Crochet-focused fibre artist Katelyn Leonardo likes to describe what she creates as “artistic inconvenient objects”: think elaborate headphone covers and balaclavas festooned with flowers and butterflies or a sumptuous spread of cakes with berries on top. Her stand-out pieces include an intricate crocheted suit of armour, a koi pond parasol and a light-up Ferris wheel headpiece with moving carriages. Then there’s the four dazzlingly colourful, deliberately over-the-top crochet looks recently showcased on the runway for London Fashion Week. While she’s right that her pieces may not be ‘convenient’ or practical per se, they definitely spark delight and prove that crocheting lends itself to so much more than tea cosies. Discover Katelyn’s tips for exploring your creativity as she invites us into her studio and creative world.

Katelyn wearing an ornate crocheted dessert collar with a beaded fringe and topped with mini berry cakes.

Just Get Started and Keep Practising‍

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been into creative things. My sister and I did scrapbooking, painting and drawing, and I’ve done rug making and candle making. I’ve always been very hands-on. I started crocheting in 2021 during the pandemic. I’d seen an artist called Kazclops who made these amazing cat balaclavas, so I followed her tutorial on YouTube. My first one was kind of terrible but I kept going. I learned the basics from YouTube and patterns on TikTok; a very gen Z way [of learning]. From there, I just made whatever I wanted to. Once you understand how to make a couple of stitches, you can make anything. Now, crocheting just feels very natural, like breathing. Last year, I tried doing one piece per month and it just worked itself out from there.”

SEE ALSO: My Creative Process With Rach Jackson

Katelyn fitting a crocheted pizza slice headphone cover on a pair of headphones, surrounded by yarn, a tissue box with a crochet cover and other colourful projects.

Pursue What You Love Most‍

“I used to sell clothing for my brand Kushio, but I’ve transitioned into crocheting full-time now because I love it so much. The last year has been crazy. I started off making crochet headphone covers, and because of that I ended up being flown to Madrid by [online learning platform] Domestika to teach crochet. It was my first time in Europe and I woke up every day thinking, ‘Oh my God, I cannot believe I’m here because of my artwork’. I ended the trip in London for Fashion Week to see my pieces for [designer bag company] Sprayground go down the runway. When I saw the show come to fruition, I just started crying. I felt so proud of myself.”

Katelyn crocheting with pink yarn at a desk in front of a pegboard organiser and inspiration wall, surrounded by other balls of yarn, stationery and notebooks.‍

Find Your Work Rhythm‍

“I like to say I work nine to five, but sometimes it feels like 24/7! Some days I take long breaks; other times I can go for 10 hours focused on a piece and forget what time it is. I try my best to work during the day but I’m such a night owl. My recent collaboration with Sprayground for Fashion Week was a labour of love. I’d get up late, go to bed very late and just keep going. Usually with my pieces I like to start working with small pieces, put them together and feel the piece out as it develops, consider what’s aligning me with it and if I like the way it looks.”

Katelyn sorting pink and cream yarn into storage tubs on a studio shelf, with crochet cakes and a dressmaking mannequin in the background.‍

Make Space for Creativity ‍

“I work in the room next to my bedroom, which is pretty much my studio. I like being at home because I have all of my crochet materials here, lots of balls of coloured yarn. I’ve got two large tables because of how much space yarn takes up and how many things I have laying around. My yarns have different textures and colours, and I organise them into three groups: warm colours (red, orange, yellow), cool colours (green, blue) and then black, white and grey. I’ve got lots of pull-out tubs to store materials for my different hobbies, like candle making and painting.”

SEE ALSO: How to Turn a Creative Side Hustle into a Small Business

A tablet showing a digital fashion sketch on a white desk, surrounded by a sketchpad, pink yarn, crocheted pieces, pens and notebooks.

Explore With Different Tools and Materials‍

"Sometimes, when I do a sketch, I’ll use a sketchbook instead of my iPad, because I like to be a bit more hands-on. I use a normal sketchbook and Pentel gel pens, primarily black; however, I do sometimes use colour for notes. Right now, I’m enjoying experimenting with beading. It adds an extra layer of detail to crochet pieces. It’s a lot of work for me hand-sewing or gluing beads on, but I think it’s beautiful, especially the way sequin beads shine in the light.”

Katelyn holding a green crochet headpiece adorned with a large pink flower and beaded fringe in her home craft studio.

Seek Out Inspiration in Your Everyday

“I grew up with anime and the way that they design characters is odd and overwhelming and I want to bring that to life so much. Also, watching ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ last year made me think, ‘Oh my God, I love these garments; crochet needs to go in this direction.’ Nature and florals are also big in my projects: I made a lotus dress for Australian Fashion Week and butterfly headpieces. Julia Cameron in [her book] ‘The Artist’s Way’ recommends dedicating one day per week to going outside to frolic and stimulate your mind. I’ve tried doing that: I went on different walks and hikes. I also like just going outside and touching the grass.”

Katelyn working on a laptop at a white corner desk, surrounded by crochet pieces, yarn, a pegboard inspiration wall, notebooks and a dressmaking mannequin.

Experiment to Find Your Creative Process

“I have a list of ideas that I add to whenever I see something that moves me. I’ll look at the list and think about what’s pulling me and I just start making it. It’s only very rarely that I need to plan out a piece. For example, the Ferris wheel headpiece: I couldn’t just take that straight from my brain. I had to think about how to make it move and what the carousels were going to look like. For those bigger projects, I use my MacBook Air, iPad and Apple pencil for researching, sketching and making Pinterest mood boards for colour, direction and structure.”

SEE ALSO: The Creative Tech These 4 Artists Swear By

Katelyn crocheting with cream yarn in her home studio, seated at a desk with craft supplies and a pink keyboard. A colourful crochet parasol rests on the floor.‍

Go ‘All In’ On Creative Dreams

“People get very caught up on logistics, but you just have to experiment [with creative expression]. Just put the effort in, put yourself out there and post on social media, even if it feels cringe. I’m a very ‘all in’ person. If I get into something, I put all of my time and effort into it. If you push yourself, it just has to work out; you’ll find a way for it to, and if it doesn’t then you’ve still learned something.”

What to Try