AnnaVirginia Fashion: Pattern Feature: Piggy Peeps (AnnaVirginia Fashion's first!)

I'm realizing that I've been writing patterns for 7 years this month. I've released 18 patterns over that time, eight of which are free and the rest are less than $5.00 USD. To celebrate, I'll do a pattern spotlight and offer that pattern for free (if I charge for it) for that month! Details to retrieve a free copy will be given in each specific post.

To start off, I'm going to spotlight the first pattern that I released and tell you how it came to be.

I started first with my popular "Piggy Peeps." I actually decided to really get into crocheting when I was pregnant with my first baby. My husband and I left the state in 2009 to pursue an internship in Las Vegas for him over that summer. I had just graduated with my bachelor degree and since I was pregnant and knew we'd only be in Vegas for a few months, I decided not to search for a job. Instead I slept a lot (I can't tell you how exhausted being pregnant makes me!), and I watched a lot of HGTV (we had free cable TV at our place there and I'd never had cable before, lol). I also got inspired to create, create, create. I began sewing all kinds of projects, started crocheting all kinds of patterns, and was just starting to see so many things I could design. When the baby was born I joined Ravelry.com and loved being part of a crochet-lovers world!

A year later, with a baby in-tow, we returned to Vegas for a second summer internship. Being a new mom is it's own kind of adventure! I definitely wasn't wanting to find a job with a new baby, and with such a short stay again. But I was a little less exhausted this time. And I don't think we had free cable... I can't remember! I do remember getting a little antsy when the baby was sleeping, the weather was blistering (yay, Vegas), and I had hardly any friends! So, I got busy online this time!

I started an Etsy shop (shop not running right now), a blog and was busy all the time with Ravelry. I began creating new designs, like my design for baby slippers, with peep toes. I had people message me on Ravelry asking if I could write up a pattern or make a YouTube tutorial. Um... well, I wasn't comfortable making a video but I could certainly type up a pattern and I thought I could include detailed photos!