Say hello to Zodiredo @Zodiredo - our new Ribblr of the Week and designer behind Knotorious! 
Tell us a little about yourself:
Hello everyone, you can call me Zodiredo, Zod, or Jay and I go by she/they. Since I was a little kid, I always had this deep fascination with dragons. It started with me rewatching How to Train Your Dragon a million times seemingly every day growing up. Now I think it inspires much of my ideas when it comes to art and design.
When did you start crafting and how?
I started crocheting about a year and a half ago. One of my friends was always crocheting in between tests, at lunch, on the go, on breaks, and it just seemed so cool I said, “Can you teach me?” she gave me a hook and some yarn and started explaining to my the basics. I picked it up within the next two days and I started making drink mats. Then a week later I learned the magic circle and started making amigurumi. My first amigurumi project is this silver fox I freehanded about a month into crocheting.
And how did you start designing?
I started designing kind of out of the blue. I really had no plan, I just saw that all these other creators, especially on here, had shops and I wanted to have one too. I quickly whipped up a hat, wrote down the pattern, and made a shop. Since then, I will randomly add something to my shop if I think other people will like it. Probably not the best method of business, but it works for me.
Do you have a favorite craft type?
That is impossible to choose! I think its a three way tie between welding/forging, crocheting, and drawing/painting. I enjoy welding/forging because it is so versatile. I may also be weird but I enjoy the smell of metal and fire. Its exciting to me and I enjoy making statues and swords. It’s also a way I can connect with my dad. This statue of Capricorn I made years ago and it is made from a train spike, a saw blade, and 4 nails.
What does Pride mean to you?
Pride to me is a time when I see representation from people all over and it makes me smile every time I’m driving and I see a pride flag on someones property. It is a time to celebrate what we as a community have gone through to get here, especially from the people who fought so hard for this before we were largely accepted. As a maker, it is a time for me to expand my craft and make things that make me feel seen. It makes me so happy to wear something pride themed I made and look in the mirror and be happy I don’t have to hide who I am. And you bet whenever a friend or loved one says, “Hey, can you make me a pride themed…” I am on that in a heartbeat. I want everyone to feel seen and included and if I can help with that, then I will jump in headfirst to do that.
What is your favorite part about being in the LGBTQ space?:
I love the sense of belonging I have. Everyone is so nice and accepting of everyone. It is like a breath of fresh air to anyone who has been marginalized or bullied for who they are. I appreciate not having to hide.
What was the most memorable project you worked on?
Probably the mascot I made for the clarinet section. Shout-out to @Mangolemmon939 for the clown base. I made a pirate clown to put by our cases during marching season and I even freehanded a little clarinet for it to hold. It boosts morale I hope?
Do you have any Pride themed projects you have made or working on now?:
I am currently working on dragonscale gloves in the lesbian flag and the asexual flag. I hope to make them a pattern on my shop, but that may come after June, I get busy.
What are you currently working on? Be honest - how many WIP do you have right now?
I am currently working on a freehand cat. But not just any cat. A long cat. I am trying to do a challenge to myself to use one whole skein of yarn to make the longest loaf cat I can. I stop when there is no yarn left. As for the WIPs… I have two different bins of WIPs that I’m probably never gonna get back to. They’ve been sitting in that bin for who knows how long. I think they’re comfy there, lol.
Which of your makes/designs are you most proud of?
Probably the cow I crocheted for my chem teacher last year. She loved it and some of the kids used it for bribery somehow? I loved hearing the stories about it and after It was put in the class I had a few people come up to me and ask if I could make them one. It’s a bit big so I had to turn them down, but I was proud that so many people enjoyed it.
What is your usual process of designing?:
I don’t really have a process. The closest thing I have to one is writing notes to myself as I crochet and if I decide to make it a pattern, translating them so It makes sense to others.
Any favorite song, book or movie you would like to recommend?:
My favorite book that I recommend to anyone is Anthem by Ayn Rand. It is incredibly short, but incredibly deep. It is philosophical but the story it follows is also interesting. I love philosophy so many of Rand’s books interest me, but this book is by far my favorite of all time.
What inspires you to create/design?:
I have always been a giver. I would give the clothes off my back to anyone in need. I think that trait of mine inspires me to create because if I can make a pattern that people love or crochet something that someone will use, then I feel good. It makes me feel like I helped someone, even if all I did was make their day a little better.
What is your favorite feature on Ribblr?:
I would say the focus feature. I have ADHD and I will often forget to mark my lines as completed, so that feature really helps to remind me to mark my lines as completed.
Take over our feed! Which 3 - 5 designers/patterns on Ribblr are your favorite?
Its so hard to pick favorites but some of my favorite designers are @craftycellist @Mangolemmon939 @Centara and @Citraandizzy
Thanks for being here this week Zodiredo, it was a pleasure to read about you!
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