Taking inspiration from the 1970s, crochet designer Ashlynn Duncan of Sugaree Co has turned her hobby into a full-time business – with an eye firmly on the future
Written by Marianne Rawlins
Designer Ashlynn Duncan’s crochet closet is a festival-goer’s fantasy. With a rich retro colour palette of rusts, mustards, purples and browns, her patterns take their cues from crochet’s hippie hey-day. “I’m heavily influenced by the 1970s because of my love of everything from that era,” says Ashlynn. “From the cosy homeware and flamboyant fashion to the striking make-up and heady music, there’s just so much to be inspired by.”
The US-based 28-year-old first learned the basics of crochet as a little girl. “My grandma taught me how to make a chain with my fingers,” she recalls. Picking the craft up again in her teens, Ashlynn crocheted as a hobby on and off for more than a decade. But in 2020, financial necessity led her to see if she could turn her pastime into a vocation. “I was let go from my waitressing job and needed to make money, so I decided to try to build a small business around my crochet skills,” she says.
Vintage inspiration can be seen in the size-inclusive garments she designs. Highlights of her collection include maxi cardigans with zodiac motifs across the back, Stevie Nicks-style angel-sleeved sweaters and cropped jumpers constructed from classic granny squares.
The tools of her trade are chunky Aran yarn and a trusty 5mm hook. “This yarn weight and hook size are so easy to work with when I’m crocheting in my favourite half-treble stitches,” she says.
AT ONE WITH NATURE
As well as nostalgia, a lot of Ashlynn’s inspiration comes from nature. “I love to go on walks in the woods, hike in the mountains and dip my toes in the ocean. There’s a sense of awe in admiring wildlife and observing how incredible the Earth is.” The images that adorn Ashlynn’s work showcase a world of biodiversity. Toadstools, butterflies, frogs, owls and daisies are intricately crafted using tapestry crochet, her top technique.
It’s tapestry crochet that allows Ashlynn to easily turn the pictures in her head into yarn-based illustrations that are packed with colour and pop culture references. “Colourwork is my go-to method when I’m thinking up new designs,” she says. “I’m a very imaginative person and creating graphs for my patterns is, for me, the most exciting part of crocheting.”
With so much joy to be found in the past and present, Ashly
