basket pattern featuring her bolster stitch. You can find this pattern in her Etsy shop and in her Ravelry shop.

You can find Jen on Instagram, Facebook, and her blog. Find her patterns in her Etsy and Ravelry shops.

You can find a recording of the Live that I did with Jen here!

If you are a mama designer and/or a poc designer and would like to be featured, you can fill out the form here.