At Swiss Crochet, we love celebrating creativity. In our Meet the Maker series, we highlight designers and makers whose passion, skill, and imagination bring the craft to life. Each feature introduces you to their story and showcases the stunning work they create.
Let me introduce you to Sandra Gutierrez, the creative mind behind beautiful crochet designs.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi! My name is Sandra Gutierrez, a crochet and knitwear designer from Mexico. I have lived and traveled all over the world in my adult life, hence the name Nomad Stitches. And no matter where I have lived, I have always practiced some kind of textile, craft or art.
I am now located in sunny Spain with my two daughters and husband/business partner.
I have been knitting and crocheting for over 20 years, but designing became a full-time pursuit after the birth of my first child over 6 years ago.
I love creating fun and unusual garments. But most importantly, garments that fit well, which is something that is often ignored when it comes to crochet garments.
Elevating crochet and showing the world its amazing versatility and potential is one of my greatest joys!
Where in your practice do playfulness or experimentation appear most naturally?
Playing with stitch patterns is always super fun, but I think experimentation is a great word for what I do as a designer.
Failure, trial and error and unraveling work go hand in hand with success!
And playing with yarn many times involves trying new things that do not always work the first time.
What has been the most transformative skill or lesson you’ve learned since you began creating?
I think this question relates a lot to my previous answer, and that is that making mistakes is part of the process and to embrace it!
Making mistakes is just a way of discovering something new and this lesson has saved me from many tantrums when I have to unravel weeks of work!!
Although I still do put my projects on the naughty chair from time to time.
If you could preserve one aspect of handmade culture for future generations, what would it be?
I think the value that making your own clothes provides is immeasurable and something that younger generations might really not understand.
Not only creating beauty and art, but creating useful things, be it clothes, utensils or even food, has a deep payout for your soul and I think it’s something that everyone should get to experience. Especially when it involves being connected to nature and natural materials.
