Meet the Author of Zodiac Mosaic Crochet!
Unleash your cosmic creativity with Zodiac Mosaic Crochet! Journey across the universe with 12 beautifully-designed charts for each sign of the zodiac and 10 versatile projects - that gives you 120 unique makes to choose from!
Packed with stylish wearable accessories and designer home decor such as striking wall art and gorgeous blankets, Zodiac Mosaic Crochet is truly one-of-a-kind - in fact, it's the world's only book of mosaic crochet projects on an astrological theme!
With the official release date just one week away, we sat down with author and renowned designer Alexis Sixel to discuss all things astrology, crochet and crafting.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your star sign?
I’m a full-time crocheter and pattern designer, with a passion for all things goth, vintage, and artsy. My main focus is on mosaic crochet because I love the way the stitches can form smooth lines and curves, and there are endless design possibilities. I also love color, especially neons and metallic, which is just amplified with black.
I’m an Aries, and we are known to be quite fiery. We’re not afraid to take chances and carve a path for others to follow - I love experimenting with new design techniques to stretch the boundaries of what crochet can be.
Tell us a bit about Zodiac Mosaic Crochet?
This was such a fun book to write! I’ve always loved astrology books, and reading all about the different signs and connections between each of them, I thought it would be awesome to make one specifically for mosaic crochet. So this book is a little unique because not only are there crochet patterns that you can customize for each zodiac sign, but there’s a whole section all about the different signs as well. This book gave me an excuse to research all of the signs and really learn all about what makes each sign special. So when you’re making a gift for someone using their sign, you’ll also learn a little about what elements and colors represent their sign, which may help you figure out yarn colors too!
What was the creative process like as you developed this book?
All of my designs start with a sketch, then lots and lots of swatches. I’m pretty old-school with the way I design, and I prefer to draw on graph paper to get a general idea of size and proportion. It’s a tedious process, but I love it when all of the stitches come together to create something magical.
What was your main inspiration when developing the stunning crochet designs in this book?
My main inspiration was Celestial-core interior design. It’s a maximalist design style that is an astrological dreamscape of stars, constellations, and galaxy colors. And it’s a bit like going back to the 90’s when we all had glow-in-the-dark stars on our ceiling, and sun, moon and star motifs were everywhere.
What is your favourite project/pattern featured in the book?
The round Astrology Wheel blanket is definitely the star of the book, but I’m most proud of the Retrograde Shrug. I’ve always wanted to design a mosaic crochet sweater, but wanted to do something a little different and incorporate other stitches as well. The Retrograde Shrug is loaded with bobble stitches, which creates this amazing texture. It has a bold mosaic crochet zodiac sign on the back, and balloon sleeves that are irresistibly rubbable. I really want to design more wearable mosaic crochet patterns, and this combination of texture and patterns really shows that anything is possible with crochet.
What was your route into crochet?
I was taught how to crochet when I was 8 years old, so it’s always been a part of me. Throughout my teens and twenties I would crochet little projects, mostly simple blankets, granny squares and the occasional scarf, but my passion didn’t take off until Covid hit. I was preparing to launch a jewelry business at the time when everything went sideways. I knew all of my plans and investments weren’t going to work in this new landscape, so to deal with the stress and disappointment, I started crocheting again. I happened to stumble upon mosaic crochet while binging YouTube, and it just took over my entire life. I had never planned on turning my mosaic crochet obsession into a business, but after posting some photos on social media, I was encouraged to give it a try and make some patterns. 6 years, 66 patterns, and 2 crochet books later, I’m happy to say this is my life now.
What is the most challenging thing about being a crocheter?
Being a crocheter is easy. It’s what I do every day to chill out! Being a crochet designer is another story. In the digital age we are all expected to be social media experts and keep up with all of the trends/algorithms, and that’s a lot to handle. Personally, I just like to crochet. I like to crochet all day every day, and in order to keep that going I need to be out there acting like an influencer, but I’m really not. I have no idea what I’m doing! I want to share my craft with everyone, but putting myself out there is still something I struggle with every day. Sometimes I like to just hide behind my crochet and let it speak for itself.
What makes up for the challenges?
Just knowing my books, tutorials, and videos have been helpful to a lot of people is what makes it worth it. It’s been so incredible seeing all of the different projects people have made over the years using my patterns. Seeing the crafting community grow is also very exciting.
What do you think the “Next Big Thing” in crochet will be?
Crochet is evolving because younger people are getting into crocheting and crafts in general. They value hand-made items and originality, escaping the mass-produced world of fast fashion that’s become so cheap, predictable, and devastating to our environment. This new generation has all new ideas, dreams, aspirations and design aesthetics. Rule breakers and innovative minds will transform the craft into things we can’t even imagine.
Who (dead or alive) would you invite to the perfect crochet retreat?
In all honesty, I would bring my husband! He’s been a huge support, especially when it comes to being around a lot of people. I struggle with social anxiety, so having my partner around helps me to feel more comfortable in public spaces. And he’s super creative too! He tried to learn how to crochet once, but maybe he will try again soon!
What advice would you give to your beginner self?
It’s OK to not get things right on the first try. It’s OK to not know every technique and tip and trick that’s out there. It’s totally OK to just be yourself and put yourself out there, as you are, imperfections at all. People might like you and your work anyway. (And this is also my advice to everyone reading this!)
In one word, how would you describe Zodiac Mosaic Crochet?
Dreamy!
Dive into the celestial world of astrological crochet or start crafting meaningful gifts for your loved ones: Zodiac Mosaic Crochet is available to pre-order at the link here!
About the Author
Alexis Sixel
Alexis Sixel is an artist who creates maximalist designs with saturated color, texture, patterns and...